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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