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Showing posts with label Indian Air Force. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Indian Air Force. Show all posts

Sunday, October 15, 2023

Paris flypast 2023, Indian Air Force Rafale's join the line up at Evreux Airbase BA105.

The Paris Flypast on Bastille Day (Defile 14 Juillet) is always thrilling on the Military Aviation calendar. For 2023, the Invitation and acceptance of the Indian Airforce to fly across Paris as India is invited to participate in the Bastille Day celebrations made it a must-visit.

Now, that is a big headline act. Still, there would also be three European countries featured in the 2023 programme: Belgium with two F-16s, representing the Air Policing in defence of European territory, alongside a UK Typhoon FGR.4 from the RAF. The Italian Navy with an NH90 representing Combat Marine Aviation.

I have posted reports from the Répétiton (practice) staged at Orléans/Bricy BA123 for the past two years. For 2023, I thought I would visit Everux BA105 to witness all the fast jets participating in this iconic flypast and multiple launches on the morning of the 14th of July (Bastille Day).

The first rumour suggested India deploy ageing Jaguar jets to the Everux BA105 airbase. That would be good for me as the last four Indian Air Force Jaguars I had seen were four being delivered through Larnaca in Cypres era in the early eighties. But that seemed odd as the French Air Force could serve the operational Rafale fighters now operating with the Indian Air Force. 

RB004 Rafale DH Indian Air Force

RB 004 Rafale DH Indian Air Force.

It was thought that the Indian aircraft, now confirmed as Rafale DH and EH (single-seat) jets, would arrive on the 12th of July, but that was thwarted when they arrived non-stop from Hashimara in West Bengal and their home Air Force Station at Jalpaguiri (VEHX). The flight plan was similar to that of the Indian Rafales, who participated at Mont de Marsan in April 2023 for exercise "Orion." Once again, the two tanker IL-78 aircraft landed at Cairo in Eygpt, but this time, the Rafales continued directly to Everux, arriving on the weekend before Bastille Day.  


The Indian Air Force patches the aircrew wore for this extraordinary event.

2741 SY EC225 Armée del l'Air

 2741/SY EC225 C/S F-UGSY Armée de l'Air . 

Having arrived on the 11th at Everux, I now had time to kill as not only had the Indian Air Force arrived earlier than expected and carried out their practice the day before I and many others came. Everux is not  Known for being the busiest of French Air Force bases to visit on the chance of seeing many aircraft, but luck was on our side.

2 F-RAFP Falcon 900 AdlA

2/F-RAFP Falcon 900 from ET00.060 2ESC "Guam."Armée de l'Air . 

128 64-IK CN-235M ET01.062 Armée del l'Air

128/64-IK CN-235M-200 ET01.062 C/S F-RAIK.
Evreux is the leading home base of the CN-235 in Armée de l'Air service.

128/64-IK CN-235M French Air Force

128/64-IK CN-235M-200 ET01.062 C/S F-RAIK.Armée de l'Air.

128 64-IK CN-235 AdlA

128/64-IK CN-235M-200 ET01.062 C/S F-RAIK.Armée de l'Air.

65/2-MG Mirage 2000-5F AdlA

65/2-MG Mirage 2000-5F from EC01.002 Armée de l'Air. Carries out a morning mission from Evreux from where it had already arrived.

65/2-MG Mirage 2000-5F from EC01.002 AdlA

65/2-MG Mirage 2000-5F from EC01.002.Armée de l'Air.

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT Armée del l'Air

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT from EVTS01.002 Armée de l'Air at Istres/Le Tubé.

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT French Air Force

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT from EVTS01.002.Armée de l'Air.

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT from EVTS01.)002 AdlA

045/F-UJCK A330MRTT from EVTS01.002 seen landing at Evreux.

5847/61-PP C-130J-30 Armée del l'Air

5847/61-PP C-130J-30 ET02.061, Armée de l'Air seen landing in the hot July afternoon heat, not ideal for photography.

