Patrouille de France

Infobox Aviation
name=Patrouille de France


caption=The "Patrouille de France" in 2005

The Patrouille Acrobatique de France ("French Acrobatic Patrol") commonly referred to as Patrouille de France and sometimes abbreviated as 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 prestigious. [ [http://timescorrespondents.typepad.com/charles_bremner/2008/04/post.html Charles Bremner - Times Online - WBLG: French pilots show women can fly ] ] Pilots currently fly the Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet.

History

In 1931 France's first aerobatic demonstration took place over Étampes-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 net 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.

Aircraft

* Republic F-84 G Thunderjet (1953-1954)
* Dassault Ouragan (1954-1957)
* Dassault Mystère IV (1957-1964)
* Fouga Magister (1964-1981)
* Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet (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 =
*2002 - During a training flight, the #4, Athos4, died in an accident. The cause for this tragedy was that after the Alphajet's crash, the pilot ejected at low altitude and therefore the parachute could not open at its full.
*Unknown date - Two planes collided each other while in a loop. The two pilots survived with the parachute. The rest of the planes landed in the airport.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.patrouilledefrance.com/ Official website]
* [http://english.people.com.cn/200410/21/eng20041021_161008.html "People's Daily" article about the "Patrouille" performances in China (2004)]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYmSGdpA-J0 "The Patrouille de France crash"]