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!

 

St Dizier Airshow 2022 "Journées Portes Ouvertes" at Base Ariene BA113.

With the "Meeting National" 2022 staged at Cognac Châteaubernard, it was now time for BA113 at Saint-Dizier/Robinson airbase to open its gates to the public with "Journées Portes Ouvertes."

Saint-Dizier/Robinson is home to the French Air Force's 4th Fighter Wing (4e Escadre de Chasse), which comprises three squadrons.

EC01.004 'Gascogne', EC02.004 'La Fayette', and ETR03.004 'Aquitaine', which is the combined Rafale training unit or 'Escadron de transformation', and includes Rafale M from the Marine alongside AdlA Rafales. 

Although JPO is secondary to the "Meeting National", it did not feel like it at St Dizier on the weekend of the 25th and 26th of June 2022. Blessed with relatively good weather on Friday, June 24th, we were treated to various military aircraft arriving from across France and Europe.

On Saturday, with an early start, we toured the base, photographing the flight line and preserved aircraft found stored around the base. It was also interesting to visit the maintenance hangars and see the levels of work being carried out on some of the Rafale jets.

Here are the results of a great weekend.

313/4-HI Rafale B ETR03.004 "Bison" seen recovering to  BA113 at Saint Dizier/Robinson.

A lineup of mixed Rafale types from ETR03.004 'Aquitaine' and the combined training unit  'Escadron de transformation'  lined up in the static display and armed with the varied armaments they could be seen to deploy with. 

The Patrouille de France arrived over St-Dizier, escorted by two home-based Rafales. 

326/4-HY Rafale B EC01.004 "Gascogne" ESC BR66 "Faucon Egyptian".

314/4-HP Rafale B EC01.004 " Gascogne" SPA37 "Charognard".

Sheltered Rafale 326/4-HY  EC01.004 "Gascogne" ESC BR66 "Faucon Eygtian". 

345/4-FL EC02.004 "La Fayette" SPA81 "Levrier".

351/4-FR Rafale B EC02.004 "La Fayette" N214 "Tête de Soissons". 

Patrouille de France catches some attractive light as they arrive from Base 701 Salon-de-Provence in Southern France.

The T-785 Falcon 900EX arrives early, ahead of the two FA-18Cs of SwissAF.

J-5014 F/A-18C SwissAF is making a fast descent across St. Dizier.

643/3-JD Mirage 2000D  EC03.003 "Ardennes" BR44 "Sanglier assis" from Nancy-Ochey.

643/3-JD Mirage 2000D  EC03.003 "Ardennes" BR44 "Sanglier assis" holding the nose up for the photographers.

16/709FR PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

Flying for the"Mustang-Ray" demonstration team.

17/709FS PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

09/709FK PC-21 EAC00.315 from BA709 Chateaubernard at Cognac. 

ET-613 F-16BM RDAF touching down at St Dizier. (Have Glass V colours).

55/2-EU Mirage 2000-5F EC01.002 "Cigognes" SPA103 'Cigogne de Fonck".

55/2-EU Mirage 2000-5F. Sadly, they will soon be taken out of service.

55/2-EU Mirage2000-5F makes the photographers happy with a brake chute. 

E176/8-MB Alpha Jet E from EE03.008 "Côte de d'Or" at BA120 Cazaux in the Southwest of France.

They are some of the last still flying and are used in the aggressor role.

78/XE TBM700A CEAM.

117/XN TBM700A ET00.043 "Médoc" ECA43 from BA106 Bordeaux/Mérignac.

198/64-HF CN235M from ET03.062 "Vercors" at BA105 at Evreux.

La Patrouille de France.

E48/6 Alpha Jet E EPAA 20.300/PdF.

FA-67 F-16AM "Dream Viper" 2Wing BAF.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tête d'hibou".

I made the best display on the Friday practice and earned well-deserved applause from the photographers.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tête d'hibou". In action over St Dizier.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tête d'Hibou". Passing with a tremendous coloured sky behind.

0019/F-RBAG A400M ET01.061 "Touraine" VB101 "Tête d'Hibou". Landing after its display.

A124/11-RJ Jaguar A, EC 11

A113/7-HT Jaguar A, EC7. Both Jaguars are in front of the tower.

52-8997/1-PA F-84F. Near the main gate and marked as 29094.

046 CM-170 Magister.

16524/338-H T-33A

347/30-FB SO.4050N Vautour EC30.

16/AO Mirage 1VA is one of two preserved at St Dizier. The second one can be seen in photo number six, under the landing Rafale, serial 61/CH, Mirage 1VP, and belongs to the Aeroclub Vol Moteur collection.

Access to the collection is from the other side of the airfield.

16/AO Mirage 1VA FAF.

Early morning at St Dizier.

16/AO Mirage 1VA et 0019/F-RBAG A.400M ET01.061.

16/AO Mirage 1VA et 0019/F-RBAG A.400M ET01.061.

55/2-EU Mirage 2000-5F EC01.002.

198/64-HF CN-235M.300 ET03.062.

La Patrouille de France.

Rafale taxiing.

ET-613  F-16BM FWS RDAF is taking off for its display.

ET-613  F-16BM FWS RDAF. (Dannebrog colours).

J-5002 F/A-18C Swiss Air Force display is complete.

046/F-UJCL A330MRT ERVTS 01.031

046/F-UJCL A330MRT ERVTS 01.031 and 313/4-HL Rafale B ETR 03.004.

Very different flying speeds 313/4-HL Rafale B and F-GEKD a Robin DR400 from the St Dizier flying club.

 

F-AZTK as 3198/DL-UI Luftwaffe SK-15A Ex Swedish air force 5020.

F-AZKT MD-311 ex 260/316-KT FAF.

N52533 PT-17BW  flying as 2390/297 USN and ex-USAAF 41-8831.

 

F-AZHR T-28A as 517749/749 USN ex FAF.

F-AZVN Havard T-6G as 49-2983/983 RCAF ex FAF.

F-AYFM TB-30 as 67/315-WJ Special colours EALA 9/72.

F-AYPT M-62A-3/PT-19 as 163 RNorAF, ex RCAF EW477.

F-BNDD MH1521M ex 240/330-IN.

F-GKJT MH1521M ex 106/33-JT.

F-AZCQ Havard T-6G ex SpAF E.16-193.

350/4-FQ Rafale B.

That's it from a great Airshow 2022 at St-Dizier.

"Happy days indeed".