On Sunday June 12 the French L'Armee de L'Air organized an Air Show at Cazaux. As the base has various interesting units based there was enough reason for us to drive down to the south of France. Together with Sander van Kooten from www.goldenwings-aviation.com we had a couple of splendid days!

The French Air Force organized an spotter/press day on the saturday before the show so we had the possibility to take photo's on the static without fences and walk around on the flightlines. The sunday we spend on the field to shoot the images of the Air Show.

As that wasn't enough reason on it's own it would also be the last time to get the opportunity to see three types of the French inventory for the last time: the Mirage III, Mirage IV and the Jaguar that all three allready left, or will leave service this year.

The Mirage III as one of the most successful aircraft created in French aero-industry, was initially designed as a lightweight interceptor but found greater success as a multi-role fighter. First flown as the Mirage IIIA prototype in 1956, the aircraft entered service with the French Air Force in 1958.

The final IIIE variant was optimized for the long-range interceptor and bomber roles featuring TACAN nav systems, Cyrano II radar, a longer fuselage, and the ability to carry a wider number of stores. With the last examples used by the French CEV (Centre d'Essais en Vol) as testbeds the carreer of this beautiful fighter ended in 2005 with the L'Armee de L'Air.

Started his career in the height of the cold war as a long range nuclear bomber, the Mirage IV, as largest of the famous Delta winged Dassault daughters, ended his career as a photo reconnaissance platform with the French L'Armee de L'Air.

By the end of the century, all Mirage IV bombers had been retired, with the Mirage 2000 replacing them as the carrier for the ASMP missile. However, five Mirage IVRs were still in service with ERS 01.09 and three of these made significant contributions to the NATO air campaign against Yugoslavia in the spring of 1999. These machines performed high altitude, high speed overflights of Yugoslavian territory, observing about 20 targets on a mission. With the specially painted that wasn't present on the show, but on the Paris Salon at Le Bourget we were happy to see three Mirage IV on the show, with one flying together with the Mirage III and Jaguar.

As a result of an Anglo-French cooperation in the 1960s the Jaguar ended out of a programm that was started to develope a dedicated supersonic training aircraft to prepare pilots for the high-speed combat aircraft expected in the last quarter of the 20th Century. The cost of such a trainer was expected to be high, so in the spirit of the day the British and French decided to combine efforts to produce one aircraft to meet the needs of both nations. At the same time replacements were needed for the Hunter fighter-bombers of the RAF and the Super Sabres of the French Air Force.

The Jaguar marked a clear departure from the previous policy of using old fighters in the ground-attack role. The Jaguar was designed as a "bomb cart" able to haul a large load of bombs at high subsonic speed at low level and then make a supersonic escape after delivery. The two-seater Jaguar design survived as a conversion trainer for the single-seat aircraft. The last unit to operate the Jaguar in French service was EC01.007 and with the final flight allready made the type will be replaced with the Rafale in the French Air Force. The Royal Air Force will for some months be the last operator of this type until it is also withdrawn from service in march 2006 and eventually being replaced bij the new Typhoon.

For the other photos taken by us on the Cazaux Air Show, please click one of the links below.

The following was seen:

