BA.112 Reims-Champagne
Dassault Mirage F.1CT taxying out to runway 25 for a mission on 29th March 2010
March 29th 2010, Base Aerienne 112 in the Champagne region of Northern France. The final chapter in the legacy that is the Dassault Mirage F.1, a classic amongst fighter aircraft first introduced into service with the Armee de L'Air in May 1967 and still soldiering on over forty years later, albeit for not much longer, as the final aircraft operating with ER033 are due to be withdrawn in 2010/2011. With this in mind Jetwash Aviation Photo's had this high on their agenda for 2010, taking a final opportunity to cross the English Channel to see this fabulous aircraft up close during its final months of service. Since the closure of Colmar-Meyenheim Air Base in 2009, Reims has operated a mix of Mrage F.1B, F.1CT and F.1CR aircraft under the auspices of the 33rd Wing. The current base commander is Colonel Jean-Michel Meyer, who took up his role at Reims in August 2009 and is a former front-line pilot with experience on the Mirage F.1, Mirage 2000C, Mirage 2000-5 and also with the German Luftwaffe as an exchange pilot on the F-4F Phantom.
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Reims has a long association with the Mirage F.1CR (above), which is the reconnaissance version of the type
History of BA.112 Reims-Champagne:-
Opened in October 1928, BA.112 housed the Breguet 19's of the 12th Regiment which moved here from Lachen-Speyedorf in Germany. Following various unit changes throughout the thirties, including use by the Royal Air Force with Fairey Battles, it was captured by the Germans in June 1940 and occupied until August 1944. From September 1945 it was used by the U.S Air Force until being handed back to the French Air Force in 1950, when the Armee de L'Air commenced jet operations here with the De Havilland Vampires of 3 Wing. One of the most notable landmarks in Reims' history is the formation of 3 Squadron as an aerobatic unit, later to become the Patrouille de France. Following use of the Republic F-84 Thunderjet and North American F-100 Super Sabre the 30th Fighter Wing moved in with the Vautour IIN in 1961 and the associated 2/30 Squadron 'Normandie-Niemen' (a future Mirage F.1 unit). From 1961 to 1978 the base housed a transport unit (62 Wing) with the Nord 2501 Noratlas and Breguet 941S. The first Mirage F.1's arrived here in 1973 with the current units (01/033 and 02/033) moving here in 1994 from Strasbourg with their F.1CR reconnaissance versions upon closure of their previous home base. The Mirage F.1's currently based at Reims are a mix of single seat F.1CT and two-seat F.1B's operated by ER 02/033 'Savoie' and the F.1CR reconnaissance version operated by both ER 02/033 and ER 01/033 'Belfort'.
Of the two squadrons at Reims, ER 01/033 is due to disband in June of this year, with its aircraft then being transferred to ER 02/033. This unit will then continue to fly here until some time in 2011 when the squadron will transfer to Mont De Marsan. The expectation then is that BA.112 will close and flying at Reims-Champagne will finally come to an end as far as the Armee de L'Air is concerned.
Dassault Mirage F.1 History:-
The Dassault Mirage F.1 was designed as a successor to the delta-winged Mirage 3 fighter. Unlike its predecessor it has a swept wing mounted high on the fuselage and a conventional tail surface. The first prototype flew on 23rd December 1966 and was accepted into service with the French Air Force in May 1967. It proved to be a far superior airframe to the Mirage 3, giving better maneuverability, superior range and a shorter take-off run. The first production Mirage F.1C was equipped with a Thomson-CSF Cyrano monopulse radar. Between 1979 and 1983 the Mirage F.1C-200 was produced, providing a refuelling probe and a slightly extended fuselage. It was from this version that the F.1CT would later be converted.
The Mirage F.1CR tactical reconnaissance version first flew on the 20th November 1981. Sixty-four of these aircraft were produced and entered service in July 1983. The F.1CR is capable of carrying a variety of reconnaissance equipment both internally and externally, including the SSM2400 Super Cyclone infrared linescan unit in the nose section where the cannon was housed on fighter/ground attack versions, the Thomson-TRT 33 and Thomson-TRT 40 cameras, plus additional optical and electronic sensors on the hard points under the wings and fuselage. The Cyrano IVM-R radar on the F.1CR version also has additional ground and contour mapping modules.
