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: |
|
|
|
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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 |
|
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.
Protection Territoire National, Formation 16: |
5399/VG |
AS555AN |
EH03.067 |
|
Combat Aéromaritime et Sauvegarde Maritime, Formation 17: |
23 |
NH90-NFH |
33F |
|
362 |
AS565SA |
36F |
anniversay mks |
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 |
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2293/CGJ, 2375/CHC |
AS532UL |
1RHC |
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Additional spare and support aircraft at air bases around Paris were:
Creil |
2443/CGW |
AS532UL |
1RHC |
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(1295)/EAJ, (1386)/EAZ |
NH90-TTH |
5RHC |
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(2002)/BHI |
Tigre HAP |
1RHC |
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Evreux |
110/30-IN, 112/30-IQ |
Rafale C |
EC02.030 |
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527/115-OR, 529/115-OC |
Mirage 2000B |
EC02.005 |
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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 |
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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.