France patrols

The Patrouille of France is the lifting Patrouille official of the French Air force. One often indicates it under the acronym of PAF (Lifting Patrol of France).

History

In 1931, the first display of air strength patrols some in France takes place on the ground of Étampes - Mondésir. It is carried out by monitors of the Training school to piloting on Morane-Saulnier ms 230. In front of an encouraging success, this patrol is selected to represent the France at the time of international meetings.

In addition, with Dijon, the patrol " Weiser" , equipped with 18 planes (Morane-Saulnier 225 and Spad 510) to the characteristic to fly the planes " câblés" ones with the others.

The " patrols of Étampes" joined Living room-of-Provence in 1937, taking the name of " Patrols Flying school ". The Second world war stops these various activities.

In 1947, the Ministry for the Air creates a Flotilla of presentation of the Air force. It is directed by the captain Perrier, old driver of the Patrol of Stamps and is equipped with twelve Stampe SV4. In front of the success growing of the representations, various formations are born within the Air force. In 1952, the Commander Delachenal, pilot of the 3rd Squadron of Hunting stationed on the Air base 112 Rheims-Champagne, form a flotilla of four Republic F-84 G. At the time of an air meeting in 1953 on the ground of White House in Algeria, the commentator of the show of the flotilla, packed by the spectacle which it has just seen baptizes it Patrouille of France.

During the ten following years, four squadrons of the Air force (the 12th Squadron of Air base 103 Cambric-Épinoy, the 4th Squadron of Air base 136 Bremgarten; the 2nd Squadron of Air base 102 Dijon-Longvic and the 7th Squadron of Air base 133 Nancy-Ochey) perpetuate in turn the traditions of the Patrol of France and contribute to its international success. However, in 1964, following budgetary restrictions, the patrol of Mystery IV, is dissolved. Concerned not to see disappearing the name from Patrol of France, the Ministry for the Armies decides a few months however to later devote the Patrol of the Flying school. The six Fouga Magister of the base of Living room-of-Provence will become the torch of the French aerobatics during 16 years.

The last representation of the Fouga Magister, of which the number had passed to new, is held on September 16th 1980 in Living room-of-Provence. The Alpha Jet then becomes the spearhead of the Patrol of France in 1981 with 7 apparatuses. This figure is changed to eight starting from 1982, orchestrated by their leader, the Commander Bernard Inge, is surrounded by his team-members: Komajda captain, Rejowitz Captain, Lieutenant Genty, Lieutenant Tardiff, Lieutenant Morel, Lieutenant Lacroix, Chasseriaux Candidate and Adjudant-Chef Veran and did not change since.

A historical procession takes place in 1986 above the town of New York.

Pilots

Flying under the code Athos , they are partly renewed each year. They have in between 30 and 39 years and are assigned to the Patrol for one 3 years intermediate duration. Licensed pilots, they in general have approximately 3000 hours of flight to their credits in hunting.

  • the leader
    • Athos 1 remains at its station over one one year period, he is the only essential pilot in the patrol and cannot be replaced. Leader of the patrol, it determines the figures and formations which the patrol will use.
  • the interiors
    • Respectively Athos 2 and Athos 3 . They are in first year with the patrol and evolve/move closest to the leader during the flights in formation.
  • the vulture
    • Athos 4 , the future (that which will replace leader the following year). He draws his nickname from his position: placed behind the leader it swallows his smoke literally.

  • outsides

    • Athos 5 and Athos 6 , more aguerris, belong to the team-members furthest away from the leader. Their respective places within the formation require of them many horse-powers and concentration for holding the formations well.

  • the solos

    • Athos 7 (leader solo) and Athos 8 (second solo) are the last team-members of the patrol. They carry out part of the program only. In a series of crossing and percussions.
  • the substitute
    • Athos 9 is the oldest pilot with the Patrol. Often former leader solo, it holds the role of the substitute and must be capable to take with the foot raised the place of any team-member (except that of the leader).
  • the director of the flights
    • Athos 0 is in charge of safety and to comment on the presentation since the ground.

