Meeting de l’air, BA123 Orléans-Bricy
The Fondation des Œuvres Sociales de l’Air (FOSA) Meeting de l’Air returned to the European airshow calendar at the central French Air Base at Orléans-Bricy (Base Aérienne 123). The base is home to the Airbus A400M fleet of the L’armée de l’Air et de l’Espace as well as the Phénix Parachute Display Team. The Meeting not only showcased the home air arm but also contained an entertaining mix of civilian flying displays, historic aircraft and a handful of international military participants.
Paul Johnson/Flightline UK reports. All photography by the author.
La Fondation des Œuvres Sociales de l’Air (FOSA) supports the personnel and families of a wide range of French aviation agencies. These includes those from the French Air and Space Force, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGAC) and Météo France. FOSA raises funds through a variety means including an annual military airshow. During 2024 when the French Air & Space Force celebrated its 90th Anniversary, FOSA took a break from running their air show as the Air Force organised its own celebration at Versailles. However, the FOSA Meeting de l’air returned in 2025 at BA123 Orléans-Bricy in the Loiret Department of France.
Officially titled BA 123 “Commandant Charles Paoli,” the airfield has been operational since 1936. However, since 1967 the base has been a home to part of the French Air and Space Force’s transport fleet. Originally this was on the Transall C-160 but also included the C-130 Hercules. From 1999, the base gained a role with French Airborne Special Forces. More recently, the base has been thoroughly modernised to accommodate the French Air and Space Force’s current primary transport aircraft, the Airbus A400M Atlas. The French are the largest operator of the 21st Century Strategic and Tactical transport and it is operated by t1hree squadrons at BA123, 1/61 “Touraine”, 3/61 “Poitou” and 4/61 “Béarn.”
The annual FOSA Meeting de l’air events are major military airshows. While perhaps not as large as the Royal International Air Tattoo or Belgian Air Force Days for example, the FOSA events are still significant military airshows attracting a decent number of aircraft, mainly from the French Air and Space Force. Many different types from the air arm were represented in the static display which was dotted around the huge concrete apron area at Orléans-Bricy. These included examples of the Embraer EMB-121 Xingu, SOCATA TBM700, Dassault Alpha Jet E, Dassault Mirage 2000-5F and Mirage 2000D, Dassault Rafale B, Airbus A330MRTT Phénix, a pair of Airbus Helicopters H125M Fennecs plus no less than six Airbus A400M Atlas aircraft. Hidden amongst the hangar exhibitions was a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. Another French Air and Space Force type making a relatively rare public appearance was a Beechcraft King Air 350ER Vador from EEA 01.054 based at Évreux-Fauville. These are amongst the air arms newest types with the first of eight examples being delivered in 2020. These aircraft perform Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) duties and are equipped with range of sensors to intercept radio and radar signals. The static part also included a preserved example of the Transall C-160F which looked almost operational!
Joining the military hardware was a handful of civilian and historic aircraft including a Boeing-Stearman N2S Kaydet, Bucker Jungmann, Nord 1203 Norécrin III, Morane Saulnier MS733 Alcyon, Aeronca L3 plus a modern pair of ultralights used for youth air experience flights.
This international military contribution to the static displays was very small. The only visiting fast jet was a SAAB JAS-39D Gripen parked alongside the Rafale together with a dummy payload and the pilot’s survival equipment. The Belgian Air Force was also represented with a Dassault Falcon 7X from the 15th Air Transport Wing based at Melsbroek. However perhaps the highlight of the static display was the Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules II from the Luftwaffe. Strictly speaking this was not really an international contribution as the aircraft comes from a Joint Franco-German Air Transport unit based at Évreux-Fauville which is home to a fleet of C-130J-30s as well as the KC-130J supporting tactical transport and aerial refuelling tasks for both counties.
The weather for the event was quite mixed. The days before and after the show were near perfect. Saturday’s weather too was fine, though there was a persistent high-level overcast for much of the day. Much of Sunday saw a low overcast and occasional rain which significantly disrupted the eight-hour flying display. Conditions did eventually improve allowing for a shorter flying display towards the latter part of the afternoon.
Opening the display on Saturday were the Royal Air Force’s Falcons Parachute Display Team. They jumped from their familiar Dornier Do228 presented a new display for the 2025 season which included such figures as the helix and the carousel.
The international contributions to the flying may have been limited but were full of quality with two fast jets Spanish and Swedish Air Forces on top of the Falcons. The Spanish contribution was the thunderous solo Eurofighter C.16 Tifon demonstration from Ala 11 while the Swedes sent the nimble SAAB JAS-39C Gripen display from the Såtenäs Wing.
Several civilian displays brought some much-needed colour to the grey skies. An early participant in the programme was the Shark Aero Shark UL which showcased the type of modern aircraft that is accessible to private pilots. In complete contrast was the classic shape of the ‘Rubans’ Stampe SV4. However, this was a lycoming powered aircraft which tow huge yellow streamers behind it for an eye-catching spectacle.
Notably, France is home to a deep-rooted passion for aerobatics. This was reflected in the flying display on multiple occasions with an eclectic range of aircraft from the elegant Pilatus B4 glider through to the powerful Pitts Model 12 and the now very rare Sukhoi Su-26M. There was similar diversity from the formation displays with an aerial ballet from the Fournier RF4Ds from the Alternative Duo which contrasted nicely with the fast-paced action from Vertical Flight Experience and their three es-French Air Force SOCATA TB-30 Epsilons.
