LFMO Orange-Caritat 2015-08-10 till 12 MIL

[paul-760]

Based on the radio (231.775) last Monday morning two Mirages 2000 took of around 9:30. Five minutes later jetnoise could be heard at my campsite near Ruoms (Ardeche). Amazingly the Mirage 2000s started to practice a dogfight immediately west of Ruoms, right above me. This lasted for 20 minutes and included loopings and circular contrails. A nice way to start my day Then the jetnoise disappeared to the north and I could continue my breakfast...
At 10:44 again some noise but nothing visible. Based on the scanner they landed at 11:27 so the mission lasted 2 hours, like last Friday.

The afternoon started with one of Orange's many Fennec helicopter flying at 100m altitude past my campsite. Then jetnoise again at 14:55 and 16:01 but Mirages kept out of sight.

[paul-760]

Today Tuesday 11th again activity at Orange-Caritat.

9:25 take off Mirage 2000B 115-OR.
9:30 take off Mirage 2000C 115-KI and Mirage 2000B 115-OC.

In the afternoon even more Mirage 2000C: 115-KL en 115-KC took off 15:01. They each had one external tank. They were heard loud and clearly at 15:12 at my campsite in the Ardeche near Ruoms (as reported by my wife who stayed there). After a short dogfight in the R55 training area they returned back to base at 15:34.

In addition Mirage 2000B 115-OR departed at 15:20. It wad equipped with two tanks so it could stay away until 16:41.

Also much helicopter activity above and around the base.

[paul-760]

According to French spotters, today we could expect night flying at Orange-Caritat.

[paul-760]

This Wednesday morning a Mirage again took off from Orange at 9:30 sharp. It flew straight to the exercise area R55 west of Ruoms where I saw and heard him between 9:35-9:50 (only one at a time visible but maybe there were two).

Jetnoise at 10:55 from thr restricted airspace over Ruoms towards Orange, suggesting a return to base around 11:00.