Patrouille de France
Encyclopedia
The Patrouille Acrobatique de France (patʁuj akʁɔbatik də fʁɑ̃s, French Acrobatic Patrol), also known as the Patrouille de France or PAF, is the precision aerobatic demonstration team of the French Air Force
. Originating in 1931, it is one of the world's oldest and most skilled demonstration teams. Pilots currently fly the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
.
-Mondésir. It was performed by the instructors from the local flying school with Morane-Saulnier MS-230 planes. Following a successful reception the team was chosen to represent France at international events.
Over in Dijon
the "Weiser" team, consisting of 18 planes (Morane-Saulnier MS-225 and SPAD 510) gained fame for their team displays in which the planes were tied together.
The Patrouille d'Étampes team relocated to Salon-de-Provence
in 1937, adopting the name Patrouille de l'École de l'air ("Flying school Patrol"). The Second World War interrupted the operations of both teams.
In 1947, the Minister for the Air created an aerobatic team from the Air Force
. Led by Captain Perrier, a former pilot from the Patrouille d'Étampes team, it initially consisted of twelve Stampe SV.4
aircraft. Following the increasing popularity of their performances, a number of similar units were formed within the Air Force. In 1952, Squadron Leader Delachenal, a pilot from the 3rd combat division stationed at the airbase at Reims
-Champagne, formed a team of four F-84
aircraft. In 1953, during an aerial event at Maison Blanche in Algeria
, the show's commentator, carried away by the spectacle he had just witnessed, gave the team the name "Patrouille de France".
Over the following decade four separate aerial display Air Force units (12th unit – Cambrai
-Épinoy; 4th unit Bremgarten; 2nd unit – Dijon
-Longvic; 7th unit – Nancy-Ochey) continued to perform at both national and international events. In 1964 however, budget cuts led to reductions throughout the Air Force, including the dissolution of the Dassault Mystère IV
team. Nonetheless, a few months later, keen that the Patrouille de France name should not be lost, the Ministry of Defence decided to create an official "Patrouille de l'École de l'air". Its team of six Fouga Magister
aircraft stationed once again at Salon-de-Provence and became France's premier aerial display team for the next 16 years.
The final display involving the Fouga Magister, now nine in number, took place on September 16, 1980 at their home base of Salon-de-Provence
. They were replaced by seven Alpha Jet
, with an additional plane added in 1982. The aircraft, under the leadership of Squadron Leader Bernard Inge, has remained unchanged to this day.
In 1986, the team took part in an historic fly-past above New York City.
In 2009, the Patrouille de France achieved a world premiere when Commandant Virginie Guyot
was appointed leader, becoming the first -and so far only- woman in history to lead a demonstration team.
Each aircraft is painted blue-white-red, with the gun placement replaced with a smoke generator. Search lights are installed on the aircraft nose, and the viewfinder has been removed to improve visibility.
Incidents =
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
. Originating in 1931, it is one of the world's oldest and most skilled demonstration teams. Pilots currently fly the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
.
History
In 1931 France's first aerobatic demonstration took place over ÉtampesÉtampes
Étampes is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris . Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department....
-Mondésir. It was performed by the instructors from the local flying school with Morane-Saulnier MS-230 planes. Following a successful reception the team was chosen to represent France at international events.
Over in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
the "Weiser" team, consisting of 18 planes (Morane-Saulnier MS-225 and SPAD 510) gained fame for their team displays in which the planes were tied together.
The Patrouille d'Étampes team relocated to Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is the location of an important air base.-History:Salon was a Gallo-Roman oppidum well positioned on the salt trade routes between Adriatic, Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, hence its name...
in 1937, adopting the name Patrouille de l'École de l'air ("Flying school Patrol"). The Second World War interrupted the operations of both teams.
In 1947, the Minister for the Air created an aerobatic team from the Air Force
French Air Force
The French Air Force , literally Army of the Air) is the air force of the French Armed Forces. It was formed in 1909 as the Service Aéronautique, a service arm of the French Army, then was made an independent military arm in 1933...
. Led by Captain Perrier, a former pilot from the Patrouille d'Étampes team, it initially consisted of twelve Stampe SV.4
Stampe SV.4
-Bibliography:* Pacco, John. "Stampe & Vertongen SV-4B" Belgisch Leger/Armee Belge: Het Militair Vliegwezen/l'Aeronautique Militaire 1930-1940. Aartselaar, Belgium, 2003, pp. 85-86. ISBN 90-801136-6-2....
aircraft. Following the increasing popularity of their performances, a number of similar units were formed within the Air Force. In 1952, Squadron Leader Delachenal, a pilot from the 3rd combat division stationed at the airbase at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
-Champagne, formed a team of four F-84
F-84 Thunderjet
The Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
aircraft. In 1953, during an aerial event at Maison Blanche in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, the show's commentator, carried away by the spectacle he had just witnessed, gave the team the name "Patrouille de France".
