me the excuse to tag along the wife, allowing her a couple of days in Cannes.
Saturday was the spotters day/arrivals, tickets were sold out, so i just waited till Sunday. Arriving at Toulon/Hyeres we were directed into arranged parking and then onto a shuttle bus up to the base, we were met by a sight that still haunts me a couple of weeks later, betting off the bus it was 8.05 am, and we walked straight into a cue, that at 6ft 4, i could see we were in a world of trouble. The first picture gives you some idea of what met us, cues 20 wide, temperatures 37oC in the sunlight and zero shade, wasn't long before people were literally passing out where they stood, the was no respite, the queue didn't really move and it kept on getting hotter. We eventually got into the base at 11.20 am, yep you read that right, nearly 3 and a half hours, just to get in, it was horrific.
Once through the security, was had our passports checked and off we went, the rest of the story unfolds a little something like this.
Untitled by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe queues....not for the faint hearted.
Base Hyères by Rob Burns, on FlickrVery nice mural that adorned the front gate.
French Marine Falcon 900 by Rob Burns, on FlickrWasn't to know before we got there, but the static was seriously slim pickings, this was my first feeling that it might not be the extravaganza that previous shows offered.
French Marine Lynx by Rob Burns, on FlickrAlways nice to see a "old " lynx, only manage to see the wildcats over here now.
French Police EC-135 by Rob Burns, on FlickrFrench customs EC135, nice addition.
French Marine Rafalle by Rob Burns, on FlickrOne of only a couple of fast jets in the static, and none from a foreign nation.
Italian Marine NH-90 by Rob Burns, on FlickrOne of only two foreign military aircraft at the show, a Italian marine NH-90.
Dutch Army by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe other foreign participant...
Gazelle by Rob Burns, on FlickrWasn't complaining at this gem. Its been a while since we crossed paths.
Atlantique 2 by Rob Burns, on FlickrNow here is where things got interesting, from the open till 12 noon, all the flying aircraft we also static, then a 12, a gang of French forces chaps and chapesses appeared from nowhere, pushed everyone back a bit, and moved the barriers to make it now the flight line.
105 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrStunning old timer, reversing under its own power, showing how it used to be done.
as565 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
HELOS (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrOne of many Marine Helicopters at the show, they seem to have made a decision early on, that if anything cancelled or there was a gap, they would send these up, was a bit boring after the third display, but certainly different.
rafalle taxi 2 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
rafalle taxi 1 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
rafalle taxi (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrThe only fast jet experience was 2 Marine Rafales, that did a great job, not sure where the solo Rafale was, or indeed if it was even supposed to come.
And that was it for the static, so on with the limited flying display.
rafalle 2 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
RAFALLE X 2 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
RAFALLE 28 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrTwo Marine Rafales, put on a nice show and made some noise, the trouble was, the display line was right down the runway (as it normally is), but between you and the runway was a huge hard stand and about 400 meters of grass, add in a little sun (37oC) and these were about the only saves i got, then it was helicopter hour(s)
MARINE 507 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
ARMY NH90 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
TIGER (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
MARINE 772 ROPE (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
MARINE 24 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
MARINE 772 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine-NH90-15 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
marine nh-90 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine-NH90 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine-008 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine-524 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine-1 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
Marine (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrWith enough helicopter action to re-make all Airwolf Episodes and most of the Blue Thunder ones, it was time for a little bit of low and slow....
TRACKER-1 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
TRACKER (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrImpressive display by this beast, the highlight/lowlight, being his waterdrop, which he managed to do behind the tower, totally obscuring it from me.
atlantique (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
atlantique-1 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrNow we were talking, i have great grand parents younger than this fantastic machine, few flypasts but not really a display, did it matter ??? No, that drone was worth the trip alone.
NORT (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
C47 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on Flickr
dash8 (1 of 1) by Rob Burns, on FlickrA couple of the old timers leaving straight after the show, and a star visit from the Securite Civile Dash 8.
And that was that, a very enjoyable day if you ignore the negatives, but some nice machines that you dont get to see that often, and we managed to make a week of it with several other bases visited on route and by sheer accident (kept telling the missus that)
If you have got this far, thanks.
C & C's welcome.
