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Villaroche 2024 |
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Part 1 |
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Text: |
Urs
Schnyder |
Pictures: |
Urs Schnyder &
Michael E. Fader |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III N316BJ (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Aérospatiale SA
316B Alouette III (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) |
Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) |
PZL-Mielec Lim-2
(MiG-15bis) PP- MIG (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Vought Corsair
F4U-5NL F-AZEG (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Fouga CM-170
Magister F-GSYD (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Cessna 195A
F-AYTX (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Extra EA.300SC
F-HODV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Yakovlev Yak 3
UAF-AZOS (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy Michael E- Fader) |
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The
second weekend in September is now a fixed item in the calendar for
everybody interested in historic aircraft. In its seventh year, Air
Legend is one of the top four in Europe as far as historic aircraft are
concerned. The other three being La Ferte Alais,
Duxford and Shuttleworth.
After a week of dreadful
weather all over Europe, the forecast promised fair weather for the
weekend. The Friday and Saturday were partly cloudy with the Sunday
sunny with not a cloud in sight. Visibility and ceiling were unlimited,
which unfortunately led some
pilot to fly higher than on Saturday. There were also some changes to
previous years. The static aircraft park could now be accessed by
everyone without a special ticket. There were also some changes to the
program of which more anon.
There were more than 47’000
tickets sold for both days, which speaks of the success of the event.
Pictures for this report were taken during all tree days, Friday to
Sunday. |
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Prelude |
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Unlike
last year, when the flying started at 13:30 and lasted until after 19:00
it was this year decided to display some aircraft in a separate block
from 11:30 until 12:30. There was a short display by a Vellis Electro
followed by several helicopters, the Alouette II, Gazelle and a Calliope.
A Minijet C101 in formation with a Socata Epsilon, an aerobatic display
by Extra330 and a T-28 Trojan.
This change was a good
decision, because the airshow managed to complete as planned at 18:00
when there was still good lighting for taking pictures. |
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Pipistrel Vellis
Electro F-HOHM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Pipistrel Vellis
Electro F-HOHM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Sud-Aviatioan SE
3130 Alouette II F-AZYQ (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Sud-Aviatioan SE
3130 Alouette II F-AZYQ(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Aerosapatiale
AS342M F-AYCR Gazelle (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Aerosapatiale
AS342M F-AYCR Gazelle (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North Americam
T-28B Trojan F-AYVF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North Americam
T-28B Trojan F-AYVF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North Americam
T-28B Trojan F-AYVF (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Bede BD-5J
"Minijet CJ-01(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Bede BD-5J
"Minijet CJ-01(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Extra EA.300SC
F-HODV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Extra EA.300SC
F-HODV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Extra EA.300SC
F-HODV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Extra EA.300SC
F-HODV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Opening |
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For
a change the show started with parachutists from the Armée de l’Air
group Phenix. Unusually, their aircraft was an Antonov An-2. While
descending, they supported huge flags of 90 years of the Armée de l’Air
as well as the French national Flag. When they were safely on the ground,
in run a Balbo of 10 North American T-6. They flew in groups of four and
three respectively. They did two passes in this formation before coming
in to land. |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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French Army Light Aviation |
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The army presented three of its
current operational and training helicopters. The Airbus NH90 Caiman
transport helicopter as well as the Eurocopter EC665 Tiger combat helicopter
and the Eurocopter EC120 Caliopé (Colibri). These types are rarely seen at
airshows, so they were a welcome sight. |
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Airbus EC-120
Caliopé (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Airbus EC-120
Caliopé (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus EC-120
Caliopé (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Eurocopter EC665 Tiger
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Eurocopter EC665 Tiger
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Eurocopter EC665 Tiger
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Eurocopter EC665 Tiger
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus NH90 Caiman
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Airbus NH90 Caiman
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus NH90 Caiman
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus NH90 Caiman
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Classic Formation |
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The
Classic Formation with its highly polished aircraft is quite well known
to airshow visitors. This time however, it was not the Swissair DC-3
that led the three Beech 18, but a C-47 in D-Day markings. The display
itself is now well rehearsed and practised so the different formation
changes are very well executed. |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Flying Bulls |
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The
flying Bulls are good supporters of Airshows and were present with four
aircraft. The P-51 which did fly in a formation of three together with
the P-38 and their Corsair, we had not seen in Red Bull colours before.
Thankfully, they have kept their logos low key and therefore preserved
its previous identity. The formation flying of the three aircraft is
really impressive to see. |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Lockheed P-38L
Lightning (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Lockheed P-38L
Lightning (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Lockheed P-38L
Lightning (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North American
P-51D Mustang OE-EFB (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North American
P-51D Mustang OE-EFB (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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The DC-6 is contrasting to
the fighters by its sheer size. That of course doesn’t mean it is
restricted to level flight as was well shown. With its four huge radials,
one is left to wonder how much oil is consumed during the display. |
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Douglas DC-6B
OE-LDM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas DC-6B
OE-LDM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas DC-6B
OE-LDM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas DC-6B
OE-LDM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas DC-6B
OE-LDM (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Early Jets |
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A
de Havilland Vampire and a Canadair CT-33 both in the colours of the
Armée de l’Air represented this era. The Vampire is actually a former
Swiss Air Force aircraft, as indicated by the pointed nose in which the
VHS radio was housed. The Canadair CT-133 Siver Star is a Lockheed T-33A
Shooting Star built by Avro Canade that was in service with the Canadian
Armed Forces until 2001. Since September 2029, the aircraft has been
stationed in La Roche sur Yon and is operated TopGun Volitge by François
Dubreuil. The codes on the nose "QR-34" come from the imagination of the
illustrator Albert Uderzo from "Tanguy et Laverdure", a popular comic
strip in France. The badge with the green star of Morocco and a stork is
that of the Meknès hunting school, where some of the 163 T-33As and
RT-33As were in service. |
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De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
De Havilland
Mk.6 F-AZOO (Picture courtesy Michael E- Fader) |
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Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) |
Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Canadair CT-133 Siver
Star F-AYMD (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Rare Birds |
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The
Jet Pitts is rarely seen outside of Britain. It is owned by Richard
Goodwin who is a former RAF pilot who has heavily modified a Pitts
special. The most obvious are the two additional jet engines attached to
the fuselage sides in front of the cockpit.
There is also a new wing with extra large ailerons. The changes give the
aircraft a spectacular performance. It was its first demonstration in
France. |
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Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Pitts S-2E
Special (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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The Beech At-11 Kansan is
another rare type. It is a version of the Beech-18 produced during the war
for training the bombardiers who then served in Americas bombers. This is
the first time we have seen this aircraft despite it being based in Germany.
However, like many historic aircraft owned by Germans, they are hardly ever
seen on public events like airshows which is a pity.
The organisers of Air Legend are
therefore to be congratulated for bringing such rare aircraft to the airshow. |
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Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader |
Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader |
Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK with open Bombbay (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader |
Beech AT-11
Kansan N15KK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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