Cartouche Dore History
The 100000 flying hours of the training plane TB 30 Epsilon was celebrated in Cognac airbase on 2 June 1982. For the occasion, three pilots from the base, formed an aerobatic team with these planes and took part in the celebration. The planes have been painted in black and yellow and that is how the teams received the name Cartouche Dore (Golden Patron). The team was created ad hoc just for this particular event, but the show made a great impression on the public. Then the team has been invited to make another demonstration in Salon de Province for the graduation ceremony of the new pilots. The team had a non-permanent statute and used to perform approximately 12 shows per year.
In 1994 during Normandy commemorative ceremony, they made a demonstration, but in a new paint scheme which is their present one - white, blue and yellow.
In 1995, the team received a permanent statute and became an official part on the French Air Force. On 20 September 1996, Cartouche Dore made its 100th demonstration.
What are The Cartouche Dore
The team consists of four training TB 30 Epsilon planes, but only three of them take part in the airshows. The pilots of the team are obliged to teach young pilots to fly, so they are training for the shows in their spare time. The team uses mechanics from the aviation school in Cognac which is its home base.
Cartouche Dore
