From Paris with love: Patrouille de France in Buenos Aires

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Copyright Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/www.airpressman.com

On September 15, 2009 the French Armée del Air (French Air Force) aerobatic team, Patrouille de France (PAF) flew for the first time over the Argentinian capital, Buenos Aires. The oldest military aerobatic team in the world, created in 1931, was on a South American tour that included Brazil and Chile, and participated at the start of early celebrations for the bicentenary of the Argentinian independence due in 2010. The eight franco-german Dassault Breguet/Dornier Alphajet E aircraft, flew escorted by four argentinian built FadeA IA-63 Pampa jets belonging to the Fuerza Aérea Argentina (Argentinian Air Force – FAA).

The Fuerza Aérea Argentina Pampa formation overhead Aeroparque; the leader breaks left towards the north to enter the landing pattern. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)

The team flew in formation over the city populated by 3 million people – no aerobatics were carried out over the capital for safety reasons – finishing the display over the 9 de Julio Avenue and its prominent downtown Obelisco (obelisk), a historical landmark indicating the place where the Argentinian flag was first hoisted in 1812. Aeronautical ties between the two nations go back to the earlier days of aviation when the french carrier Aérospostale visited the region, with legendary pilots like Antoine de Saint Exupéry and Jean Mermoz.

The Patrouille de France over 9 de Julio Av. approaching the “Obelisco” (Ph. Fuerza Aérea Argentina)

The Commander of the team was Commandant (Cdt.) Benjamin Souberbielle who lead a team of 70 military personnel including pilots, engineers and support staff. His number two and team’s sub commander (or charognard, french for deputy leader) was Cdt. Virginie Guyot – the team’s first female pilot who would become its leader in 2010. The PAF is based at Air Base 701 Salon-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône. During this visit the team brought ten Alphajets and two Lockheed C-130H-30 Hercules for support attached to Escadron de Transport (Transport Squadron) 2/61 based at Franche-Comtè, 123 Orleàns-Bricy Air Base. All the pilots have the call sign Athos (honouring the aggressive and great strength giants of Greek and Roman mythology) with Cdt. Souberbielle being Athos 1, Cdt. Guyot Athos 2 and so on. Athos 7 and 8 perform the as the solo/synchro pair during a normal display whilst Athos 9, is usually a highly experienced and longest serving pilot in the team, and could slot in into any position if required, bar the leader.

“Beau geste” over Buenos Aires (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)

On the day of the display the aircraft operated out of a small FAA Aeroestación Militar Aeroparque (Air Park Military Airstation), located within the civilian Jorge Newbury airport – commonly known as Aeroparque (Airpark in spanish) – located 2 km (1.07nm) northeast of downtown Buenos Aires. Aeroparque is used by carriers operating domestic flights, and at present time its only international destination being Montevideo and Punta del Este in neighbouring Uruguay.

Athos 7 – one of the “solo/synchro pair” Alphajet – lands at Aeroparque’s RWY 13/31 (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)

The Alphajet E (“E” stands for Ecole – school in french) has been in service with the Armée de L’air since May 1979 as an advanced trainer and light attack aircraft, built jointly by french manufacturer Dassault Aviation (having bought Breguet in the early 70s) and Dornier Flugzeugwerke of the then West Germany. Powered by two french built Snecma Turbomeca Larzac 04 turbofan engines each developing 2.950lb of thrust, this version promptly replaced the fleet of T-33s and Fouga Magister in the jet trainer role, as well as the Dassault Mystère IVA as a weapons delivery platform. Both France and Germany bought 175 aircraft each of different versions (down from the 200 originally intended) with significant differences between the aircraft of the two nations – France desired a replacement for their ageing Fouga Magister trainers, whilst West Germany want to replace their light strike Fiat G.91. The armed version could carry up to 5.000lb of ordnance distributed on four underwing hardpoints and a ventral station where a gun pod with a 30mm DEFA cannon would be located (or a 27mm Mauser BK-27 cannon on the german version).

