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Meeting Arién Cambrai - Epinoy

In the same weekend as Koksijde Air Show the French Air Force (Armée de L'Air -AdlA) organized an meeting Arién at Cambrai - Epinoy, just across the Belgian-French border.

Cambrai is host to Escadron de Chasse (Fighter Squadron) EC01.012 "Cambrésis" and EC02.012 "Picardie" flying with the Mirage 2000C, the Air Defence variant of the Mirage 2000.

The show started late in the morning and a bit slow. Dissapointing was that the display line was very far away from the crowd line and 500mm was even at the small side for making descend photos. Nice was the flightline in front of the public that made some nice shots possible.

As familiar on French Shows the classics where present to start the show, followed by a "slow intercept" where an AS555 intercepted an Piper Navajo and forced it to land. Funny thing was that the helicopter crew showed it's "force" with a sign saying "Zone Interdit" (Forbidden Area).

As Koksijde had it's Air Show on the same day the French participants arrived early morning from Koksijde to attend to Cambrai Air Show. Highlight of the show was the local units doing some high speed passes and a fantastic photo flyby with a 5-ship.

As we stood on the tarmac the whole day, we left early missing the French Mirage 2000 Solo Display and Patrouille de France.

For me a disappointing show after all.
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