Istres/Le Tube (LFMI) 2014 MIL

[Sjoerd]

During our summer holidays we had a camping nearby Istres for a period of 5 days, so spotting was inevitable for me. Unfortunately spot 2 is inaccessable anymore these days, as this is private land and the gate (next to the air force gate) is closed. I didn't fancy driving up to spot 5 because this isn't a suitable road for a saloon car and takes too much time to drive it a 3 mp/h (those of you who have ever driven it know what I mean). Therefore only spot 1 was visited as well as the main gate and on a single occasion I checked spot 4 late in the evening. The following was noted during my stay in the area. I didn't write down all Mirage movements, but they were flying like hell and also had two nights of evening flying (Tuesday & Thursday) with the last arrival recorded just before midnight!!

21-7-2014 Massane/Istres approach
RA-82xxx AN-124 224 OSAP arrival around 09:30lt
4x Mirage 2000N EC03.004 4-ship, morning mission
1x Tigre HAP/HAD Armee de Terre/Airbus Helicopters
(574)/93-CP KC-135R GRV00.093
F-ZBME/44 CL.415 Securite Civile (flying over Berre d'Etang)

I hope someone can help me with the missing AN-124!

23-7-2014 Istres
(202) Mirage 3B preserved at 25RGA compound
14 Super Etendard (Modernise) stored, seen from spot 1
(147)/CM Mystere 4C preserved at the main gate

25-7-2014 Istres (19:30lt)
(434) Mirage 3E stored
471/(93-CB) C-135FR GRV00.093
474/93-CE C-135FR GRV00.093
574/93-CP KC-135R GRV00.093
(736)/93-CH C-135FR GRV00.093
(740)/93-CL C-135FR GRV00.093
1x (K)C-135(F)R GRV00.093

Conditions this evening where near perfect after a fierce thunderstorm. No sun, but still good light, no wind and no heathaze. Too bad my final C-135 was out of town.

Cheers,

[raameagle]

RA-82030 for the An124 according to the FPL.

Regards

[Wrecks]

23-7-2014 Istres
(202) Mirage 3B preserved at 25RGA compound
Cheers,

Mirage 2B 202 is not preserved here.
This 202 was previously at Bretigny and is now at Melun

[Sjoerd]

@ Raameagle & W&R

Thanks for your input!

Anyone know the ID of this Mirage 3B (just north of Spot 1, off base)? I have it noted (wrongly) as 202 since 2006 already, so it has been here some time already.

MTIA,

[Wrecks]

@ Raameagle & W&R
Thanks for your input!
Anyone know the ID of this Mirage 3B (just north of Spot 1, off base)? I have it noted (wrongly) as 202 since 2006 already, so it has been here some time already.
MTIA,

As mentioned in EMOOS 2014 a candidate could be 232 which has not been seen since wfu with local EPNER

[Bennie]

September 11th visitor: TAF87 C130 Tunesian AF.

[Bennie]

September 11th visitor: TAF87 C130 Tunesian AF.

Another one visiting on the 12th as TAF88.