Cracking Cazaux 2005

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capercaillie
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Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by capercaillie »

Shows on the near continent can be a little hit or miss, but with a base that is home to a multitude of units you shouldn't really go wrong. EC8 Alpha Jets based there were now joined by their Belgian counterparts of 11 Squadron in the operational transition units to front line types. The CSAR Pumas from EH67 were also residents, a unit rarely seen in the UK. Added to these was the Centre d'Essais en Vol, flight test unit with a variety of test types, at the time undergoing change into the more civilanised DGA, a bit like our QinetiQ I guess. Perhaps the most desirable among enthusiasts though were the A-4SU and TA-4SU Super Skyhawks of the Republic of Singapore Air Force no.150 Squadron resident at the base for many years in the similar role to the Alpha Jets who only ever made one UK show appearance at Waddington in 2000.

However what was put together not only utilised the home based aircraft but a wealth of front line Air Force assets and international visitors alike. Air interception of a Tucano with Mirage 2000Cs, attacks with Mirage 2000Ds, a multi national flypast of the Alpha Jets and A-4s, a CSAR demo with the Pumas, the final public airshow appearances of Mirage IV, Mirage III and Jaguar in service with flypast, although the special Mirage IV had been despatched to Paris show, perhaps the only disappointment of the weekend. Teams from Italy, Switzerland, Morocco and Jordan joined the display along with Danish, Belgian and Dutch F-16 solos, Magister and the ever popular Austrian Draken in its final display season. CL415 and Firecat water bombers added more than a splash of colour and a varied collection of warbirds boosted numbers even further.

The Saturday spotters day included virtually the entire flying display run in order, so everything was seen. The only downside being that the display was into the sun for most of the day making flying shots very difficult with the distance and airfield layout, so tactical angles and moving position was required to get the most from taxi shots. Starting with the home nation and the stunning Cambrai tiger Mirage 2000C.
Imageimg140 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

CEAM Mirage 2000-5F
Imageimg142 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg141 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

The variety of tail badges on display from the Mirage 2000Ds
Imageimg143 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg144 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg145 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg146 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg147 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Mirage 2000N
Imageimg148 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

All three remaining variants of Mirage F1 still in service B, CT and CR
Imageimg149 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg150 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg151 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Last edited by capercaillie on Mon 17 Aug 2020, 8:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
"The surrogate voice of st24"

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capercaillie
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by capercaillie »

A personal highlight for me was the flight of "les ancestres", the last CEV Mirage IIIE was being withdrawn and the recce nosed aircraft liberally adorned with dayglo was joined by special retirement schemed Jaguar E and one of two active Mirage IVPs at the show for a couple of flypasts before taxi-ing back past the assembled spotters. Worth a shot even into the sun.
Imageimg152 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Anyone spot themselves?
Imageimg153 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg154 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg155 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg157 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Yeah, I know Skyhawks.....
Imageimg158 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Gibber, gibber
Imageimg167 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg168 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Static Mirage IVP
Imageimg156 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Special Alphas on static
Imageimg160 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg161 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg162 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Intercept target
Imageimg165 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

The shape of things to come to replace their Pumas
Imageimg164 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

More CEV goodness on static
Imageimg166 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg170 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg169 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

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capercaillie
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by capercaillie »

Among the international participants, Austrian Draken and Skyvan
Imageimg171 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg172 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

F-16 solos from Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, the Belgians also sent the ever popular Magister and support Frog
Imageimg174 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg175 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg173 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg176 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg181 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Italian Piaggio 166M on static, German Transall was supporting one of the teams, maybe the Swiss?
Imageimg178 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg177 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Green March were present along with the Patrouille Suisse
Imageimg179 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg180 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg188 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg189 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

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capercaillie
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by capercaillie »

The final part with some of the warbirds on show
Imageimg195 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg194 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg192 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

The Securite Civile waterbombers both dropped loads, the Firecat flying fully aerobatic with its load and the CL415 picking a load up from Lake Cazaux
Imageimg193 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg190 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg191 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

I've forgotten something you say, these are little stunners, sadly none of the single seaters were particularly well placed for pics
Imageimg182 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg183 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg184 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Imageimg186 by Paul Downes, on Flickr

Easily makes my top five of best European shows I've attended, a great line up and good ops despite the distant display into the sun. A cracker of a show.
"The surrogate voice of st24"

My flickr photos https://www.flickr.com/photos/146673712@N06/

warferry
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by warferry »

Very nice shots and coverage Paul, great weekend for us guys from Ireland.
We also took in the CAEA museum near Bordeaux ,must sort out the photos some time. Terry

Georgeconna
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by Georgeconna »

Certainly Memorable Terry! Was a Fantastic show and that Museum the day after!
15 years ago too!

Fab Shots BTW. Trip down Memory lane.
Cheers

George

Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.

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POD
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by POD »

Excellent post Paul.. :thumbsup:

Kev
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by Canberra TT.18 »

Thanks for the great memories

That was a superb show! 15 years ago!!!
Also great show for numbercrunchers with hangars packed with alpha jets and A-4s.๐Ÿ˜

Lost my sunglasses at the show.๐Ÿ˜Ž

Pieter

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Blackbird
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005

Post by Blackbird »

What a great trip that must have been. Excellent set of photos Paul๐Ÿ‘๐Ÿ‘
Many thanks for posting.

Andy

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