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.
img140 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
CEAM Mirage 2000-5F
img142 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img141 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
The variety of tail badges on display from the Mirage 2000Ds
img143 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img144 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img145 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img146 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img147 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Mirage 2000N
img148 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
All three remaining variants of Mirage F1 still in service B, CT and CR
img149 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img150 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img151 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Cracking Cazaux 2005
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Cracking Cazaux 2005
Last edited by capercaillie on Mon 17 Aug 2020, 8:58 am, edited 1 time in total.
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
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.
img152 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Anyone spot themselves?
img153 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img154 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img155 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img157 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Yeah, I know Skyhawks.....
img158 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Gibber, gibber
img167 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img168 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Static Mirage IVP
img156 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Special Alphas on static
img160 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img161 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img162 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Intercept target
img165 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
The shape of things to come to replace their Pumas
img164 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
More CEV goodness on static
img166 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img170 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img169 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img152 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Anyone spot themselves?
img153 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img154 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img155 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img157 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Yeah, I know Skyhawks.....
img158 (2) by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Gibber, gibber
img167 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img168 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Static Mirage IVP
img156 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Special Alphas on static
img160 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img161 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img162 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Intercept target
img165 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
The shape of things to come to replace their Pumas
img164 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
More CEV goodness on static
img166 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img170 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img169 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
Among the international participants, Austrian Draken and Skyvan
img171 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img172 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
img174 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img175 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img173 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img176 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img181 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Italian Piaggio 166M on static, German Transall was supporting one of the teams, maybe the Swiss?
img178 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img177 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Green March were present along with the Patrouille Suisse
img179 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img180 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img188 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img189 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img171 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img172 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
img174 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img175 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img173 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img176 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img181 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Italian Piaggio 166M on static, German Transall was supporting one of the teams, maybe the Swiss?
img178 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img177 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
Green March were present along with the Patrouille Suisse
img179 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img180 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img188 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img189 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9336
- Joined: Mon 01 Sep 2008, 3:04 pm
- Location: Leominster
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
The final part with some of the warbirds on show
img195 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img194 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img192 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
img193 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img190 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img191 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
img182 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img183 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img184 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img186 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.
img195 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img194 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img192 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
img193 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img190 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img191 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
img182 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img183 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img184 by Paul Downes, on Flickr
img186 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.
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
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
We also took in the CAEA museum near Bordeaux ,must sort out the photos some time. Terry
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- Posts: 830
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Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
Certainly Memorable Terry! Was a Fantastic show and that Museum the day after!
15 years ago too!
Fab Shots BTW. Trip down Memory lane.
15 years ago too!
Fab Shots BTW. Trip down Memory lane.
Cheers
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.
George
Zero shows for 2018 Giving in a Rest.
- Canberra TT.18
- Posts: 206
- Joined: Tue 02 Sep 2008, 9:25 pm
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
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.
Lost my sunglasses at the show.
Pieter
That was a superb show! 15 years ago!!!
Also great show for numbercrunchers with hangars packed with alpha jets and A-4s.
Lost my sunglasses at the show.
Pieter
Re: Cracking Cazaux 2005
What a great trip that must have been. Excellent set of photos Paul
Many thanks for posting.
Andy
Many thanks for posting.
Andy