02		J-35	Ö	FlRgt 2	Österreichische Lufststreitkrafte	Austria
13		J-35	Ö	FlRgt 2	Österreichische Lufststreitkrafte	Austria
5S-TA		SC7	3M	FlRgt 1	Österreichische Lufststreitkrafte	Austria
AT-02		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
AT-10		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
AT-13		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
AT-17		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
AT-21		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
AT-31		Alpha Jet	E	11 sm	BD/LC	Belgium
MT-40		CM-170	R	1 W	BD/LC	Belgium
MT-48		CM-170	R	1 W	BD/LC	Belgium
FA-133		F-16	AM	10 W	BD/LC	Belgium
FA-56		F-16	AM	10 W	BD/LC	Belgium
FB-09		F-16	BM	10 W	BD/LC	Belgium
FB-21		F-16	BM	10 W	BD/LC	Belgium
E-075		F-16	AM		Kongelige Danske Flyvevabnet	Denmark
ET-206		F-16	BM		Kongelige Danske Flyvevabnet	Denmark
T-401		T-17		SFK	Kongelige Danske Flyvevabnet	Denmark
T-410		T-17		SFK	Kongelige Danske Flyvevabnet	Denmark
E105	8-NU	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E110	8-NG	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E115	8-NP	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E13	8-MM	Alpha Jet	E	EC01.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E139		Alpha Jet	E		L'Armee de L'Air	France
E147	8-NH	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E152	314-LO	Alpha Jet	E	EAC00.314	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E155	8-NP	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E164	8-MB	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E66	8-ME	Alpha Jet	E	EC01.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E83	314-TZ	Alpha Jet	E	EAC00.314	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E86	8-NS	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E95	8-NM	Alpha Jet	E	EC02.008	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E130	0	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E41	1	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E158	2	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E134	3	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E46	4	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E31	5	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E122	6	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E94	7	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E135	8	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E117	9	Alpha Jet	E	Patrouille de France	L'Armee de L'Air	France
1691	JCF	AS350	BA	Gendarmerie	Gendarmerie	France
1809	JCJ	AS350	BA	Gendarmerie	Gendarmerie	France
2044	JCN	AS350	BA	Gendarmerie	Gendarmerie	France
2549	330-SB	EC725		EC05-330	L'Armee de L'Air	France
R15	61-MJ	C-160	R	ET01.061	L'Armee de L'Air	France
R92	61-ZJ	C-160	R	ET03.061	L'Armee de L'Air	France
35	CD	CAP 232		EVAA	L'Armee de L'Air	France
F-ZBFY	35	CL415		Securité Civile	Securité Civile	France
210	XW	D140	R		L'Armee de L'Air	France
83	ZE	Emb121	AN	EAC00.319	L'Armee de L'Air	France
487	312-UF	Emb312		DV15.300	L'Armee de L'Air	France
501	312-UT	Emb312	F	DV15.300	L'Armee de L'Air	France
131	CD	Fa20	C	CEV	L'Armee de L'Air	France
E22	7-HB	Jaguar	E	EC01.007	L'Armee de L'Air	France
14	5-NW	Mirage 2000	C	EC01.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
16	5-OX	Mirage 2000	C	EC02.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
22	5-ND	Mirage 2000	C	EC01.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
35	5-NL	Mirage 2000	C	EC01.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
36	5-OC	Mirage 2000	C	EC02.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
77	330-AX	Mirage 2000	5-F	EC05-330	L'Armee de L'Air	France
113	12-YO	Mirage 2000	C	EC01-012	L'Armee de L'Air	France
322	4-CP	Mirage 2000	N	EC03.004	L'Armee de L'Air	France
344	4-BV	Mirage 2000	N	EC02.004	L'Armee de L'Air	France
350	4-AJ	Mirage 2000	N	EC01.004	L'Armee de L'Air	France
508	5-OP	Mirage 2000	B	EC.2.005	L'Armee de L'Air	France
615	3-JY	Mirage 2000	D	EC02.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
641	3-XG	Mirage 2000	D	EC03.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
643	3-JD	Mirage 2000	D	EC01.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
646	3-IC	Mirage 2000	D	EC01.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
650	3-IA	Mirage 2000	D	EC01.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
668	3-IE	Mirage 2000	D	EC01.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
670	3-IQ	Mirage 2000	D	EC01.003	L'Armee de L'Air	France
306		Mirage 3	R	Std	L'Armee de L'Air	France
329		Mirage 3	R	Std	L'Armee de L'Air	France
330		Mirage 3	R	Std	L'Armee de L'Air	France
560		Mirage 3	E	CEV	L'Armee de L'Air	France
227	330-AP	Mirage F1	CT	EC05.330	L'Armee de L'Air	France
509	33-FS	Mirage F1	B	EC03.033	L'Armee de L'Air	France
653	33-CV	Mirage F1	CR	ER01.033	L'Armee de L'Air	France
23	AV	Mirage IV	P	ERS 01.091	L'Armee de L'Air	France
61	CH	Mirage IV	P	ERS 01.091	L'Armee de L'Air	France
62	CI	Mirage IV	P	ERS 01.091	L'Armee de L'Air	France
306	330-ED	Rafale	B	EC05.330	L'Armee de L'Air	France
F-ZBAA	T-22	S-2		Securité Civile	Securité Civile	France
1321	AH	SA330	B	EH01.067	L'Armee de L'Air	France
1375	AM	SA330	B	EH01.067	L'Armee de L'Air	France
1595	AV	SA330	B	EH01.067	L'Armee de L'Air	France
1620	AW	SA330	B	EH01.067	L'Armee de L'Air	France
1657	AX	SA330	B	EH01.067	L'Armee de L'Air	France
89	315-XF	TB30		EPAA00.315	L'Armee de L'Air	France
50+99		C-160	D	LTG 61	Luftwaffe	Germany
38+66		F-4	F	FLZ	Luftwaffe	Germany
46+51		Tornado	ECR	JBG32	Luftwaffe	Germany
MM54475	1	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54485	2	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54486	5	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54487	10	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54489	9	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54505	4	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54536	8	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54543	3	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54547	7	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM54551	0	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM55052	6	MB339	A/PAN	Frecce Tricolori	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
MM25157		P166	D	71 º Gruppo	Aeronautica Militare Italiana	Italy
JY-RNA		Extra 300		Royal Jordanian Falcons	Royal Jordanian Air Force	Jordan
JY-RNE		Extra 300		Royal Jordanian Falcons	Royal Jordanian Air Force	Jordan
JY-RNG		Extra 300		Royal Jordanian Falcons	Royal Jordanian Air Force	Jordan
JY-RNL		Extra 300		Royal Jordanian Falcons	Royal Jordanian Air Force	Jordan
CN-ABQ	29/6	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABR	31/5	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABS	36/4	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABT	37/3	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABU	41/2	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABV	42/1	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABW	43	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-ABX	44	CAP 232		Green Marche	Alkowat al malakiya al jawiya	Marocco
CN-AMA		CN235	M-100	3 Sq	Royal Maroccan Air Force	Marocco
S-458		AS532	U2	300 Sq	Koninklijke Luchtmacht	Netherlands
J-055		F-16	AM	312 Sq	Koninklijke Luchtmacht	Netherlands
J-199		F-16	AM	311 Sq	Koninklijke Luchtmacht	Netherlands
927		A-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
905		TA-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
906		TA-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
907		TA-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
908		TA-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
950		TA-4	SU	150 Sq	Republic of Singapore Air Force	Singapore
J-3082		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3083		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3084		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3085		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3086		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3087		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland
J-3091		F-5	E	Patrouille de Suisse	Fliegertruppen	Switserland