Polish Airforce Sukhoi SU-22M4 Fitters visit Reims Champagne flying local missions with the AdlA Mirage F1CRs Summer 2006

June 2006 marked the arrival of Polish Air Force Sukhoi Su-22M4 jets at Base Aérienne 112 Reims-Champagne, located approximately 130 kilometres Northeast of Paris, France. They were deployed for approximately three weeks and flew missions with the home-based Reconnaissance-based Dassault Mirage F1CRs from 1/33 Belfort Squadron and 2/33 Savoie. I cannot be certain of the Polish base from which they deployed, as four tactical air squadrons operated the type at the time. They were the 8 ELT (Squadron) from 12 BLOT (Air Base) at Miroslawiec, 40 ELT from 21 BLOT Swidnica Smardzko, and 6 ELT and 7 ELT operating from 33 BLOT at Powidz. 

The weather during their last week of deployment was glorious, although taking photographs in these beautiful conditions caused problems with heat haze. 

The last week of their deployment coincided with the 2nd of July air show at BA103, Cambrai Base Aérienne, located further north of Reims. A bonus during this final week at Reims was the deployment of Belgian Air Force F-16s and a couple of SIAI 260s transiting from or to BA709 Cognac-Chateauxbernard airbase in the Southwest of France.

All great memories from a super-base in its day, and even more poignant with this year's final withdrawal from service of this great aircraft from the Polish Air Force. They also looked different in their camouflage colours nineteen years ago; they finished their active service in a grey scheme in October 2025.

8309 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.

This aircraft flew to the end of the type's operational service with the Polish Air Force in October 2025. 

8309 SU-22M-4 Visited the 2023 International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, not in this 2006 camouflage scheme.

8309 awaits clearance to runway 25.

8920 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.

Status: It was withdrawn from service in 2014; its fate is unknown.

8920 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force, cleared to line up for its mission.

Arriving back at BA112 Reims Champagne.

642 33-NC Mirage F1CR.

Status: To the civil register as N629AY.

3817 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force, arriving back at Reims.

Status: Withdrawn from use in 2023; again, its fate is unknown.

642 33-NC Mirage F1CR lands after escorting 3817 back to Reims.

640 33-NV Mirage F1CR taking off at BA

8920 SU-22M-4 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force taxies from runway 07 at Reims Champagne.

8920 SU-22M-4 close up.

651 33-NB Mirage F1CR with the iconic landscape backdrop at BA112 Riems-Champagne.

606,616, and 662 line up on the last chance.

3817 SU-22M-4 Polish Air Force.

3817 SU-22M-4.

610 33-CI   Mirage F1CR 1/33 Belfort 'Red Lion'

Status: 118-CI to an Instructional Airframe at Rochefort St Agnant.

Today, an MQ-9 Drone squadron.

653 33-CV Mirage F1CR 1/33 Belfort 'Petit Prince'

Status: Today, in the civil register, it shows N633AX.

The 'Petit Prince today operates Grob G120A-F aircraft at BA709 Cognac/Châteabernard.

647 33-NF  Mirage F1CR.

Status: Another one transferred to an instructional airframe at Base Aérienne 721 Rochefort as 118-CI.

640 33-NV  Mirage F1CR.

Status: Stored in the USA.

653 33-CZ  Mirage F1CR.

Status: registered with the US Civil register as N645AX.

FA133 and FB-12 Lockheed Martin/SABACA F-16s from Florennes 1 sqn 2 Wing Belgian Air Force.

FA-56 and FB-15 31 Sqn OCU 10 Wing BAF from Kliene Brogel.

ST-12 and ST19 SF-260MB 5 Sqn 1Wing BAF at Beauvechain.

518 30-SR Mirage F1B EC.01.030. BA132 Colmar/Meyenheim.

Status: Preserved at the Lyon Corbas Museum, coded 5-OM.

Great Memories.

International Air Tattoo (IAT) 1991 'Salut to Gulf War'.

The 1991 International Air Tattoo, held at the picturesque RAF Fairford, stands out as one of the most remarkable military airshows in history. This year's event was characterised by two distinct and captivating themes. The first, a heartfelt 'Salute to the Gulf War,' reflected the ongoing conflict that had unfolded since the last time we gathered at IAT. This theme was vividly represented by an impressive lineup of vivid pink-colored fighter jets and support aircraft, each bearing the marks of their recent service in the Gulf.

