Exercise VOLFA 2025 French Air Force Base 118 at Mont de Marsan hosts this annual air operations.

Exercise 'Volfa' 2025 kicked off at Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan on the 22nd September until 10th October. Fifty aircraft and multiple crews joined the exercise. For the fighter jets, coming from numerous French bases and the Greek and Italian Air Forces, all were based at Mont-de-Marsan. The transport aircraft were assembled at Base Aérienne 123 Orléans-Bricy; they included aircraft from the Air Forces of Canada and the UK, as well as the helicopter element based at Cazaux.  

This annual French Exercise is a test of operational readiness. I visited Mont-de-Marsan, where the French, Greek, and Italian air forces were simulating up to 20 complex air raids, both day and night, across a full spectrum of air operations, including air superiority and reconnaissance missions, in a high-intensity warfare environment. Sadly, the weather was not at its best, but one has to take the opportunities as they come.

EXERCISE VOLFA 2025.

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The objective: to demonstrate mastery of tactical know-how, strengthen the preparation of forces and affirm air superiority.

Before the sun has risen above the mass of conifers surrounding  Base Aérienne BA118 Mont-de-Marsan, the first Rafales are getting airborne, followed by Mirage 2000-5Fs, Mirage D's, Greek air force F-16's and Italian Tornado ECR jets. 

The light is terrible, but it is worth the memories: Mirage 2000-5F 41 2-FZ from GC01.002 at Luxeuil reheats out of M de M. Three Mirage 2000-5F are deployed here for Volfa 25, the other two being 54 2-EZ and 47 2-EP.

47 2-EP Mirage 2000-5D heading for TRA43, an airspace reserved for military operations.

Mirage 2000D 637 3-XQ leads, followed by 606 3-JC, 626 3-IC and 615 3-JY, all from EC03.003 at Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D on a mission to the Massif Central area of France.

Greek air force F-16CGs 518, 520, 510, and F-16DG 610. 

By the time the sun is up, some aircraft are returning.

Italian air force Tornados break for landing.

6° Stormo Italian Air Force patch.

MM7055 6-65 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo based at Ghedi.

MM7024 6-50 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf coming from GEA 6° Stormo at Ghedi.

MM7036 6-06 Tornado ECR MLU Itaf also coming from GEA 6° Stormo.

Greek F-16CG's tactical landing.

337 Mira  'Fanasma' Hellinic Air Force.

510 F-16CG 337 Mira named 'Fanasma' (Ghost) HAF, their home base being Larissa in Greece.

518 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

520 F-16CG 337 Mira HAF.

610 F-16DG 337 Mira HAF.

A330 MRTT from BA125 at Istres with two local receivers.

Three Mont de Marsan Rafales break for landing.

361 30-SJ Rafale B ECE01.030 AdlA. from Mont de Marsan.

165 30-VR Rafale C  'Côte d'Argent' BR128 Le Scarabée Blanc.

351 30-FR Rafale B EC02.30

162 5-VO Rafale C EC01.005 from BA115 at Orange.They supplied five Rafales to Volfa at Mont-de-Marsan.

5-VF Rafale C EC01.005 AdlA.

329 4-ID Rafale B EC02.004 SPA167 'Cigogne de Romanet' from Saint-Dizier.

328 4-IC EC01.004 SAL 28 'Éléphant' from St Dizier.

13 Rafale M 12F French Marine from Landivisiau airbase.

9 Rafale M 12F French Marine.

32 Rafale M from ETR03.004 at St Dizier.

Mirage 2000-5Fs returning to MdM.

54 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F  EC01.002  SPA73  'Cigogne Japonaise'.

47 2-EZ Mirage 2000-5F AdlA from Luxeuil.

Mirage 200D's tactical break for landing.

606 3-JC Mirage2000D RMV EC03.003 from Nancy-Ochey.

637 3-XQ Mirage 2000D RMV EC003.003 AdlA.

626 3-IC Mirage 2000D EC02.003 AdlA.

615 3-JY Mirage 2000D RMV EC002.003 AdlA.

107 8-UD Alpha Jet.

F-ZKBZ NH-90-TTH (FS) allocated serial 1458/EBX Armée de Terre.

Arriving at MdM from Cazaux.

5393/VC AS555AN EH01.015 'Alphilles' from BA115 at Orange.

77/XD TBM-700A ET00.041 'Verdun' from BA107 Villacoublay.

0110/F-RBAR A-400  ET04.061 'Bearn' BA115 Orleans-Bricy

742 C-130H 356 MTM 'Iraklis' (Hercules) from Elefsis.

That's it from Mont de Marsan for now; it's Exercise Garuda 2025 shortly, featuring 6x Indian Air Force Sukhoi SU-30MKI. More on that later.

Happy Days indeed!

 

Paris Défilé (flypast) what to expect for La Fête National Française 2024 (Bastille day) event.

 The Paris Défilé Flypast practice for 2024 was taking place as usual at Base Aérienne 123 Bricy, just outside the French city of Orléans. Due to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Défilé will not be held on the Champs-Élysées. Instead, it will fly up the l'Avenue Foch. For the flypast practice at BA123, this would mean an approach from the East towards Bricys runway 25 rather than the normal runway 07.

BA123 is the centre for the first practice and debrief for the team leaders. Some of the aircraft arrived the day before the practice date, and as usual, so did we. As you will see, the weather was slightly overcast to very overcast, but at least it would take place on the scheduled day, unlike the previous two years, which were rescheduled.

0137/F-RBAX A400M and Rafale B 354/30-FU 

The rest is a photographic record of what you may see from your locations across Paris for the Défilé at La Fête Nationale Française, also known as Bastille Day, on July 14th, 2024. 

F-ZAFT/FT Fokker 100 Armée de l'Air DGA-CEV coming from BA120 at Cazaux. Although it flies daily at Cazaux, this was the main reason for my visit this year.

 

 

530/3-OL Mirage 2000B from EC02.003 makes a missed approach. It is not part of the Défilé.

0012/F-RBAE A400M from ET01.061, landing back at Bricy and bringing my visit to an end.

Good hunting on Sunday.

Happy Days!