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La Ferté-Alais 2016

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Aerodrome La Ferté Alais (France)

Le Temps des Helices

14 - 15 June 2016

Days of the Props
Already for the 44th year this time, an annual airshow was organised at the aerodrome of Cerny/La Ferté Alais, southwest      
of Paris. For many European spotters this show, traditionally held during the Pentecost weekend, is considered to      
be the opening of the new airshow season. The organisation is in the able hands of the local Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis      
collection. The airshow is called ‘Le Temps des Helices’ or ‘The days of the props’. This name is only partially covering      
the content as there is more to live up than only propeller driven aircraft. In fact ‘Le Temps des Helices’ presents a crosssection      
of aviation including gliders, helicopters and aircraft ranging from a 1910 Bleriot monoplane to the modern French      
Rafale fighter. It makes La Ferté the ideal occasion to bring your (non or less aviation minded) friends.      
       
Static
In the morning hours, the static exhibition at the eastern end of the airfield could be visited (at some extra euros)      
This was an excellent opportunity for close up photography of the show participants and visiting aircraft. Although      
it was announced that it would do a ground taxiing performance during the show, Boeing B-17 F-AZDX ‘Pink Lady’ did      
not leave its hangar and so could be closely seen there. In the same hangar the progress in the restoration of Vought      
F4U-5 Corsair BuNo124724 (F-AZEG) of the local Casques de Cuir organisation was truly obvious. The aircraft looked      
quite complete and allegedly the first engine run already took place. It is very likely that this fighter will be displaying      
again next year. At the same time, before the show started at 11.30 hrs , pleasure flights were flown by Donau Air Service      
Antonov An-2 D-FKME, Ju-Air Junkers Ju-52 HB-HOS and several helicopters.      
       
Cold
During the airshow, a cold northerly wind was blowing, resulting in a strong crosswind over the runway. This wind did not      
only chill the spectators, it also caused some display pilots to stay grounded. But not so for the opening of the airshow      
by the daring pilots of two old and fragile aircraft Bleriot XI F-AZPC and Caudron G-III F-AZMB. It reminded of an old      
movie: ‘Those magnificent men in their flying machines’.      
       
Farewell
In November last year, famous French warbird pilot Marc ‘Leon’ Mathis lost his life in an ultralight crash. Mathis was      
an extremely able pilot who was current on several warbird types (Yakovlev, P-51 Mustang, Ju-52 and Storch). He became      
widely known for his skilful ditching of Jacquard’s Flugwerk FW190 F-AZZJ, after an engine failure off the cost of Hyeres      
on 12 June 2010. He had a special affinity with the Czech built Zlin trainer, several versions of which Marc flew in his career.      
To honour him, a group of five Zlins took off to perform a flypast. After their landing the pilots taxied to the crowdline      
where they stopped their engines. They then left their cockpits and stood on the wing during a minute of silence to      
salute their lost friend.      
       
Civil aviation
On the civilian side, the period in between the wars was strongly represented. And not only by a group of well known      
Stearmans and Buckers or the two Junkers Ju-52’s flying at the same time. One of the attractions of TDH is the variety      
of aircraft types of those days, some of which are either very rare or even unique in Europe. It was our first encounter with      
biplane types as the Laird LC-RW300 (NC4442) and the Travel Air 4000 (NC4418). Shiny red Stinson F-GPJS represented the      
ultimate corporate transport of the Thirties. The Aer Lingus Charitable Foundation sent their jewel to La Ferté in the form      
of De Havilland DH.84 Dragon EI-ABI. This traditionally (wood and fabric) built biplane was soon followed by two all metal      
contemporaries, Beech 18 N2913B and Lockheed 12 F-AZLL. Even an airliner of our days, Corsair Boeing B747-400 F-HSEA,      
made several low passes during its display. Although looking modern, this airliner itself is already 23 years old, so it perfectly      
matched the show.      
       
Firebombers
Highly appreciated by the spectators was the demo flown by Securité Civile. Simulating the handling of a forest fire the      
first aircraft to arrive was EC 145 F-ZBQG. Hovering near the imaginary fire, this helo served as a Forward Air Control post      
for the approaching waterbombers. As in the real situation Turbo Firecat F-ZBMA and Canadair CL415 F-ZBFS closely      
cooperated. They both did two separate dropping runs, before closing in for a tight formation pass. Not part of the      
Securité Civile display, but another (former) firebomber was N9767, a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina, owned by the France      
Warbirds collection. N9767 is a true WW II veteran, in RCAF service responsible for the sinking of German U-boat U-342.      
The old amphibian was recently re-painted in a new white and yellow livery, vaguely reminding of the Catalina used by      
the famous French oceanologist, Jacques Cousteau, N101CS.      
       
