I recall the FAF making an excellent airfield attack with a Mirage IV when I was at pre-pongo Wattisham....

....on Rattlesden disused aerodrome :hmm: Close, but no cigar!

Reasons to like France? Bardot in her 30s for one!

As a member of CENTO the French decided it would be a good idea to rock up to Akrotiri. The only PPR (request) was the call to Approach for landing. Two Mirage IV lobbed in followed 20 minutes later by their KC 135FR. They loaded up with fuel, got MT to the Mess, loaded up with duty free and departed.

Not quite the same, Mirage. IV diverted in the HMS Fulmar engine out. Later an Atlas pitched up with a new engine, change team, and the lot departed. The MOD was livid as they only found out afterwards.

Visited a radar site above Nice, about '93. Part of the Mess hall wall was covered with a large tarpaulin. Apparently there were regular low level practice attacks from an 'orange' country to the south. He had got a DH with a tank or practice bomb. They didn't seem perturbed. Lunch was an all ranks affair. There seemed to be a shortage of water as we had to make do with red wine.

SOP for lunch & dinner at RAF Liaison Party Istres.

The wine was Algerian and rather ruff!
But one developed a palette :ok:

Down at the beach walking the dog when a singleton Alpha Jet from the Patrouille de France appeared out of the early morning mist about ½ mile out to sea at low level briskly heading north..
While we're on French aircraft, I spotted a Fouga Magister on static display at Salon-de-Provence 4-5 years ago. I can't remember another jet that sits so close to the ground.

Usually see several low level pairs of Alphajets every weekday. Also the occasional Rafale and Puma. Monday at noon (GMT) I was in town and caught a glimpse of an Earth Brown coloured aircraft flying, at low level, heading north over the lakes. Did not get a good look due to the rooftops, but it looked as though it was a Spitfire, sounded like one as well. Thirty minutes ago something flew over sounding the same, but I was not able to get sight due to the trees in the forest. Could it have been? And No I had not been on the vino. The local wine is quite good down here in the Bordeaux region, if you haven't heard.

The beaches are quite attractive at this time of year. I think Dolly Parton has a lot of relatives here.https://www.pprune.org/images/infopop/icons/icon7.gif

A good friend, who is sadly no longer with us, was on the usual NATO Wintex in Norway. At the time, he was flying Canberras and he was at either at Andoya or Bodo (I think). Suddenly, a FAF Mirage IV appeared in the circuit and landed. Apparently, it had become "unsure of its position" and was rather short of fuel. In the subsequent PU (which went on for some time) the navigator was given a new name tag by the RAF: "To Lose Le Track" which he sported for the rest of the night.

Would it surprise you to know that the Magister was developed from a wooden glider?

It would! I hadn't heard that one before.. It looked aerodynamically very clean.

Apart from watching an excellent demo from a couple of Mirage 2000's at Pons this year, sitting in the garden yesterday, I saw some high altitude refueling over Royan. Twin contrails flying an irregular pattern, suddenly joined by two separate contrails appearing as if from nowhere. Then, a spiral of white lines breaking-off and disappearing. Perfect.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d1ff1e7189.jpg

Fouga CM8 the model upon which the Magister was based

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....929795837d.jpg

Luck to have a 'V' tail

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6f57e43524.jpg

The first attempt at making it a twin engine aircraft

To lose le track.
Very good!

Superb photos Beardy - I had a browse on the web yesterday looking for clues as to the Magister's forebears but found rien. However, I did find this mother lode of early images just now.
Many thanks!

Strake, enjoyed the show too - was at Pons - but it was adjectivally hot

A bit late in posting, but this passed overhead yesterday morning..

https://noratlas-de-provence.com/

The itinerary says it was heading for Grenoble, but it was tracking North West. Maybe taking the scenic route up the Rhone valley then into the Isere?

A few years ago we would see a Fouga Zephyr and Douglas Skyraider flying in formation (an odd couple), but they have been absent from the skies recently.

My sole encounter was at Mont De Marsin, where my FAF colleague* advised me to ignore the decanters of Red deployed on the lunch table. I tested, and agreed his advice!!

* FAFLO at 11 Gp, in the next office, and subsequently re-encountered in FAF Defence Sales. Bon jour, Marcel ... I remember you [and your Calvados] well! :)

Decanters???
We had plain brown bottles, 2 per table, also 2 clear bottles of water.
If they were emptied, the water was replenished from the tap, and the wine from an enormous barrel that was just inside the kitchen door.

On arrival I was advised to drink the wine 50/50 with the water, 'till I got used to it.

It took a week.:)