Orange Museum

[erik_kamphuis]

Musee EC 5 Orange May 24th 2010:

(Adress: exit 22 from highway A7, RN7 to Rue de Pays Bas/Avenue de la Crete)


BA-43 Mirage 5BA ex BAF, fuselage + wings
0906 MiG-21F-13 ex Czech AF
4406 MiG-21PFM ex Czech AF
409/(5-MD) CM.170 ex FAF
91/316-DM MS.760 ex FAF
5/44-CA MH.1521M ex FAF
28/5-NT Mystere 4A ex FAF
53/5-OF S.Mystere B.2 ex FAF (silver c/s)
358 Vautour 2N ex FAF
222/13-FF Mirage 3B ex FAF
(231) Mirage 3B ex EPNER, s/c
241/DK Mirage 3B-RV ex FAF
363/33-TL Mirage 3RD ex FAF
495/3-XL Mirage 3E ex FAF
508 Mirage 3E ex FAF, fuselage
526/13-QU Mirage 3E ex FAF
8 F-8P ex Aeronavale
55 BR.1050 ex Aeronavale (1959 in tail)
‘188’ SA.321CG ex Aeronavale (next to Alize)
1x SA.321 ex Aeronavale (next to Fouga)
(MM6306)/2-23 G.91R/1A ex AMI (tail from MM6283)
(A-267) Alouette 3 ex Klu (c/n 1267)
J-1183 Vampire FB.6 ex Swiss AF
U-1227 Vampire T.55 ex Swiss AF
J-4063 Hunter F.58 ex Swiss AF

New is the Belgian Mirage, wings still next to fuselage, the Alize (good to photograph from outside!) and the 2 Super Frelons. The Frelons don’t have serials anymore! I got access from a man and made a private tour to photograph all from inside the fences! Normally only open at saterdays PM for 3 euro p/p. Etendard 4P 153 (l/n sept’08) is gone, and the Mystere 2 that might be inside was not seen (no acces).
Unfortunately the Frelons were not ID’ed, on the one next to the Alize I read in small letters SA.321CG and 188 on the (cockpit)door, but 188 seemed no Frelon serial!!! On the other Frelon was no serial (or under the paint) to find. Did not check the c/n. Anyone can check those around the date of Hyeres airshow?

Also were seen 1 Cap.232 (d.blue) together with a white single engine prop with dayglow (new trainer for Tucanos?) overhead from Orange base, both from FAF Salon de Provence.

Any help on the S.Frelons is welcome!!!

Erik Kamphuis

[Arjan]

There used to be two Super Frelons stored at Marseille - Provence airport within the Eurocopter premises.
These should be two Super Frelons built for the Iraqi AF. C/n's are 186 and 188. Type is SA321GV

They haven't been seen there since 2002. So apparently they have now showed up at Orange! Great catch!

[AndyMarden]

Erik,
The Frelons are the embargoed Iraqi machines that used to be stored in the Eurocopter facility at Marseille.
They are c/ns 186 and 188.
Regards,
Andy Marden

[AndyMarden]

Forgot to say that they have been at Orange since at least Sep08.
Andy

[Polleke_NL]

There used to be two Super Frelons stored at Marseille - Provence airport within the Eurocopter premises.
These should be two Super Frelons built for the Iraqi AF. C/n's are 186 and 188. Type is SA321GV

They haven't been seen there since 2002. So apparently they have now showed up at Orange! Great catch!

Staat erg hoog op mijn lijst..., zouden mijn allereerste Frelons zijn !!!

[erik_kamphuis]

That's great news!!! The one next to the Alize had indeed SA.321GV and number 188 under it. The other one is on a sort off lorry and did have a primer door were the other one had the c/n 188 on.

Frelon 188 can be photographed from outside, the other one not at all!!!
Most can also be photographed from outside through the fence but than you have to be here at PM when the sun is good.

The overflying planes from Orange (based Salon) should be an Extra 300 and TB.10 or TB.20.

Erik

[Arjan]

Okay, thanks for the update. I have been there a couple of years ago and it was indeed very well possible to take shots from the outside. I even managed to get some decent pictures with the camera on my cell phone.

The TB-20's are civil registrated and indeed fly from Salon after they replaced the Embraers. The look even less military than the English Tutors. The Cap is military though!

[erik_kamphuis]

Hi,

I got info from Otger that SA.321GV c/n 188 is ex Iraqi AF 2024. The other serial is not known.

I forgot to mention Etendard 4M 37 was also there, that is now complete next to Frelon c/n 188.

Erik

[Key]

Etendard 4P 153 (l/n sept’08) is gone, and the Mystere 2 that might be inside was not seen

Visited this collection Tuesday 15.06.10, in rain. Paid the three euros admission, well worth it. Got a lot of explaining plus hangar tour from the manager.

Etendard 4P 153 is inside, being worked on.
Next to it is a Mystère II wearing 52/10-LF. I believe it was partly taken apart.

Erik

[Hans Rolink]

Next to it is a Mystère II wearing 52/10-LF. I believe it was partly taken apart.

Indeed, well worth a visit. (Didn't see you there )
The Mystere II has been taken apart, but is according to the owner complete.

Hans.

[K2G]

We also spoke with the owner last week. He is expecting a Mirage F1, Mirage 4, Mirage 2000 and Jaquar very soon.
Also great news is that in the near future the collection will move to an INDOOR location, close by.

Hans

[patrick dirksen]

I got info from Otger that SA.321GV c/n 188 is ex Iraqi AF 2024. The other serial is not known.

This serial is indeed still visible under the paint on the tail. I didn't check the other one though, forgot at first and then presumed it would be well known as well so didn't go back for it. So if somebody visits, please take a good look at the tail of the other one....

[Erik V]

Gents,

I visited the museum on the 31th of July. I tried to take a good look at both sides of the tail of the other SA.321GV. It showed no visible evidence of a Iraqi AF serial under the paint like on the other example.

New inhabitant to the museum was Mirage 2000B 520/5-OS. It was towed to the museum from BA115 Orange during the evening of July the 29. It looks great but was missing it's nose cone.

-----

An other (wreck & relics)surprice can be found on the roundabout when leaving the RN7 at exit Orange-Sud, just after the tollgates (peage). A beautifull restored Mirage IIIE is placed on a pole, in a flying gesture, marked: "84/5-OM". It true identity is not known to me (anyone?). Photography is best in the afternoon!

Erik

[Joris van Boven]

Gents,

An other (wreck & relics)surprice can be found on the roundabout when leaving the RN7 at exit Orange-Sud, just after the tollgates (peage). A beautifull restored Mirage IIIE is placed on a pole, in a flying gesture, marked: "84/5-OM". It true identity is not known to me (anyone?). Photography is best in the afternoon!

Erik

Is that with red intakes and a red tailmarking? In June they were painting a MIII in one of the hangars facing the Singapore flightline. Everything was covered in brown paper, except for the intakes (red) and tail (red). The bottom was painted grey.

[Erik V]

I think that's the one Joris! The end-product also carries a big EC5 badge with all the SPA emblems incorporated (at least that what I think it is) on both sides of the tail.

Erik