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Villaroche 2024 |
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Teil 2 |
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Text: |
Urs
Schnyder |
Pictures: |
Urs Schnyder &
Michael E. Fader |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Aérospatiale SA 316B Alouette III N316BJ (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Eastern Front |
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There
is probably no airshow in France that doesn’t feature the
Normandie-Niemen theme, represented by the Jak 3. The name was given to
the French Squadron by Stalin in recognition of their service fighting
against the common enemy Germany. After the war the pilots were
permitted to take their aircraft with them to France. The flying example
however is one of a batch built in Russia in more recent times.
The opposition this time
were two Fieseler Storch, so called because of its long undercarriage
legs. Appropriately both aircraft were wearing the yellow eastern front
markings. One of the two was actually a Morane Saulnier MS 500 Criquet
built after the war in France. Some of the Criquets were powered by
either a Salmson 9AB or a Jacobs R-755 radial, both of 300 horsepower.
The original Storch had an Argus in line engine. |
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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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Morane Saulnier
MS.505 F-BEJF Criquet (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Morane Saulnier
MS.505 F-BEJF Criquet (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Morane Saulnier
MS.505 F-AZRA Criquet (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Morane Saulnier
MS.505 F-AZRA Criquet (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Morane Saulnier
MS.505 F-AZRA Criquet (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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D-Day |
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What
more appropriate theme on the 80 th anniversary of the Invasion in
Normandy than D-Day? The C-47 was of course vital in moving the mass of
paras to the invasion area and supplying them once they were on the
ground. The whole invasion could not have been successful without
complete control of the aerial space over Normandy. Indeed, the allied
Air Forces were so superior in numbers that the German Luftwaffe was
almost completely absent during the first day. The Spitfire XIV was
representing the fighter aircraft that made sure there was no
interference to the landings from the air. The biggest danger for allied
aircraft were deemed to be their own anti aircraft defences, which is
the reason they carried their distinctive black and white stripes on
Wings and Fuselages. Appropriately both the C-47 and the Spitfire were
so decorated. |
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Douglas C-47B
and Spitfire Mk. XIV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas C-47B
and Spitfire Mk. XIV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas C-47B
F-AZOX (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas C-47B
F-AZOX (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Douglas C-47B
F-AZOX (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Douglas C-47B
F-AZOX (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV G-SXIV (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader)
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Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV G-SXIV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV G-SXIV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder |
Supermarine Spitfire Mk. XIV G-SXIV (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder |
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Pacific War |
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The
Vought Corsair was of course made more famous after the war by the TV
series “Ba Ba Black Sheep” that featured the exploits and antics of
Pappy Boyington and his Marine Corps Squadron. Both Corsairs were
of the latest variant. It is therefore a pity they don’t wear the
colours of the Aéronautique Navale that used them after the war.
Probably more famous than
the Corsair is the P-40 of the American Volunteer Group or Flying Tigers
as they are commonly known. They decorated their aircraft with Sharks
teeth to create a more fearful picture. The idea was not original since
it was copied from 112 Squadron of the RAF. The Flying Tiger pilots were
in fact Mercenaries recruited from the American forces and were paid for
each aircraft they shot down. Still today, there is a museum in China
dedicated to the flying Tigers. |
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Vought F4U-5NL
Caorsair D-FCOR (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Vought F4U-N and
F4U-NL Corsair (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Vought F4U-N and
F4U-NL Corsair (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Vought F4U-N and
F4U-NL Corsair (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Vought F4U-N and
F4U-NL Corsair (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Curtiss P-40N
Warhawk F-AZKU (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Curtiss P-40E
and P-40N Warhawk (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
and P-40N Warhawk (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
and P-40N Warhawk (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
and P-40N Warhawk (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Curtiss P-40E
and P-40N Warhawk (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
Warhawk OO-WHK (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Curtiss P-40E
Warhawk OO-WHK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
Warhawk OO-WHK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Curtiss P-40E
Warhawk OO-WHK (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Korean War |
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The
Korean war was the biggest set piece of the airshow as far as different
aircraft are concerned. It was the war where the jets took over from
propeller driven aircraft. There was a nice formation of the Corsair,
P-51, Skyraider and Sea Fury. Unfortunately the formation was only
complete on Sunday as the Sea Fury on Saturday was left on the ramp with
