Patrouille de France
Patrouille de France History
In 1953 from the three teams mentioned above is established Patrouille de France. First one who has the honour to carry the name Patrol of France is the team from 3rd squadron commanded by Commendant Delashenal.
In 1954 appear the first jet aircrafts made in France. Then the main commandment decides to entrust the creation of Patrouille de France which to fly on French-made Dassault MD-450 Ouragan jet aircrafts to 2nd squadron based in Dijon. From 1955 till 1956 the honour to be Patrouille de France has 12th squadron based in Combre. It initially flies on Ouragan airplanes and later - on Mistere IV.
In 1956 4th squadron based in Brenngarten takes the honour and flies on Ouragan aircrafts. From 1957 till 1961 2nd squadron based in Dijon has the task to be the Patrol of France and flies on Mistere IV. From 1962 till 1963 7th squadron takes "the relay race". In January, 1964, because of cuttings in military budget Patrouille de France which flies on combat airplanes has been disbanded.
Fortunately in the Flight School in Salon de Provence still flies the school's aerobatic team - Flight School Patrol (ex-Patrol of Etami) which since 1957 flies on training Fuoga Magister airplanes.On 10 Feb 1964, the school's commandment sends a telegramme to the military minister in which informs that from this time onwards the school's "Patrol" will be called Patrouille de France.
In the next few years (until 1980) the team still flies on Fuoga-Magister. The last Patrouille de France's demonstration on those airplanes is performed on September 16, 1980, in Salon de Provence. In these years the number of aircrafts in the team varies several times. First the airplanes are six, then eight, then eleven and at last - eight again.
In 1981 Patrouille de France receives new Alphajet aircrafts - joint French/German made. Initially the team receives seven airplanes and in 1982 - another one. This way until the present days the number of aircrafts at Patrouille de France remains eight.
On 17 Aug 1983 during top of the loop crossing, when two four-ship formations crossing their directions at the top of the loop, two planes from each formation collided. One of the pilots killed, but the other ejected successfully. This happened somewhere in south France during an airshow.(Watch crash video)
In very recent times - on April 11, 2002, during a training flight the, #4 Atos4 dies in an accident. The cause for this tragedy is that after the Alphajet's crash the pilot catapults on low altitude and therefore the parashute could not open at its full.
Prehistory
In 1931 for a first time in France is performed an aero demonstration including flights of airplanes in formation. The aircrafts are piloted by group of instructors from the School for elaboration of air flights in Etami airbase. Later in Etami is established the first French aerobatic team. (N. B. - in France aerobatic teams are called "patrols" but in this article we will continue to use the words "aerobatic team"). This team flies on three Morane-Saulnier 230 aircrafts. It is called Patrouille Etami. Later the team moves on Morane-Saulnier 225 aircrafts. The team reaches very good results. They are very popular especially for the public and participate in numerous national and international air feasts. From 1936 till 1939 the team uses Spad 510 airplanes.
In 1934 in Dijon by order from Captain Veiser is established an aerobatic team which receives the name Patrouille Veiser (from the captain's name). The team flies on Morane-Saulnier 225 and Spad 510 aircrafts which reach the total number of eighteen. The specialty of this team is that during a demonstration two of the airplanes fly tied with ropes between them. This "feature" brings the team huge popularity and glory, whenever it tours.
In 1937 the Patrouille Etami is relocated at Salon de Provence where is based the Flight School. This way the Patrouille Etami becomes an official aerobatic team of the Flight School.
However, the World War II interrupts the activities of those teams. Not until the end of the war - in 1946 - the ex - Patrouille Etami member Captain Perrie establishes an aerobatic team to the school for air instructors in Tours. The team again is named after its location - the Patrouille Tours. In the next year the team returns to Etami. Then the Department of Aerial Navigation gives the team the statute of the Representative squadron of the French Air Force. It has been equipped with twelve Stampe SV4 aircrafts. The squadron's aim is to represent the French Air Forces in every aerobatic demonstration throughout France. Gradually on arms in the French army enter jet aircrafts. However the first aerobatic team on jet airplanes is established in 1950 in Dijon by the commander of 2nd squadron. It flies on Vampire aircrafts. In the next year Captain Marias does the same thing in 4th squadron based in Friedrichschaffen. In 1952 in 3rd squadron based in Rheyms is established an aerobatic team which flies on F-84G.
What are Patrouille de France
The team of Patrouille de France (Patrol of France) includes one commander (who does not fly) and nine pilots - one leader (which leads the formation in the air and is not the pilot with the longest experience at the team; this makes the French aerobatic team unique because in all the rest aerobatic teams in the world the leader is the pilot with the longest experience at the team), a solo leader and second solo leader (both of them flies on airplanes with numbers 7 and 8), one reserve pilot (who has the longest experience at the team but flies only when it is necessary to replace someone from the crew, excluding the leader). All pilots have callsign "Atos". Except them Patrouille de France has 30 people ground crew who are responsible for good working order of the aircrafts. The team also has nine airplanes, one of which is a spare one and carries number 0.
The aerobatic demonstration itself of Patrouille de France lasts only 20 minutes which not lists them amongst the best aerobatic teams in the world.
The aircrafts of Patrouille de France are different from the usual ones by their colouring (in white, blue and red) and by the rpesence of a smoke generator on the bottom of the airplane's corpse between two engines. It releases white, blue and red smoke.
Patrouille de France does not have its own cargo plane.
We present you only old Patrouille de France airplanes, because it's not difficult to find today's gallery.
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