Finally adding some 1930’s glamour to the flying was Danielle Wingwalker from Swiss-based 46 Aviation. Emiliano and Danielle Del Buono’s display is a real eye catcher with Danielle clambering around the bright pink Boeing Stearman while Emiliano flies some quite punchy aerobatics and close passes.
A very pleasing aspect of the long flying display were several mixed formations of historic aircraft. With Orléans-Bricy’s role in air mobility, one of the absolute highlights of the meeting was the combined display by the Junkers Ju-52-3M from l’amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis, the Douglas C-53D Skytrooper from Musée Aéronautique de Bretagne and the quite wonderful Nord 2501 Noratlas from L’association Le Noratlas de Provence. The three aircraft represented the French Air Force’s transport capabilities from the immediate post war period through to the Cold War. The C-53D is one of Europe’s newest warbird restorations and appears in its authentic wartime markings as 42-68810, coded T3-003 and named ‘Gruesome.’ The Bristol Hercules powered Noratlas is surely one of Europe’s most unique civilian operated aircraft with its distinctive barrel shaped cargo hold and twin tail booms. There was also a nod to some of the lighter transport aircraft with the Dassault MD312 Flamant from Amicale Alenconnaise des Avions Anciens flying alongside a modern day SOCATA TBM-700.
The formations did not end with transport aircraft. Post war training was marked with the unusual sight of Zandotti Sandrine’s Fouga CM-170R Magister flying in close company with the North American SNJ-5 Texan F-AZRB. The final combination looked at two of the French Air Force’s earlier jets, the de Havilland DH100 Vampire operated by Fiocconi Patrice and Sensation Voltige’s Lockheed T-33 (CT-133) Silver Star.
Completing the ‘historic’ line up were solo displays from Jean-Marie Delimboeuf in his ‘Normandie-Niemen” marked Yakovlev Yak-3UA reproduction and an unusual Supermarine Spitfire replica. This was a Marcel Jurca MJ-10 Spitfire operated by Le Spit d’Alain. The Jurca is a obviously a replica of the famous British fighter and sounds different with a modern engine, but it did give a very impressive ‘warbird’ style display.
However, it was the French Air and Space Force that were the focus of the display and the biggest draw for the crowd. During the main part of the French Air Force displays during the mid-afternoon it was noticeably more crowded along the flightline. The Equipe de Voltige provided two displays during the afternoon with a solo display with an Extra 330SC plus an extraordinary three -ship routine with two 330SCs and the more rarely seen Extra 330LC two-seater. Compared to similar Extra based teams, the EVAA’s display was very different with some very imaginative breaks and an incredible moment with one Extra in a flat-spin while the other two orbited around the falling aircraft.
In the absence of the Patrouille de France whose season has been delayed by a training accident, the EVAA also joined up with the other two main French Air Force displays for a signature flypast. This saw three-ship of Extra 330s led the Dassault Rafale C and the Airbus A400M Tactical display aircraft.
This year sees Captaine Jean-Brice ‘Mimouss’ Millett return as the Rafale Solo Display pilot. However, he has a new display jet wearing a striking Blue, White and Red colour scheme that really stands out. As ever his display is fast and energetic routine of rapid rolls, tight turns and an incredible change from slow to high-speed flying. Adding further Dassault Rafale Cs to the flying was the welcome return of the ‘Vautour Bravo’ tactical display from EC2/30 ‘Normandie Niemen’ and EC3/30 ‘Lorraine’ based at BA118 Mont de Marsan. Their routine highlights the range of missions the omni-role fighter can fly from close air support through to air defence.
A further tactical display came from ‘Mustang X-ray,’ the pair of Pilatus PC-21s from BA709 Cognac-Châteaubernard. The PC-21 provides the first stage of fighter pilot training and introduces students to combat tactics, some of which are reflected in Mustang X-Ray’s display.
One display that the crowd really seemed to engage with was a role demonstration from the Airbus Helicopters H225M Caracal of EH 1/67. The display showcased a typical combat search and rescue mission with the Caracal deploying a force of special forces to rapidly repatriate a downed pilot. It included fast roping as well as the rather spectacular technique of rapidly withdrawing the pilot and special forces attached to a line underneath the helicopter.
The home-based Airbus A400Ms made multiple appearances throughout the display. Just before the main display one aircraft flew in VIP guests and flew them out again later in the afternoon. An A400M also acted as a jump platform for the incredible Phénix Parachute Display Team of the French Air Force who gave the most patriotic of displays much to the pleasure of the audience. The morning display also saw the Airbus A400M show off its multirole abilities with an aerial refuelling demonstration by a pair of the large transporters. Then, during the peak of the French Air Force displays came the A400M Tactical Display which is outstanding demonstration of the type’s agility and power.
The finale to displays was somewhat unusual and slightly disjointed. It did not help that on Saturday the commentary system failed just before it got underway. It commenced with the departure of an Airbus A400M followed by a Lockheed C-130H Hercules. The action then moved on to single flypasts from a French Air and Space Dassault Falcon 900LX and a Boeing E-3F Sentry. After a bit of gap, the A400M and C-130H then reappeared at low level and in trail formation but at quite some distance from the crowdline. It was not until they were well over the airfield that it became clear that this was a static-line parachute drop from the special forces units co-located at Orléans-Bricy with 10 personnel under round parachutes – a very rare sight in the confines of an airshow.
This was a very enjoyable airshow full of interesting flying, unique formations and some very welcome surprises. There was also a great sense of occasion too with several moments of live music complimenting the flying displays. The French Air and Space Force presented themselves very well to the public who seemed to lap up all that was on offer on the ground whatever the weather with long queues to visit the cargo holds and cockpits that were open