Over the following decade four separate aerial display Air Force units (12th unit – Cambrai
Cambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
-Épinoy; 4th unit Bremgarten; 2nd unit – Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
-Longvic; 7th unit – Nancy-Ochey) continued to perform at both national and international events. In 1964 however, budget cuts led to reductions throughout the Air Force, including the dissolution of the Dassault Mystère IV
Dassault Mystère IV
|-See also:-External links:*...
team. Nonetheless, a few months later, keen that the Patrouille de France name should not be lost, the Ministry of Defence decided to create an official "Patrouille de l'École de l'air". Its team of six Fouga Magister
Fouga Magister
The Fouga Magister is a 1950s French two-seat jet trainer. The related CM.175 Zéphyr was a carrier-capable version for the French Navy....
aircraft stationed once again at Salon-de-Provence and became France's premier aerial display team for the next 16 years.
The final display involving the Fouga Magister, now nine in number, took place on September 16, 1980 at their home base of Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence
Salon-de-Provence is a commune in the Bouches-du-Rhône department in southern France. It is the location of an important air base.-History:Salon was a Gallo-Roman oppidum well positioned on the salt trade routes between Adriatic, Atlantic and Mediterranean seas, hence its name...
. They were replaced by seven Alpha Jet
Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet
The Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
, with an additional plane added in 1982. The aircraft, under the leadership of Squadron Leader Bernard Inge, has remained unchanged to this day.
In 1986, the team took part in an historic fly-past above New York City.
In 2009, the Patrouille de France achieved a world premiere when Commandant Virginie Guyot
Virginie Guyot
Commandant Virginie Guyot is a fighter pilot of the Armée de l'Air who achieved an historical first when she was appointed leader of the Patrouille de France, becoming the first woman in the world to command a precision aerobatic demonstration team.- Career :After following high school and...
was appointed leader, becoming the first -and so far only- woman in history to lead a demonstration team.
Aircraft
- Republic F-84F-84 ThunderjetThe Republic F-84 Thunderjet was an American turbojet fighter-bomber aircraft. Originating as a 1944 United States Army Air Forces proposal for a "day fighter", the F-84 flew in 1946...
G Thunderjet (1953–1954) - Dassault OuraganDassault OuraganThe Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production, playing a key role in resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan was operated by France, Israel, India and El Salvador...
(1954–1957) - Dassault Mystère IVDassault Mystère IV|-See also:-External links:*...
(1957–1964) - Fouga MagisterFouga MagisterThe Fouga Magister is a 1950s French two-seat jet trainer. The related CM.175 Zéphyr was a carrier-capable version for the French Navy....
(1964–1981) - Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha JetDassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha JetThe Dassault/Dornier Alpha Jet is a light attack jet and advanced trainer aircraft co-manufactured by Dornier of Germany and Dassault-Breguet of France.- Origins :...
(since 1981)
Each aircraft is painted blue-white-red, with the gun placement replaced with a smoke generator. Search lights are installed on the aircraft nose, and the viewfinder has been removed to improve visibility.
Incidents =
- 1967 – A Fouga flown by the deputy leader, Capt. Didier Duthois, failed to pull out and pancaked after the final downward bomb-burst on the last day of the Le Bourget Air Show. Killing the pilot.
- 1980 – Two Fougas collide while performing a synchronized inverted maneuver off-base. Both pilots are killed.
- 1981 – An Alphajet flown by the commander of the EPAA crashes north of Aix en Provence. The Pilot does not eject and is killed.
- 1982 – Athos 8 (opposite solo) crashes while rehearsing the display at Salon Air Base
- 1983 – Two aircraft collide while performing 4 vs 4 crossover maneuver at an airshow in Niort, France. Both pilots eject, however one of them, Lt Vuillamy, suffers fatal injuries.
- 1987 – The two solos collide during the Annemasse airshow, both pilots are uninjured
- 1991 – The two solos collide during practice over water, one pilot is killed, the other ejects and only suffers minor injuries
- 1992 – The opposite solo crashes during a training flight at Salon Air base, the pilot narrowly avoids a major expressway but activate his ejection seat too late and is killed
- 2010 – An Apha Jet E crashed near Plan de Dieu Airport (LF51), Vaucluse area, France. The pilot ejected and escaped with minor injuries.