Formations

The program of the Patrol of France east (by tradition) renewed each year. Each program (determined by the leader of the patrol at the beginning of the season) is single in its kind of share the order of the figures and the use of the various formations. The emblematic figure of the patrol is the heart (in Y with 6 half-compartment of an arrow of smoke-producing of the two solos balances). The evolutions of the Patrol of France are done in formation, which amounts saying that the 8 aircraft fly very close from/to each other (2 to 3 meters). These formations bear very special names which are often references or winks.

Another part of the program leaves the place to certain evolutions at the time which the 2 solos cross various manners.

  • Alpha
    • the 8 apparatuses form a reason made for three circumflex accents forming the Greek letter Alpha

    • ARIANE

      • the leader, the vulture and the solos form a vertical line. On both sides of the second solo (which closes walk), the interiors and outsides form vertical lines with 2 the whole resembles a formation two beams shifted towards the back pointing out the shape of the rocket ARIANE 4.

    • Duck

      • the leader and the interiors form an arrow with 3; behind them the vulture, outsides and the solos form a second arrow imbricated in the other forming a rafter.

    • Harmony

      • On the basis of the formation diamond the leader and the vulture advance. The vulture takes the place of the leader who finds himself at a peak. The whole giving the form of the Harmony.

    • Brace

      • the leader, the vulture and the solos form a vertical line. Between the vulture and the leader solo, the interiors and outsides come to be placed in horizontal line forming a cross.

    • Big Nine

      • It is a formation where the leader is at a peak, interiors on both sides in light withdrawal. Outsides are placed them on both sides of the interiors. The vulture and the substitute supplement the formation in the same way the whole forming a rafter with 9 (formation used for the procession of July 14th).

    • Rafale

      • the leader and the vulture are at a peak, the interiors and outsides form a first horizontal line behind the vulture. The solos form another horizontal line behind.

    • Arrow

      • the leader, the interiors and outsides form a pyramid. The other team-members taken along by the vulture form a vertical line behind the leader.

    • Large Arrow

      • the leader at a peak, the vulture behind. The interiors on both sides of the leader in withdrawal, outsides are in withdrawal them also on both sides of the interiors

    • Very Large Arrow

      • Starting from a formation large arrow the leader and the vulture advance of a place.

    • Balance

      • the leader is at a peak, the vulture always behind him. Outsides and the interiors are aligned on an horizontal line between the leader and the solos.

    • Super Balance

      • As the balance, with this close the solos are with external of the formation on the horizontal line.

    • Apollo

      • the leader and the vulture are at a peak. Behind the vulture, on both sides, the two interiors are placed. Outsides are placed behind the interiors in the same formation. The two solos are shifted on both sides outsides the whole pointing out the form of the Lunar module of the missions Apollo.

    • Fusée

      • Starting from a formation brace outsides move back to arrive at the level of the second solo.

    • Diamant

      • the apparatuses give an opinion in a pyramidal tight box according to the model 1-2-3-2. The whole forms a Diamant.

    • T-piece

      • the leader, the interiors and outsides form an horizontal line. The other team-members taken along by the vulture form a vertical line behind the leader.

    • Dard

      • It is a formation brace in which outsides are moved back to arrive at the level of the leader solo.

    • Transall

      • the leader is always points some with the vulture behind him. Between the two interiors and outsides form a straight line. The two solos are side by side behind the vulture.

    • Swan

      • Starting from a formation large arrow with 6 taken along by the leader solo, the vulture is placed in front of the leader solo. The leader as for him carries out the formation in front of the vulture.

    • Two beams

      • the leader and the vulture are at a peak; the interiors, outsides form two " poutres" to 3 (vertical alignment) on both sides of the vulture.

    • Losange

      • One starts from a formation diamond where the vulture moves back to be located behind the solos. --->

    Planes used

    The planes of the Patrol of France present characteristic differences: painting blue-white-red, the pod Fumigène which replaces the pod gun and a headlight in the nose were added for the needs for the Patrol. Moreover, the sight, useless, was removed to offer a better visibility.

    External bonds

    • Official site of the mechanics of the patrol of France
    • Official site of old of the Patrol of France
    • Official site (Ministry for Defense)

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