The Mirage F.1CT, as mentioned above, was a conversion of the Mirage F.1C-200 airframe into a dedicated ground attack version. This came about when the withdrawal of the SEPECAT Jaguar and Mirage 5 left the Armee De L'Air with a shortage of aircraft in this role. A total of fifty-seven were converted, gaining the Cyrano IVM-R radar (as in the F.1CR), an upgraded navigation/attack system with laser rangefinder, improved radar detection and warning devices, flare dispensers and Martin-Baker Mk.10 ejection seats.
The current Mirage F.1 force at BA.112 is made up of five Mirage F.1B, eight Mirage F.1CT and forty Mirage F.1CR aircraft. There are of course a number of 'spares' in addition to these aircraft which are currently undergoing maintenance etc. Operations currently undertaken by the Mirage F.1CR include three aircraft assigned to Operation Heracles in Afghanistan, which is part of 'Enduring Freedom' under the auspices of ISAF. These aircraft are due to be replaced some time in 2010 by three Mirage 2000D from EC 003 at Nancy-Ochey. Four Mirage F.1CR's are also detached to Chad in Central Africa as part of the U.N mandate 'Minurcat' under Operation Epervier.
The Mirage F.1CR's are operated by both squadrons at Reims and aircraft are "pooled" between the two squadrons.
However, as with aircraft 643 (above) they do continue to wear the markings of either ER 01/033 or ER 02/033
A Mirage F.1CR taxies towards the threshold of runway 25 on 29th March 2010 with the base control tower in the background
F.1CR seen in the maintenance hanger at BA.112 Reims on 29th March 2010
Inside the maintenance hanger a SNECMA Atar 9K-50 Turbojet is prepared for remounting into a Mirage F.1 after overhaul.
The engine, which generates 15,785 lbs (7200 Kg) of thrust with after-burning is capable of providing Mach 2.2 perfromance at 40,000 feet and Mach 1.2 at low altitude.
All of the Mirage F.1B's (above) and Mirage F.1CT's are operated by Escadre 02/033 "Savoie"
This former Colmar based Mirage F.1B still retains the scheme applied to commemorate the disbandment of EC 02/030 in June 2008
The only alteration to the scheme being the application of its BA.112 code on the nose
A Mirage F.1CT crosses the threshold of runway 25.
The average mission time during our visit was in the order of 30-40 minutes.
Only one shelter area is now used at BA.112, a mixture of Hardened Aircraft Shelters (HAS) and open "barns" as seen in the photo above
An Armee De L'Air pilots straps into his Mirage F.1C prior to an afternoon mission at Reims
If you are wondering why 517 (above) has a red surround on it's forward canopy it's quite simple really.
Take a closer look at the specially marked 518 and you will notice a grey forward canopy. They have been switched!
We presume the reason why this Armee de L'Air pilot has a Soviet Star on his helmet is due to the history of squadron exchanges taking place between the Soviet Union and the French Air Force at Reims Air Base dating back over many decades. This originated from the Free French Air Forces sending the 'Normandie Niemen' unit to the Soviet Union in 1942 to fight alongside Soviet troops. Over 5,000 sorties were flown in that time with 273 victories credited.
Sadly for us no exchanges have taken place since the late 70's and with the future of BA.112 being short, there is little hope of this happening in the future.
One of a pair of Dassault Mirage F.1B's taxies out for another mission on the morning of 29th March 2010
There are two THALES Mirage F.1 simulators on the air base at Reims, this one being the F.1CR "Space Magic" version.
Thanks go to the following for arranging and escorting us during our visit to BA.112
Aspirant Guillaume Laurent
Adjutant Eric "Robby" Robertson
Colonel Jean-Michel Meyer (Base Commander)