Military Jets Photography

2010 06 03 Spotting at LFSR

The French Air Force is organized into Escadrons (Squadrons). In turn, each escadron is made up of several Escadrilles (Flights). The designations of many escadrilles can be traced back to their World War I heritage. Escadrilles with the BR. designation flew Breguet aircraft, C. flew Caudrons, N. the Nieuport fighters, SAL. Salmson, and SPA. the SPAD fighters.
Reims had 2 squadrons namely Escadre de Reconnaissance 01.033 “Belfort” and Escadre de Reconnaissance 02.033 “Savoie. The Mirage F.1's based at Reims were a mix of single seat F.1CT and two-seat F.1B's operated by ER 02/033 and the F.1CR reconnaissance version operated by both ER 02/033 and ER 01/033.

Mirage F.1B French Air Force 112-SI/516

Mirage F.1CT French Air Force 112-QJ/274

Mirage F.1 French Air Force 112-QJ/274

Mirage F.1CR French Air Force 112-CL/657

C-160R French Air Force 64-GY/R225

Mirage F.1CT French Air Force 112-QJ/274

Mirage F.1CR French Air Force 112-NK/661

Mirage F.1CR French Air Force 112-CL/657

C-130H-30 French Air Force 61-PF/5144

Mirage F.1CT French Air Force 112-QC/267

EC.725AP French Air Force

Mirage F.1CR French Air Force 112-CU/606

2013 10 02 Spotting at LDZA

The core of the air force is a squadron of 10 modernized MiG-21bisD/UMD fighters. In 2003, a minor upgrade and an extensive overhaul were performed in Romania, incorporating navigation and communication elements of the Lancer standard to make them interoperable with NATO air forces. The aircraft received no upgrade to their weapons systems. Despite initial plans to replace the MiG-21 fleet with a multi-role aircraft in 2013 and an official tender having been issued in 2008, ongoing budgetary constraints have resulted in an abandonment of these plans. As a cost-saving measure, a decision was made to overhaul seven serviceable airframes already in service and supplement them with five additional airframes from Ukrspetsexport. This temporary measure will see the fleet return to 8 single-seat and 4 twin-seat fighters that will remain in service only until the end of 2019.

CL-600-2B16 Croatian Government 9A-CRO

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 115

Mi-171Sh Croatian Air Force 223

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 115

AT-802F Croatian Air Force 890

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 115

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 121

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 116

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 116, 121

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 116

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 116, 121

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force

MiG-21bis Croatian Air Force 121

2010 05 23 Open day at LPMR

Under a scorching sun in May an open day was held at base aérea 5 (BA5) at Monte Real in Portugal. In the static display you could find some old and new servants from the Portuguese Air Force such as the A-7E and the T-38 through the C295M and the F-16AM. The only ones absence where a Hercules and a Merlin.
The flying display was a bit thin with only a display of a glider, the Dutch F-16 demo team and a flypast of the based F-16's. But this was quit a sight as no less then 24 took place in the fly past. On the public side you could watch the preparations and start up sequence of 12 of these.
Although not the biggest event, I really enjoyed it.