The team back at Aeroparque after their downtown flypast (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)

Interestingly on the PAF jets, the ventral station carries the smoke generator container, has a powerful nose landing light and no gunsight fitted. The aircraft is capable of speeds up to Mach 0.86 (1000km/h) and had a production run of 512 aircraft up till 1985. The initial versions were designed with a basic and simple avionics suite, no autopilot, INS or radar; with a view to make the type easier to export, including the choice of the french Larzac 04 powerplant as Germany was inclined to select the GE J-85, however the older, combat proven US built turbojet could create export restrictions. More than 150 were sold – mostly to nations with french links – like Belgium, Ivory Coast Morocco, Togo, Cameroon, Qatar, Egypt, Nigeria and Gabon.

Athos 4 breaks left overhead Aeroparque (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)

After their flypast over Buenos Aires, the team landed back at Aeroparque were the local media could interview its members and photograph the aircraft. The media attention was centered on Virginie Guyot, who before joining the PAF served as a Mirage F1-CR combat pilot on the 2/33 Savoie reconnaissance squadron. Subsequently the team deployed west of Buenos Aires to Córdoba in central Argentina where they performed on September 17, 2020 at the Escuela de Aviación Militar (Argentinian Air Force Air Academy) to the delight of the local population and aviation enthusiast.

May this galant Gallic visit repeat itself, so for now we just say “au revoir“!

Report by Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/www.airpressman.com

IMAGE GALLERY

Charognard Virginie Guyot (Athos 2) stands with her mechanic next to her aircraft after the flypast (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
A spare aircraft on standby at Aeroparque ((Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
One of the “solo/synchro pair” aircraft trailing white smoke over Aeroparque (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
After the flypast over Buenos Aires, the formation returns to land. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Athos 5 breaks formation – blue smoke generator off – with a typical southern hemisphere deep blue sky. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
One of the “solo/ synchro pair” jets – Athos 7 – rolling on the Aeroparque’s runway after landing. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Close up of the “front office”; the old “Fouga Magister” (School House Master) with an eagle feeding his eaglets, proudly displayed. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The Alphajets taxiing back to Aeroparque’s Military Air Station, after turning left on RWY 31. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The team of 70 was deployed by the PAF, including its technical guardian angels, seen here attending to their jets after the display. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Athos 1 – 9 parked at the Aeroparque’s Military Air Station (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Athos 9 (s/n E165) with his designated technician after the display. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Cdt. Benjamin Souberbielle (Athos 1) aircraft, displaying the Armée de L’air 75th anniversary logo. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
A simple, analog cockpit panel; the centrally located gun sight was removed to improve forward visibility and a portable GPS unit added for easier navigation, located on the upper right hand panel. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Armée de L’air C-130H-30 (a stretched version of the Hercules) tail number 61-PK (c/n 5526) seen at Aeroparque Jorge Newbury during the display. This support aircraft is attached to Transport Squadron 2/61 Franche-Comté based at 123 Orleans-Bricy Air Base. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The back up aircraft standing by. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The “Fouga Magister” (School House Master) simbol painted on the right forward fuselage of each aircraft. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
On ascend from Aeroparque! The fleet took off individually from RWY 13, straight into the River Plate. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Athos 9 departs for the flypast. The ventrally located 50 litre smoke generator kit, clearly seen here. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
(Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The smoke is produced when the dye from the 50 litre ventral tanks, reaches the left engine exhaust. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
The Patrouille de France over the 9 de Julio Avenue, approaches the “Obelisco” in downtown Buenos Aires (Ph. Fuerza Aérea Argentina)
Team effort: the pilots and their technicians salute the authorities and public after the display. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
One of the Fuerza Aérea Argentina IA-63 Pampa on short final for Aeroparque’s RWY 31. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
(Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com) team sets heading for downtown Buenos Aires.
–Athos 4 – in the centre of the formation behind the leader – is the only jet trailing white smoke. (Ph. Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/Airpressman.com)
Image courtesy of the Armée de L’air.
Copyright Ernesto Blanco Calcagno/www.airpressman.com