Airforces

44 // SEPTEMBER 2017 #354 http://www.airforcesmonthly.com

HE ARMÉE de l’Air (French Air Force)

Ramex Delta display team became

very popular among airshow

audiences across Europe between 2010

and 2016. The French Air Force enjoys a

strong tradition of two-ship fast jet displays.

During the 1990s the Voltige Victor (Mirage

F1s) and the Raffin Mike (Jaguar As) tactical

display teams would perform alongside the

high-performance, single-ship Mirage 2000C

demonstration. After these teams disbanded,

there were occasional two- or four-ship

demonstrations, typically when a squadron

organised an airshow at its home airfield.

In 2010 Escadron de Chasse (EC, Fighter

Squadron) 2/4 ‘La Fayette’ took the

opportunity to renew this tradition and

established Ramex Delta with a pair of

Mirage 2000N strike fighters. Having

a permanent team made it possible to

attend airshows further afield and to

spend more time refining the display.

However, with EC 2/4 making the transition

from the Mirage 2000N to the Rafale B,

and moving from Istres to Saint-Dizier

in the process, it was decided that 2016

would be Ramex Delta’s final season.

MIRAGE DISPLAY TEAM

Right: With the demise of Ramex Delta it

looked as though it was the end for the

Armée de l’Air’s tactical display teams. The

arrival of Couteau Delta was therefore warmly

welcomed by airshow afi cionados. All photos P

Olivier unless stated

Below: The Couteau Delta team members for 2017

with one of their mounts. From left to right: ‘San’

(pilot), ‘Axel’ (WSO), ‘Pastif’ (WSO) and ‘Elvis’ (pilot).

Below right: The Couteau Delta aircrew brief with

‘Gaby’ (second from right), the leader of the former

Ramex Delta team.

T