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Paris-Bastille Day 2020

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Paris (France)

Bastille Day parade

14 July 2020

Practice runs/recce:
(5490/VY) AS555AN EH00.067 serial from ads-b
01/709-FC PC-21 EPAA00.315  
Ouverture du Defilé, Fformation Patrouille de France Alpha Jet E:
E169/F-UHRX/1, E87/F-TELC/2, E139/F-UGFC/3, E20/F-TEMS/4, E129/F-TELP/5,      
E35/F-TEMA/6, E113/F-TETD/7, E152/F-UHRT/8 and E105/F-UGEM/9      
Hommage au Général de Gaulle, Formation 2:
126/30-GE, 142/30-GU Rafale C EC03.030  
ZK343/343, ZK368/368 Typhoon FGR4 1(F)sq II(AC)sq markings
Hommage au Général de Gaulle, Formation 3:
135/30-GN Rafale C EC03.030  
141/30-GT Rafale C EC02.030 75 years Normandie-Niemen mks

Two Mirage 2000Bs from EC 02.005 planned for this formation did not make for this formation.

Hommage au Général de Gaulle, Formation 4:
2 E-2C 4F  
4, 26, 37, 42 Rafale M 12F  
Résilience – Transport Aéroporté, Formation 5:
0095/F-RBAP A400M ET01.061  
128/64-IK CN235M-200 ET01.062  
199/62-HG CN235M-300 ET03.062  
Résilience – Transport Aéroporté, Formation 6:
041/F-UJCG A330MRTT ERVTS 01.031  
(231/F-RAFC) Falcon 2000LX ET00.060 serial from ads-b
Résilience – Transport Aéroporté, Formation 7:
54+07 A400M LTG 62  
Résilience – Transport Aéroporté, Formation 9:
475/31-CF C-135FR ERV04.031  
46/2-EN Mirage 2000-5F EC01.002  
315/4-HK, 341/4-FH Rafale B EC01.004  
356/4-FW Rafale B ETR03.004  
352/4-FS Rafale B EC01.004 EC02.004 mks

F

Opérations Extérieures, Formation 10:
       

One C-135FR, leading four Mirage 2000Ds and two Rafale Bs were planned but cancelled from the line-up.

Aviation de Patrouille et de Surveillance Maritime, Formation 11:
28 ATL2 nmks  
5 Falcon 50MS 24F  
Transport Intrathéâtre - Soutien Logistique Opérationnel, Formation 12:
0053/F-RABK A400M ET01.061  
5890/61-PR KC-130J ET02.061  
R212/64-GL C-160R ET02.064  
Sécurité Civile, Formation 13:
F-ZBFX/34 CL-415 Sécurité Civile  
F-ZBMH/75 DHC-8-402MR Sécurité Civile  
Résilience Interarmées Interservices, Formation 14:
(2802)/SK EC725R2 EH01.067  
(0747)/JDE EC135T2 GCFAG/SAG  
(9127)/JBI EC145 GCFAG/SAG  
F-ZBPA EC145 Sécurité Civile  
Module Résilience, Formation 15:
(1401)/EBE, (1429)/EBM NH90-TTH 5RHC  

One additional NH90 and one Puma were originally planned for this formation.

(1430)/EBO NH90-TTH 5RHC  
Protection Territoire National, Formation 16:
5399/VG AS555AN EH03.067  
5445/VQ AS555AN unit nn  
Combat Aéromaritime et Sauvegarde Maritime, Formation 17:
23 NH90-NFH 33F  
362 AS565SA 36F anniversay mks
318 SA365F1 35F  
Sous-GAM - Attaque, Formation 18:
4207/GEC SA342Ma 3RHC  
6002/BJB, 6019/BJS Tigre HAD 1RHC  
Sous-GAM - Assaut, Formation 19:
(1428)/EBL NH90-TTH GAMSTAT  
2293/CGJ, 2375/CHC AS532UL 1RHC  

Additional spare and support aircraft at air bases around Paris were:

Creil
2443/CGW AS532UL 1RHC  
(1295)/EAJ, (1386)/EAZ NH90-TTH 5RHC  
(4084)/GBJ SA342M 3RHC  
(2002)/BHI Tigre HAP 1RHC  
Evreux
110/30-IN, 112/30-IQ Rafale C EC02.030  
527/115-OR, 529/115-OC Mirage 2000B EC02.005  
530/115-OL Mirage 2000B EC02.005  
Villacoublay
(5430)/VL, (5466)/VW AS555AN EH00.067  
(5536)/WK AS555AN EH00.067  
(2461)/SA EC725R2 EH01.067  
02/709-FD, 04/709-FF PC-21 EPAA00.315  
05/709-FG, 06/709-FH PC-21 EPAA00.315  

Credits: Django Bruinink, Wim Sonneveld

Ever since 14 July 1880, apart from the Second World War years, a military parade has been held in Paris on Bastille Day. A lingering question during the COVID-19 lock-down, which began last March, was if 2020 would be an exception to this rule. And if so, how the French government would organise the event.

Only weeks before the actual date, just after the lock-down had eased a little, the go-ahead was finally given for the event to take place, albeit in an adapted way. First, a national feast was not deemed appropriate after France became one of the countries struck hard by the pandemic. Second, the battle against COVID-19 would be the main theme of the event, to honour all who worked hard to get the pandemic under control. And lastly, the new rules of society had to be followed during the event, which meant neither public could watch the parade at the Champs d’Elysées, nor would the military march.

Fortunately for the aviation-minded, the aerial parade seemed to be hardly adapted, just a bit smaller than usual. As such, the parade became the first of its kind organised in Western Europe since the worldwide pandemic. As usual the aerial parade took place over the Champs d’Elysées, although no helicopter demonstrations were planned at the Place de la Concorde, and Issy-Les-Moulineaux did not act as a helicopter base. Unfortunately, two formations were (partly) cancelled at the very last minute, so few Mirage 2000s showed up over Paris. Creil, Evreux and Villacoublay were used as air bases around Paris, other aircraft participated from their home base.

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