Legendary Moments in Military Aviation: PC-6

The Armée de Terre launched their Bastille Day Défile aircraft from Chartres airport, and from there, they joined the 2024 flypast over Paris. As I have said, the 2024 flypast was different, and the aircraft flew along Avenue Foch due to the preparations for the Olympic Games.

Below is a record of the preparation and launch on Sunday morning, July 14th, which coincided with Bastille Day.

An early Sunday morning, July 14th, arrival at Chartres airport.

5544/AYM AS555UN EALAT Armée de Terre.

dominates the backdrop.

5544/AYM AS555UN EALAT Armée de Terre.

are lined up South of the runway.

beyond.

As the launch time approaches, all engines are started, including the air spares for all types. The first Vanguard is the PC6s, heading for the runway.

2027/BHS Tigre HAP from 5RHC running up with .

F-HBKR/R EC120B Colibri from Helidax at Dax.

also in the first Vanguard.

5544/AYJ AS555UN.

MCE prepares to roll.

will lead the heavies.

It's getting congested.

to bring up the rear of the participating in the .

The second wave is away.

Turning East for Paris.

Heading for the .

Use the link to see the fixed-wing section of the flypast, which was practised at earlier in July.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2024/07/paris-2024-defile-flypast-what-to-expect.html

Great weather made for some Happy memories.

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

l’Armée de Terre open day 1992 at Compiegne in Northern France

Back in 1992, I frequently visited , and on this one occasion, my visit coincided with the Sunday at .

Looking back, it was a different environment from what we find today; I arrived early Saturday evening, having travelled from the , and I slept in the van alongside the fence between two base hangars.

Sunday morning, with the Sun rising and a perfect blue sky, ground crews were busy arriving at the base and preparing for a great day. I was allowed access to the airfield at that early hour. Walking around the rows of , the overnight condensation was still evident on the cockpits.

These are a few of the photographs I captured on slide film that morning.