Military contribution
Traditionally the French armed forces are faithful supporters of the event. The Armee de l’Air showed off an example      
Transall 64-GK, which, despite its age (the first Transall was delivered in 1967) gave a spirited display. Most impressive      
flying together. Privately owned Morane Saulnier MS760 Paris F-AZLT , Zephyr (the naval version of the Fouga Magister)      
       
Military aviation
The actual airshow consisted of several themes, many of aviation. The thematic WW I display brought two SE-5A      
fighters, a Fokker Dr.1 triplane and beautiful French Spad XIII F-AZFP in the air. Later in the afternoon, WW II was commemorated      
with mixed formations of aircraft in a ‘Battle of Britain’, ‘Tora, Tora’ (Attack on Pearl Harbour), Luftwaffe,      
and Eastern front display. The display by Battle of France veteran Curtiss P-36 Hawk G-CCVH, owned by the British      
Fighter Collection, prompted commentator Bernard Chabert to an emotional reaction. He was both happy and sad to see      
the Curtiss fly. Happy because it had been restored and sad because the restorer/owner is not a Frenchman. Is chauvinism      
a French word?      
       
Showtime
TDH also provided entertainment for the general (i.e. nonspotter) public. What to think of an aerobatic team consisting      
of two Rutan Vari-Ezes and one Long-Eze? Or a sky-diver falling out of the rear cockpit of an inverted flying glider?      
These show items were much appreciated, as were the performance of Extra 300 F-HXAL and Extra 330 F-TGCJ and the      
show by two of Team Guinot’s Stearmans, N707TJ and N74189. On both days, the show was concluded by a jet aerobatic      
team, the Patrouille de France with their Alphajets on Saturday and Patrouille Tranchant with their four Fouga Magisters      
on Sunday. The organisers of ‘Le Temps des Helices’ had, once more, succeeded in bringing an airshow with much variety      
and with excellent photo opportunities, as can be seen from the illustrations in this article.      
       