1657/F_UJCT Airbus 330-243 French Air Force

1657/F-UJCT Airbus 330-243 from ERVTS02.031Armée de l'Air at Paris-Roissy (Charles de Gaulle airport), although technically, their home base is BA110 at Creil-Senlis outside of Paris.

1657/F-UJCT Airbus 330-243 ERVTS02.031 AdlA

1657/F-UJCT Airbus 330-243 from ERVTS02.031 landing at Evreux.

French Air Force Rafale overhead Evreux Air Base

135/30-GN,132/30-GK, 351/30-FR, the only Rafale B. All others are C's 107/30-HJ, 136/4-GO, and 337/4-IL, all arriving at Evreux.

135/30-GN Rafale C AdlA

135/30-GN Rafale C EC03.030. from BA118 Mont-de-Marsan.

351/30-FR Rafale B AdlA

351/30-FR Rafale B  EC03.030. from BA118 Mont-de-Marsan.

Mirage 2000Ds and Rafales from BA118 Mont-de-Marsan

360/30-SI Rafale, 54/30-FU Rafale B's from ECE01.030 with Mirage 2000D's 622/30-IL, 646/30-MQ, and 639/30-JJ all Mirage 2000 RMV from EC01.030, BA118 at Mont-de-Marsan.
  
360/30-SI Rafale B ECE01.030 Armée del l'Air

360/30-SI Rafale B ECE01.030. Armée de l'Air.

354/30-FU Rafale B ECE01.030 Armée del l'Air

354/30-FU Rafale B ECE01.030. Armée de l'Air.

622/30-IL Mirage 2000D RMV Armée del l'Air

622/30-IL Mirage 2000D RMV Armée de l'Air from BA118 at Mont-de-Marsan.

646/30-MQ Mirage 2000D RMV Armée del l'Air

646/30-MQ Mirage 2000D RMV Armée de l'Air from BA118 at Mont-de-Marsan.

639/30-JJ Mirage 2000D RMV Armée del l'Air

639/30-JJ Mirage 2000D RMV Armée de l'Air  from BA118 at Mont-de-Marsan.

639/30-JJ Mirage 2000D landing Evreux Air Base

639/30-JJ Mirage 2000D RMV.

MM81871/9-10 HH-101A 21° Gruppo AMI

MM81871/9-10  HH-101A 21° Gruppo Itaf landing at Evreux for a refuelling stop en route to the International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford.

666/3-IQ Mirage 2000D Armée del l'Air

666/3-IQ Mirage 2000D from ETD04.003 at BA133 at (LFSO) Nancy-Ochey.

356/4-FW Rafale B Adla from ETR03.003 St Dizier

356/4-FW Rafale B ETR03.003 from BA113 (LFSI) St Dizier/Robinson.

356/4-FW Rafale B Armée del l'Air

356/4-FW Rafale B Armée de l'Air.

46/2-EN Mirage 2000-5F AdlA

46/2-EN Mirage 2000-5F arriving at Evreux from GC01.002 at BA116 Luxeil/St Sauveur.

47/2-EP Mirage 2000-5F Armée del l'Air

47/2-EP Mirage 2000-5F arriving at Evreux from GC01.002 at BA116 Luxeil/St Sauveur.

59/2-EL Mirage 2000-5F Armée del l'Air

59/2-EL Mirage 2000-5F arriving at Evreux from GC01.002 at BA116 Luxeil/St Sauveur.

48/2-EW Mirage 2000-5F AdlA

48/2-EW Mirage 2000-5F arriving at Evreux from GC01.002 at BA116 Luxeil/St Sauveur.

Rafale B departs Evreux on Bastille Day 2023

Saturday, the 14th of July, Bastille Day at Evreux air base, is just brilliant for any military aviation enthusiasts as wave after wave of the participating fast jets get airborne. Once airborne, they enter into race tracks to the North West and East of Evreux airbase. 
 