The second theme, 'Tiger Meet,' was hosted by the illustrious 74 Tiger Squadron of the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Wattisham and renowned for their Phantoms. This theme brought forth an extraordinary display of aircraft adorned in striking tiger-themed colour schemes, captivating the audience with their eye-catching designs. Among the stars of the show were two magnificently painted aircraft from the French Armée de l'Air: a Mirage F1C and a Fouga CM-170R, each featuring exquisite artistry that paid homage to the Tiger Meet tradition.

I have previously explored the fascinating details of the 'Tiger Meet' event, and I will share that link for those interested below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/03/tiger-meet-mini-raf-fairford-iat-1991.html

Now, let us turn our attention to the diverse array of aircraft that gathered at the unforgettable 1991 International Air Tattoo.

ZA395/N Tornado GR1A 2Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZA465/FK Tornado GR1 16Sqn RAF.

Status: Preserved at the IWM Duxford with the code (FF).

ZD951 Tristar K1 216 Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

XT899/B/B Phantom FGR2 19Sqn RAF.

Status: To the Czech Air Force Museum at Kbely.

ZA606 Tornado GR1 45Sqn 75th Anniversary livery RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZE785/AO Tornado F3 229 OCU RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

ZE167 Tornado F3 25 Sqn RAF.

Status: Scrapped.

XW988 Buccaneer S2B ETPS.

Status: To civil register as ZU-AVI.

ZH102/02 Sentry AEW1 8Sqn RAF.

Status: Was stored at RAF Waddington marked "Dopey".

1407/320 TU-134AK 3 Dopravni Sqn.

Status: To the civil register as EW-65861.

1407/320 TU-134AK 3 Dopravni Sqn Czech Air Force.

2105 AN-12BP 1 Dropravni Sqn Czech Air Force.

Status: To the civil register as LZ-SFU.

4644/246 MiG-23ML 2Sqn/1 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Preserved at the Liborzy Letecké Museum in "Tiger Colour scheme"

4644/246 MiG-23ML 2Sqn/1 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Preserved at the Liborzy Letecké Museum in "Tiger Colour scheme"

7501 MiG-29 1Sqn/11 Wing Czech Air Force.

Status: Passed to the Slovakian Air Force as 7501 and is today preserved at Sliač Airbase.

MM7037/36-37 Tornado 36º Stormo Italian Air Force.

Status: Preserved at Pratica di Mare with the RSV in 70th Anniversary RSV "fantasy" livery.

 

MM7038/38 36º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Was active in 2018 with GEA6 Stormo.

MM7080/80 Tornado 36º Stormo ItAF,'301' is the Paris airshow number.

Status: Preserved at Aviano.

 

MM7092/RS-14 AMX from the RSV ItAF.

Status: Scrapped.

MM7112/51-52 AMX 51º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Withdrawn from use at Amendola Airbase.

MM6824/53-02 F-104S 53º Stormo ItAF.

Status: Dismantled at Decimomannu Airbase on Sardinia.

65-5911/9-9111 TF104G 192 Filo TurAF.

Status: Preserved at Izmir University, ex 27+82.

63-7037/9-037 F-104G 192 Filo TurAF.

Status: Stored at Diyarbakir, ex 21+68.

2601 T-38A 301 Esq. PortAF (FAP).

Status: Preserved outside at the Alverca Museum do Ar.

5549 Vought TA-7P Corsair 304 Esq FAP.

Status: Became 15549, later scrapped.

5532 Vought A-7P Corsair 304 Esq FAP departing for its home base at Monte Real.

Status: Became 15532 and later an Instructional airframe.

222 Northrop F-5A 336 Skv RNorAF.

Status: W/O August 1992.

222 and 132 Northrop F-5As 336 Skv RNorAF.

Status: 132 preserved at Ørland with Tiger livery.

J-3091 and J-3084 Northrop F-5Es 11 Staffel SwissAF with 3082 below. If memory serves me, they arrived late and could not be displayed alongside the other "Tiger" aircraft, so they remained on the North Side.

Status: Both are seen today flying with the Patrouille Suisse.

