Bretigny, September 22nd 1974

[Keflavik69]

Today 50 years ago I visited 2 'portes ouvertes' in one day. There was a small scale open house at the French transport base of Orleans-Bricy. The open house at Orleans-Bricy had a static of only 6 common aircraft different from Transalls so I didn't bother to scan them. Also there was an open house at Bretigny that was open during the afternoon only. Bretigny housed in those days the CEV, the French equivalent of QinetiQ. In my 60 years of planespotting I visited hundreds of airshows but I still consider this particular open house as one of the best I ever visited. This was of course because of the large amount of unusual aircraft you normally did not come across on regular French fighter bases. Add to that the high number of prototypes, to be reckognised by their numbers starting with a zero, that made this afternoon a day I never forgot. I hope you like the large selection of photos.

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Alouette 3 1306 UV fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Canberra 784 AK fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Caravelle 116 CE fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Cessna 310 185 AU fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Cessna 414 0248 AB fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. DC-7C 45061 CA fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. DC-7C 45446 CC fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Flamant 138 AH fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Fregatte 01 DM fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Guepard 439 DA fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. H-34 1376 PY fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Jaguar T E-1 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Magister 55 AT fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Magister 96 AM fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Magister 376 AQ fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Magister 384 AR fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Meteor NF11-1 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Meteor NF11-3 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Meteor NF11-9 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mirage 3A 01 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mirage 3A 06 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mirage 3A 08 + Mirage 3R 02 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mirage 3B B-01 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mirage F1 02 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mystere IVA 85 332-BH fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Mystere XX 124 CC fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Noralpha 35 BW fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Noratlas 5 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Paris 58 332-DA fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Paris 100 NG fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Puma 1251 AW fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Super Broussard 9 ME fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Super Mystere B.2 9 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Transall A-04 61-BI fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Vautour 2N 307 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

Bretigny 22 September 1974. Vautour 2N 337 fc by arnold booy, on Flickr

I hope you found them of interest.
Arnold

[Mustang531]

Thanks Arnold, I think you've surpassed yourself with this stunning selection, plenty of variety and of course, rarely seen types. It's great to see aircraft that most air arms had retired many years before. As I'm a Meteor fan, enjoyed seeing the night fighter versions, also the Canberra. I think that we'll all enjoy viewing these and thank you for taking the time to upload them, others will echo this.

[Amp]

Wow Arnold, those photos are wonderful. Plenty of dayglo, plus that chequered Mirage! I cannot recall seeing the lumpy DC-7 before. Thanks for sharing.

[Alf]

Wow Arnold, those photos are wonderful. Plenty of dayglo, plus that chequered Mirage! I cannot recall seeing the lumpy DC-7 before. Thanks for sharing.

The DC-7 is still around, it's in the Le Bourget Paris Museum store at Dugny. Great set of photos from a great era.

[iainpeden]

Thanks Arnold - I always enjoy your posts. What is the a/c with the red/yellow striped rudder behind the Alouette; initially I thought Vatour but .......

[Keflavik69]

Dear Iainpeden, the yellow/red striped rotor is the tailrotor of the Alouette. Behind there is a Vautour indeed.

[Petepilot]

Sacre bleu! I'm lost for words Arnold, except to say....the quality, the content, and of course, "more please!".

Many thanks for sharing, as always!

[Vulcanone]

Cracking stuff as always Arnold.... Oh for that time machine !!

[mancman]

What a great post. I think my favourite is the Canberra. Thanks for posting.

[MKR]

Another great post Arnold What a varied collection of aircraft , like the DC-7 and the Super Broussard looks very different to the original. Thanks for posting.

[eLaReF]

Wow Arnold, those photos are wonderful. Plenty of dayglo, plus that chequered Mirage! I cannot recall seeing the lumpy DC-7 before. Thanks for sharing.

The photos were of 2 different airframes
As stated 45061 went to Le Bourget where I took these pics on a pretty damp grey day in 1986.

F-ZBCA Douglas DC-7C c/n 45061 by eLaReF, on Flickr

F-ZBCA Douglas DC-7C c/n 45061 by eLaReF, on Flickr

It had gained some artwork by then

F-ZBCA Douglas DC-7C c/n 45061 by eLaReF, on Flickr

F-ZBCA Douglas DC-7C c/n 45061 by eLaReF, on Flickr

But loved the whole series, especially the Magisters & Parises (Or Paris's or Parii?)

[Canberra TT.18]

Bravo.

What a great set of special aircraft!
All that dayglow!

Super Broussard and Noralpha.
And the unbelievable amount of Fouga and Paris aircraft in the background everywhere.

[Stratocruiser]

Well strike me down
What an absolutely tremendous post with so many gems.
I have to say that for me, the ace in the pack has to be the DC-7 but what a superb variety!
You really have excelled with this post Arnold, a real blast from the glorious past.
Thanks so very much for sharing your superb captures

[paddyboy]

Simply awesome, Arnold

Thanks for yet another stunning set

Paddyboy

[Kevin Brewer]

Brilliant Arnold, absolutely brilliant - please keep them coming! (And dayglo, my favourite era).

[TimFoo]

Absolutely brilliant! I always love it when I see a 'Keflavik69' post and this is stunning...

[david14]

Great stuff, some really rare birds there - 50 years ago!

[pg1610]

Checkerboard Mirage is top of my favourites in a whole post of stunning classics
Thanks for posting

[warthog56]

A fabulous selection of all French military. Most of them were of French design and construction too - the days when Britain and France reigned supreme in design and manufacture of aircraft. Thanks for these.

[Typeflyer]

Brilliant. The Golden Age of the Portes Ouvertes!