3 E-2C Hawkeye French Navy

A great surprise arriving overhead is 3 E-2C Hawkeye from the French Marine at Lahn-Bhoue.

KC-135 formating with Mirage 200Ds, Rafale, AdlA

Holding in a race track to the North are the participants of the "Protection de l'espace aérien." 

Paris flypast formation

Still quite open in the formation as more jets join what will be wave four of the flypast.
Meanwhile, on the ground, the heat is on as all the air spares line up at the end of runway 22 at Evreux. 

2 E-2C Hawkeye formation with 4 Rafale M FN

Directly overhead of Evreux is the ever-increasing aircraft from the French Marine contingent, which will form formation wave nine.
 
French Navy Paris flypast formation complete

With minutes to go, we can now see all the Rafale. M's around the E-2C Hawkeye and a solo Falcon 10 serial 32 from 57S at Landivisiau at the rear of the "Groupe Aérien embarqu" formation.

KC-135 leads Rafales, Mirage 200Ds and Alpha Jet

737/31-CI Boeing C-135 Stratotanker from ERV04 at Istres/Le Tubé heads 135/30-GN Rafale C from EC02.030, 611/3-JP, 645/3-XP, 671/3-XK, and 672/3-XV all Dassault Mirage 2000D's from Nancy-Ochey.
During the form-up of formations, one air spare Mirage 2000D rapidly departed to replace one with technical issues already airborne.


Heading into Paris

The "Groupe Aérien embarqu" formation heads into Paris.

31 Rafale M French Navy emergency landing Evreux

31 Rafale M French Navy performing a full emergency landing with technical issues after passing over Paris.

31 Rafale M French Navy

31 Rafale M lands at Evreux without incident, thank goodness.

33 Rafale M French Navy

33 Rafale M from Landivisiau escorts 31 Rafale M whilst encountering an emergency.

312 Rafale French Navy Lands safely

31 Rafale M landing safely at Evreux.

ZK370/ Typhoon FGR.4 RAF joins Paris flypast

ZK370/370 Typhoon FGR.4 RAF with a French air force exchange pilot lands back at Evreux mission complete.

ZK370/370 Typhoon  FGR.4 RAF

ZK370/370 Typhoon FGR.4 from 12 Sqn RAF Lossimouth.

RB 006, RB 004 and BS 028 Rafales Indian Air Force

RB 006, RB 004, and BS 028 Rafale DH and the latter an EH run for the break to land. They come from 16 Wing 101 Squadron, the "Falcons", returning to Evreux Air Base following their flight across Paris.

RB 006 Rafale DH 101 Squadron "Falcons" Indian Air Force

RB 006 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

RB 006 Rafale DH Indian Air Force

RB 006 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.


RB 006 Rafale DH IAF Landing Evreux Air Base

RB 006 Rafale DH landing at Evreux in the background can be seen Evreux's past with the Transall and the present with the C-130 Hercules.

RB 006 Rafale DH 101 Sqn The Falcons IAF

RB 006 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron named the "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

RB 004 Rafale DH Indian Air Force

RB 004 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

RB 004 Rafale DH 101 Sqn Falcons Indian Air Force

RB 004 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

RB 004 Rafale DH Indian Air Force

RB 004 Rafale DH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

BS 028 Rafale EH 101 Sqn Falcon Indian Air Force

BS 028 Rafale EH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

BS 028 Rafale EH Indian Air Force

BS 028 Rafale EH 101Sqaudron "Falcons" of the Indian Air Force.

1018/F-RACG Beech 350 ER/ALSR AdlA

1018/F-RACG Beech350 ER/ALSR, EEA01.054.

1018/F-RACG Beech350 ER/ALSR EEA01.054 AdlA

1018/F-RACG Beech350 ER/ALSR, EEA01.054.

Well, that's it from this year's BastilleDay flypast from Evreux.

Happy Days!