its engine access panels open due to technical problems. The Centaurus
is now quite a handful to maintain which is the reason many Sea Fury’s
fly with a Pratt & Whitney radial. Only on Friday was there a chance to
see the Mig-15, Sabre and TC-33 flying in formation. There was no
formation flying by the Mig-15 and the Sabre on both airshow days,
unlike last year. |
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Formation of
propeller-driven aircraft from the Korean War. (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder and Michael E. Fader) |
Douglas AD-4ND
Skyraider F-AZFN (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas AD-4ND
Skyraider F-AZFN (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Douglas AD-4ND
Skyraider F-AZFN (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Douglas AD-4ND
Skyraider F-AZFN (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Douglas AD-4ND
Skyraider F-AZFN (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk
11 F-AYSF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk
11 F-AYSF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk
11 F-AYSF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk
11 F-AYSF (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Hawker Sea Fury FB Mk
11 F-AYSF (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Vought F4U-5N (F-AZEG)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder) |
Vought F4U-5NL (F-AZEG)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) |
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Vought F4U-5NL (F-AZEG)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader) |
The flight of
the Korean War jets, Canadair CL 13B Sabre (F-AYSB) in front, Canadair
CT-133 Siver Star (F-AYMD) on the right and MiG-15 on the left (SP-MIG) (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder &
Michael E. Fader) |
MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
MiG-15 SP-MIG (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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North American
F-86 (Canadair CL 13B) Sabre (F-AYSB) (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North American
F-86 (Canadair CL 13B) Sabre (F-AYSB) (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North American
F-86 (Canadair CL 13B) Sabre (F-AYSB) (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
North American
F-86 (Canadair CL 13B) Sabre (F-AYSB) (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Armée de lÀir |
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This
year the Armée de l’Air offered a show of contrasts. Their smallest
aircraft, an Extra EA-3330SC of the Equipe de voltige de l’Armée de
l’Air against their biggest, the Airbus 400M.
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Capitaine Florent Oddon had
just returned from Zamosc in Poland where he had won his second world
champion title in freestyle aerobatics. Capitaine Oddon from
Vaison-la-Romaine (Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) wanted to fly and move
around the sky as long as he can remember. He says that the Virus bit
him very early. In 2009 he joined the Armée de l’Air and became a pilot
flying transport aircraft. With his Casa 235 he flew cargo, parachutists
and medical evacuations in Mali and Chad. Eight years after his entry
into the Armée de l’Air he got the chance to join the EVAA (Equipe de
voltige de l’Armée de l’Air). Like the Patrouille de France, this unit
demonstrates the whole competence and skill of French military aviation
at airshows and official competitions.
It is incredible what he
does with his plane. Just watching him from the ground during his
performance makes you feel dizzy! |
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Weltmeister
im Motorkunstflug Capitaine Florent Oddon, rechts (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Capitaine Florent Oddon (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Compared with this, the
performance of the A400M could be called sedate. However, considering
its size there was agility in its display which the crew managed to
bring across quite well.
A new demonstration team
seen the first time this year, the Patrouille Mustang with their Pilatus
PC-21 showed the performance of this trainer. Could it be that it will
one day replace the Alpha jets of the Patrouille de France? |
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Pilatus PC-21
709-FJ (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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Airbus A400M F-RBAK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus A400M F-RBAK (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Airbus A400M F-RBAK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus A400M F-RBAK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Airbus A400M F-RBAK (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Patrouille
Mustang (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Patrouille
Mustang (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Patrouille
Mustang (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
Patrouille
Mustang (Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
Patrouille
Mustang (Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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Patrouille Tranchant |
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The
final display of the day was that by the Patrouille Tranchant and their four
Fouga Magisters. The lower powered Magister brings a special quality to the
display and it is rather quiet compared with other jet teams. It is actually
a commendable effort by the Groupe Tranchant to support an aerobatic team
with this historic French aircraft.
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
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(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Urs Schnyder) |
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(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(Picture courtesy
Michael E. Fader) |
(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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It
was another great show at Villaroche and we already look forward to 2025
when it will take place again during the weekend of the 6th and 7th of
September.
Our thanks go to Iza Brazin
for providing press facilities. |
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