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Saint-Dizier AB, France, May 31, 2017 |
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| Location: Saint-Dizier AB, France |
| Admission: Not a public event, spotters day May 31st, 50€ per person |
| Parking: Free on-site |
| Value:Excellent |
| Rating out of 10: Not an air show |
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Rafale Solo Demo, Armee de l'air
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While in previous years the French Air Force conducted three Meetings Aérien a year, in 2017 there were only two. The first was held at the Base Aérienne 106 Bordeaux-Mérignac and the second one at the Base Aérienne 113 Saint-Dizier. The Fondation des Oeuvres Socicales de l'air (FOSA) organized a spotters day on Friday May 31st, 2017 for about 250 aviation enthusiasts at Saint-Dizier. Positions close to the runway/taxiway provided excellent opportunities to take photos of the aircraft flying in or rehearsing for the airshow on the weekend. The weather was a mix of rain and scattered clouds with sun. Usually, an aviation photographer prefers sun instead of rain. However, the high percentage of humidity provided a lot of possibilities to get an impression of the aerodynamics of jet fighters. Ambient humidity condenses to vapor when the air temperature reduces below the dew point as a result of reduced air pressure. Thus, airflow separations and vortices could be seen perfectly. |
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| As for every military airshow, historic and current aircraft were on show. Several foreign countries sent aircraft for the static and dynamic display. For Example the RAF sent a Tornado GR4 and a Hawk, the Spanish AF brought an EF2000, the RDAF participated with two F-16, the Swiss AF had two F/A-18 and a Super Puma helicopter. Even the Austrian AF flew in with two venerable Saab 105OE. A highlight was the newly formed display team "Couteau Delta" with two Mirage 2000D. This team is the successor to the "Ramex Delta" team and is based at BA 133 Nancy-Ochey. Also, fairly new in the airshow business is the "Sparflex" team. This is a privately owned, French aerobatic team performing their displays with two L-39 Albatros. |
| The noisy part of the day was the solo displays of a Spanish EF2000, a French Rafale and Mirage 2000s, a Danish F-16 and a Swiss F/A-18. Significantly less noisy but just as remarkable were the performances of historic aircraft. Some of these were a German Klemm 35D built in 1940, a North American T-6 Texan from 1942, a 1943 Convair BT-43 and the Morane Saulnier MS-317 manufactured in 1947. Also on show were two replicas of biplane fighter aircraft flown during World War I, a hundred years ago: a Sopwith Pup and a Nieuport 28 C.1.
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Participating Aircraft: |
Alpha Jet
EF2000
F-16
F18
Hawk
Mirage 2000
Rafale
Tornado
Saab 105OE
L-39 – Sparflex Team
Beech 1900D
CN235M
Epsilon
Super Puma
Extra 300L – Royal Jordanian Falcons
Pitts-1D Special
T-6D Texan
Morane-Saulnier 317
Piaggio FWP-149D
Klemm 35
Sopwith Pup Replica
Nieuport 28 Replica
Convair BT-13A
Dassalut MD-312 Flamant |
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Report and photography by Ralf Peter Walter for
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