J-3082 Northrop F-5E 11 Staffel SwissAF. The three F-5Es were quite the stars at that 1991 "Mini Tiger Meet" and IAT.

Status: Still active with the Patrouille Suisse, unfortunately not with the 11th "Tiger" Staffel.

CS-03 HS748-2A BAF

Status: Sadly, cut up.

BD-03 Mirage 5BD 16 SM BAF. What an exciting takeoff! I managed to cut the tailplane in my excitement.

Status: Sold to the Chilean Air Force as 717.

  

41+63 Alpha Jet A JBG43 WGAF.

Status: Re-registered as 98+63.

45+88 Tornado MFG1 Marineflieger.

Status: Transferred to the Luftwaffe's TLG33.

C15-36/15-23 EF-18A Ala15 EdA.

 Status: Active.

ET-614 F-16B EsK 726 RDAF.

Status Active.

J-065 F-16B 315 Sqn Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Status: Scrapped.

80-0050/IS F-15C 57FIS AFI USAF.

Status: Preserved at Tyndal AFB ex Pima Museum (TY).

 

80-0042/IS F-15C 57FIS USAF.

Status: To the 95th FS (TY) and now stored at 309th AMARG.

87-0337/TJ F-16C 16th AF 612TFS USAFE.

Status: Passed to the 120th FS Colorado ANG (CO) and was W/O 2005.

85-1422/RS F-16C 526th TFS USAFE.

Status: To a QF-16C at Cecil Field.

80-0003/BT F-15C 36 TFW USAFE.

Status: Passed to the 114th FS, Oregon ANG (OR) and to storage with the 309th AMARG.

 

73-0997/PT Vought A-7D Corsair II 112 TFG Pennsylvania ANG.

Status: Scrapped.

71-0362/PT and 73-0997/PT Vought A-7D Corsair II 112 TFG Pennsylvania ANG.

Status: Scrapped.

69-7212/SP F-4G 52 TFW USAFE.

Status: Scrapped.

87-0270/SP F-16C 52TFW USAFE.

Status: Written off 1994.

79-0218/WR A-10A 92TFS USAFE.

Status: Stored 309th AMARG.

71-0884/LN F-111F 492TFS USAFE.

Status: To (CC) and scrapped at 309th AMARG.

83-0502 C-20A USAF.

Status: Active with NASA; the same serial number is used.

71-0878  C-9A Nightingale 55 AAS USAF.

Status: Preserved at Lackland AFB.

58-0046 KC-135Q (Platsburgh) 380BW.

Status: Active with the 54th ARS.

58-0229 B-52G 97BW USAF arriving at RAF Fairford.

58-0229 B-52G 97BW touching down at RAF Fairford.

Today, 58-0229 is scrapped.

150687/687 JL-04 "Nightrider" KC-130F VR22 USN.

Status: Stored at 309th AMARG.

146454/004 EA-3B VQ2 USN.

146454/004 was one of the show's highlights.

146454/004 EA-3B VQ2 USN.

Status: To Raytheon as N574HA.

164105/105 KC-130T NY-4105 USMC.

Status: Active with VX-20.

551 BAC 1-11 Omani Air Force.

Status: Stored at Seeb.

A20-627 Boeing 707 338C 33Sqn RAAF.

Status: Preserved at Wollongong Airport (NSW).

A97-117/77 C-130E 37Sqn RAAF.

Status: To the Pakistan Air Force as 4177.

6 Super Étendard 17F  FN (Aéronautique navale). 

                                               Status: It is an Instructional Air Frame at Estairs.

511/2-FH Mirage 2000B EC.2.2 AdlA.

Status: Written off February 02.

512/2-FI Mirage 2000B EC2.2 AdlA

Status: Preserved in Paris and marked 335.

544/312-TM  CM-170R GI312 Adla. One of the four that participated in the "Tiger Meet".

572/AD CM-170R catching the real spirit of a Tiger Meet.

16/12-YH Mirage F1C EC.12 AdlA.

Status: Stored at Rochefort St Agnant.

188169 CF-118A 439Sqn RCAF, one of the four attending the Tiger Meet.

Status: All four are still active with the RCAF. 

Here is the link to the Tiger Meet.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2020/03/tiger-meet-mini-raf-fairford-iat-1991.html

Hope you enjoyed it!

Happy Days!