It was a long wait. The Châteaubernard airbase in Cognac was selected to host the 2020 Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace Meeting National, also known as the National Air Force Airshow. However, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic cancelled this event, along with most other major gatherings.
A new date was set for 2021, but another wave of COVID-19 swept the globe, resulting in the cancellation again. By 2022, it was uncertain what would happen next.
As dates began to appear on the 2022 airshow calendar, it was finally announced that Cognac would host that year's National Meeting, which had been postponed for the previous two years.
The last airshow held at Cognac was in 2013. Since then, much has changed. The TB-30 Epsilon training aircraft have been replaced by Pilatus PC-21s, civilian-registered Grob G120As operated by SOCATA/EADS, and AdlA MQ-9A Reaper drones, which are now based at Cognac.
12/709FN PC-21 seen landing back at Cognac.
532/33-EN MQ-9A Reaper ED.02.033 'Savoie'.
94/315-XK TB-30 Epsilon "Petit Prince" special marks are one of two preserved at Cognac; the other is 105/F-SEXV, which is in the colours of the "Cartouche Doré" display team.
A footnote: After weeks of sunshine, the Friday arrival day was to see overcast and misty conditions.
CE.16-01/11-01
EF2000T Ala 11 EdA. Arriving along with C.16-52/11-52 and C.16-40/11-40, both EF2000s are also from Ala 11.
F-AYSB F-86A Sabre marked as 01675/FU-675 ex 01+13.
Sunrise on Saturday morning, with a clear sky and temperatures reaching a sweltering 36°.
H29
A109BA 1W BAF Special colours.
C.16-52/11-52 EF2000 and CE.16-01/11-52 EF2000T on the Flightline.
510 F-16C 343 Mira early morning practice flight.
15/709FQ PC-21 with 04/709FF and 05/709FG from tactical demonstration team '
Mustang X Ray'
F-AZKM )
V-10B marked as 155454/UU-26
USMC ex 99+24.
F-AZXV CM170 marked 479/2-HB.
122/30-GA RafaleC EC03.030 Sp/C was seen on Saturday before the Sunday mishap when 110/30-IN clipped its tailplane. Both aircraft from the Vautour team landed safely, although debris dropped from 122/30-GA damaged a house in a local village. Luckily, nobody was injured or worse.
The cause may have been a wind gust, as a large storm was forecast for Sunday evening, which would break the intense heat of the weekend.
136/4-GO
Rafale Solo presentation coming from St Dizier.
2802/SK EC725R from EH01.067'
Pyrénées' from BA 120 at Cazaux.
The EC725R '
Caracal' is used by special forces, as was demonstrated.
PC-9Ms of the Croatian Air Force' Wings of the Storm' practise during Friday's misty weather.
E80
Alpha Jet E DGA-EV leads Monday's departures. The weather had changed to heavy rain overnight, and it had not stopped by the time of the show's departures.
120/115-KC Mirage 2000C from EC02.005.
The 120/115-KC Mirage 2000C from EC02.005 was notable for some fascinating, particularly marked aircraft.
109/115-YH Mirage 2000C EC02.005
136/4-GO Rafale C ETR03.004. Solo presentation team special marks.
322 M346A 150Sqn RSiAF Special colours, showing how bad Monday's conditions were. Not to mention how wet I was!
322 M346A RSiAF close-up of the special marks.
140/4-GS Rafale C ETR03.004 spare aircraft.
146/30-GY Rafale arriving at Cognac Monday morning from Mont de Marsan.
30 Rafale M FN Special colours.
725/UV
HK-36TTC also from EIVV25.535 'Cordouan'
510 F-16C 343Mira HAF.
538 F-16C 343Mira HAF.
A farewell wave from 'Mustang X-Ray'
To see the 2004 meeting, press the link below.
