Cognac airshow: this weekend, the Air Force deploys its giants

Patrouille de France, Rafale Solo Display, A400M Tactical Display, or even the Phénix team of paratroopers: this Friday, these spearheads of the AAE gave a foretaste of the program that they will offer during these two days of aeronautical celebration during training demonstrations. One thing is sure: it’s mind-blowing.

Le Rafale in majesté

Honor to the flagship of French aeronautics: the Rafale Solo Display (RSD). This fighter plane in the colors of France (the livery changes every year) offers, solo, an impressive program of figures made up of lightning accelerations, sharp turns, and dead leaves, in a deafening noise. Earplugs required.

At the controls of this formidable aircraft, Captain Alexandre, known as “Rocky”, his callsign, has been the “presenter” of the RSD since this year. A Rafale pilot for ten years, this 38-year-old soldier returns to the land of his youth in Cognac. “That’s where I started. I was an instructor there before leaving for Saint-Dizier. “It’s changed quite a bit today, but it’s a pride to come back, because the future of hunting is here,” he says.

“In turns, we take 10 G, our body then weighs 700 kg.â€

Accompanied and advised by his predecessor, Captain “Mimouss”, the team leader, his role is to “push the limits of the aircraft” and “show the extent of its flight capabilities”. With 15 tons of thrust, the Rafale can reach Mach 1.8, or 2,000 km/h. “But we limit ourselves to 1,200 km/h in meetings, to avoid breaking the sound barrier.” A very physical exercise which requires high-level training. “In the turns, we take 10 G, our body weighs ten times our weight, or 700 kg for me.â€

The A400M, a multi-purpose glove

Another flagship of the AAE, the Airbus A400M transport plane, which replaced the iconic C-160 Transall. It’s not the biggest, “but it is extremely maneuverable given its size, thanks to its electric controls which react with a quarter turn and which allow you not to force the handle”, indicates Captain Damien, known as “Rabbit”. Pilot “flying” “of the A400M Tactical Display, this young 28-year-old aviator is accompanied by the “monitoring” pilot, Captain Alexandre, known as “Savat”, and the “loadmaster” – the bunker commander – Chief Warrant Officer Guillaume.

This weekend, they will also demonstrate the capabilities of this giant of 85 tonnes (empty) and 45 meters long, with a wingspan of 42, capable of transporting up to 37 tonnes of material in its hold (freight, helicopter, truck…). “We will present the emblematic maneuver, with an inclination of 120° uphill,” describes “Rabbit.” With its four 11,000 hp engines, “we have a nice thrust.” The loadmaster will deploy also a large tricolor flag by the side door.

It will also transport the fourteen parachutists from the AAE Phoenix team (which has 37 in total), who will jump from a height of 2,000 meters. A 7-minute descent during which they will perform contact sailing tricks, and deploy flags and smoke bombs.

But the best-known ambassador remains the Patrouille de France, each outing of which is an anticipated event. This Friday, the eight tricolor Alpha Jets rehearsed their routines, with lots of smoke and impressive figures, such as the “Sheriff” and her inverted flights or the giant heart. Blue, white, red, of course.

What time can I see them?

On Saturday, the A400M will open the ball for AAE ambassadors at 2:45 p.m. The Rafale Solo Display flights (3:15 p.m.) and the Patrouille de France (3:25 p.m.) will then follow. In the meantime, the three groups will parade together at 3:05 p.m. The Phoenix team paratroopers will jump earlier at 12:12 p.m. precisely. Sunday, the times are identical. With the exception of the A400M flight which will take place at 2:40 p.m.