Hyeres Air Show
"100 Years Aeronavale"
June 13th 2010 and Jetwash Aviation Photo's descends upon the Mediterranean coast of Southern France along with a large percentage of the European aviation community for the 100th Anniversary of the Aeronavale, the air arm of the Marine Nationale. The base chosen to form the main focus of the celebrations was Hyeres, a small airfield housing 31 Flottille operating the Westland Lynx, 35 Flottille with Allouette 3 and AS.365 helicopters, 36 Flottille with the AS.565 Panther and CEPA (Centre d'Experimentation Practique de l'Aeronautique.
This beautiful Dassault Super Etendard SEM was one of a number of aircraft painted in commemorative schemes at Hyeres
The first aircraft to be operated by the French Navy in 1910 was the Fabre Hydravion "Le Canard" seaplane. In 1911 the Marine Nationale built the first seaplane carrier in history when the 'Foudre' was re-built as such, having initially been commissioned as a torpedo boat tender in 1896. In those early days of naval aviation the float-planes were stored below decks and lowered into the sea via a crane as and when required. How times have changed, today the Aeronavale is equipped with a modern fleet of aircraft such as the Dassault Rafale M, the Grumman E-2C Hawkeye and numerous helicopter types of which the most recent, the NH.90 is commencing delivery as we write.
A number of aircraft carriers were in the Hyeres area on the day of the show, with promises of participation from most, notably the Nimitz-Class carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). So with high expectations we readied ouselves to get in and amongst the action at what turned out be be an excellent show performed in typically hot and sunny Mediterannean weather. With the promise of an aircaft of every type currently operated by the Aeronavale this was an opportunity that was too good to miss, as rarely if ever has a show this large and this adventurous been staged by the French Navy.
This Grumman E-2C Hawkeye is one of three such aircraft operated by 4 Flottille based at Lorient/Lann Bihoue
165648 was another E-2C present at Hyeres. This aircraft was one of a number visiting from the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft
carrier that was moored in Hyeres bay on the day of the show. The aircraft is from VAW-126 based at Norfolk, Virginia
The newest aircraft in the French Navy's inventory is the NH.90 NFH helicopter. Number 2 seen above is presumably serving
with 10S/CEPA at Hyeres, although no unit markings are carried. It will join 31 Flottille at Hyeres and was delivered to the
Aeronavale on May 5th. The primary role of the NH.90NFH is ASW and ASuW
The Falcon 50 SURMAR fleet is based at Lann Bihoue with 24 Flottille in the maritime surveillance role
Serving with 21 Flottille at nearby Nimes/Garons is this Breguet Atlantique NG
Initial deliveries of the Rafale M were to F.1 standard. These aircraft were configured for air-to-air combat and replaced the obsolescent Vought F-8 Crusader as the Aeronavale's carrier-based air superiority fighter. The F.2 version of the Rafale M, giving air-to-ground capability and eventually replacing the Dassault Super Étendard SEM entered service in late 2006. This will eventually leave the Rafale M as the only fixed-wing combat aircraft flown by the Aviation Navale, and plans are to upgrade all airframes to the F.3 standard in the future, with terrain-following 3D radar and nuclear capability. This upgrade has been brought forwards to 2010 and the first ten French Navy Rafale F.1’s have already been withdrawn from service to undergo this update. In the meantime, the first new Rafale F.3's have started to role off the production line and enter service with the Aeronavale.
Smoke and vapour as the French Air Force Rafale goes through its display routine
As mentioned above the Super Etendard SEM will eventually be replaced by the Rafale M. At present it serves with both11 &17 Flottilles
at Landivisiau. The aircraft seen above is from 17F and wears the standard Aeronavale grey two-tone camouflage
Two Etendard SEM's display buddy-to-buddy air refuelling. It's not often that you actually see aircraft with the hoses connected during displays
The re-fuelling pod in use is an Intertechnique AAR Pod capable of transferring up to 400Kg of fuel per minute
This Embraer EMB-121 Xingu was another that sported an anniversary scheme to celebrate 100 Years of Aeronavale aviation
Two aircraft that are operated by 50S at Lanveoc in the Flight Initiation role are the Rallye 100S (left) and the Cap.10B
Spanish Navy AV-8B+ Harrier during its display routine at Hyeres
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No less than five Super Hornet's were present at Hyeres. An FA-18E from VFA-105 'Gunslingers and an FA-18F from VFA-32 "Swordsmen" can be seen above
United States Navy "Heavy Metal"
FA-18E 166650 in all her glory
Providing Carrier On Board Deliver (COD) to the 'Truman was C-2A Greyhound 162143 from VRC-40
The Italian Navy provided an AV-8B Harrier and this Agusta/Westland EH.101 Merlin
This AS.565 Panther is based at Hyeres with 36 Flottille
A French Navy Westland Lynx and AS.565 Panther during the display provided by the Aeronavale's helicopters
The final piece in the US Navy "jigsaw" was this SH-60F Seahawk from HS-7 seen departing to the USS Harry S. Truman late on the afternoon of 13th June