Flying/Flypast:
14, 21 Rafale M FN  
21 ATL- 2 FN  
30, 42 Rafale M FN  
124/4-GC Rafale FAF  
R211/64-GK C-160R ET00.064  
RS02 Sea King Mk48 40sq  
D-EEBH Zlin 526    
D-EEDW Stampe SV-4A as FAF 245  
D-FKME An-2T Donau Air Serv.  
D-GTIM Tecnam P2006T    
EI-ABI DH84 AerLingus Hist.  
F-AYCO Waco 10 NX8521’  
F-AZBA Bleriot XI(replica)    
F-AZBE AT-6C as USAF 43-12127  
F-AZCV T-6G as FAF 51-14456  
F-AZCH Chipmunk T10 as RAF WB557  
F-AZCN SE-5A (replica)    
F-AZCY SE-5A (replica) as RFC A8898  
F-AZDP AD-4N as USNavy 124143/RM  
F-AZEI DH-82 as RAF T6553  
F-AZEJ Beech E18S as USAr 22428  
F-AZFP Spad XIII as FAF 3836  
F-AZGG C1131E ex E.3B-540  
F-AZGR N2S-3    
F-AZHD T-6G as FN 79413  
F-AZIY N3202 as FAF 15/ZIY  
F-AZJC Waco UPF-7    
F-AZJR N2S-3 as US Navy 741  
F-AZJU C352L as Luftw. AZ+JU  
F-AZHK AD-4N as FAF127002/N  
F-AZKG Fennec as FAF 82  
F-AZKM OV-10B as USMC 55454  
F-AZKU P-40N as USAF 2105915  
F-AZLL L-12 Electra    
F-AZLT MS760 as FN 32  
F-AZLY Yak-3UA as RusAF 5/wh  
F-AZMB Caudron G-III(replica)    
F-AZNF N3N-3 as USAAC 2909/69  
F-AZNN Let C-11 as RusAF 14/wh  
F-AZPC Bleriot(replica)    
F-AZPF CM175 as FN 28  
F-AZRA MS505 as Luftw 2E+RA  
F-AZRB SNJ-5C as USN 90747  
F-AZRV Zlin 526    
F-AZSB P-51D as USAF 411622  
F-AZVD Fokker Dr.I as Luftw 525  
F-AZVK Bü-131APM ex A-48  
F-AZVN T-6G as RCAF 49-283  
F-AZXZ Yak-3UA as RusAF 4/wh  
F-AZYI Br1050 as FN 59  
F-AZZD CM170 Grp. Tranchant  
F-AZZM AT-6 ‘Zero’ as Jap. Navy 170  
F-BCGQ Stampe SV-4A    
F-BCXD Stampe SV-4A    
F-BDME Stampe SV-4A    
F-BKOI MS733 as FN 74  
F-BKOJ MS733 as FN 138  
F-BNMU Zlin 526    
F-BNRR Zlin 526    
F-BDME Stampe SV-4A    
F-CCJY Scheibe SF-28A    
F-GGKH MH1521M as FAF 32  
F-GIMN CM170 Grp. Tranchant  
F-GKYF CM170 Grp. Tranchant  
F-GPJS Stinson Reliant    
F-GSYD CM170 Grp. Tranchant  
F-HAKZ Zlin 526    
F-HBOB Pitts S-2    
F-HDVD PT-17 Stearman    
F-HIZI PT-17 Stearman as US Army 55  
F-HLEA T-6G as US Army 56  
F-HSEA B747-422 Corsair Int.  
F-HXAL Extra 300 Breitling  
F-PREV Rutan VariEze Patrouille Reva  
F-PJLB Rutan Long Eze Patrouille Reva  
F-PYSM Rutan VariEze Patrouille Reva  
F-TGCJ Extra 330    
F-WWMZ Cap222    
F-ZBMA/24 S-2T Sec.Civile  
F-ZBFS/32 CL-415 Sec.Civile  
F-ZBQG EC145 Sec.Civile  
D-1060 LO-100    
D-5793 LO-100    
‘91YJ’ Jodel D.9    
G-CCVH Curtiss H75-C1 as FAF 82  
G-IIFX MDM-1    
G-LFVB Spitfire Mk.Vb as RAF EP120  
G-TPWX Gomhouria 6 as Luftw TP+WX  
HB-HOS Ju-52/3m Ju-Air  
NC4418 Travel Air 4000    
NC4442 Laird LC-RW300    
N2913B Beech D18S Aero Vintage AL  
N53018 Ryan ST3KR as US Army 8  
N9767 PBY-5A France Warbirds  
N707TJ PT-17 Breitling ‘3’  
N74189 PT-17 Breitling ‘2’  
Static/not-flying/hangared:
F-AYBF Bristol F2B as RFC E2262  
F-AYDR Fokker Dr.I (replica)    
F-AZAJ MS138 as RFC E2262  
F-AZAK MS230    
F-AZAV Albatros C2(replica) Luftwaffe cs  
F-AZAZ MS185    
F-AZBQ T-6G as FAF15237/OH  
F-AZCA DH89A as RAF ZC-A  
F-AZCE P2-06 as Luftwaffe >+7  
F-AZCP MS502 Aeronavale cs  
F-AZDX B-17G as USAAF8846/M  
F-AZEG F4U-5NL as USN124724/NP  
F-AZFH Pitts S-1S    
F-AZJD D-27 as FAF 290  
F-AZLM Fokker D.VII(replica)    
F-AZMZ Boeing E75N    
F-AZNM Sopwith 1 1/2 as FAF  
F-AZOE Cap20    
F-AZRV Zlin 526F    
F-AZTT C1131    
F-AZXJ Sea Fury FB11 as RAN 115  
F-BCNL MS317 as FAF  
F-BEGD L-4B as ALAT 124724/NP  
F-BGUV MS317    
F-GETT L-18C    
F-GJBF MH1521M    
F-GJSG PA-18-95    
F-GKTC R-22    
F-GMRF SF260WL as Burkina F. AF  
F-GRCE Bell 206B3    
F-HAKZ Zlin 526F    
F-PACP Jodel D.11    
F-PBRI Bü-133C    
F-PJBS Wag-Aero Sport Trainer    
F-PRJJ Leopoldoff L55 as Luftwaffe  
F-PZLD Cap10    
HA-ABD An-2P    
Flying (visiting/joy flights):
F-BPGV MS895    
F-BSBZ DR.360    
F-GIBM AS350B    
F-GONH R-44    
F-HMEG AS350B2    
N450LH Beech 95-B55    
N2979S Ce411A    

Credits: Gert Jan Mentink and Jan Swart

The authors like to thank René Verschuur for kindly supplying

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