35 Flotille aircraft returning to base in the last light of the day

This Aéronautique Navale C-47 had been withdrawn from use by the mid 1980s, and was preserved at Nimes-Garons by 1986. It is seen here 23 years later, on display along the D42 road on the northwest side of the airbase in great early evening light. But it is no longer there. In early May 2010 the aircraft was dismantled and trucked off to Lorient airbase, where it arrived on May 6th. Following some restoration work and a repaint it had been placed on display at the base by September 2010.

Undergoing ground checks of the aircraft hydraulic systems, which include the deployment of the retractable radome which houses the Thomson-CSF Iguane search radar and the sliding weapons bay doors. This aircraft comes from 21 Flotille, based at Nîmes-Garon in the South of France.

An Aeronautique Navale NH90-Naval Frigate Helicopter seen during a landing at the Eder Heide (Ede Heath) during exercise Air-centric Personnel Recovery Operatives Course (APROC). Operated by 33F.

In special marking for 100 years of Aeronavale

Not a Magister, but a much rarer Zéphyr. This basically was a Magister fully adapted for operations from aircraft carriers, the most notable differences probably being the sliding canopy hoods and the nose-mounted light. Only 32 of the type were built, and this example was preserved here since 1995. It was dismantled and moved to Orange, France in early or mid 2011 and safely moved inside the restoration hangar there.

Operated by 57S Squadron from Landivisiau

This Etendard has been preserved on the Boulevard de la Mer near the beach of Fréjus since 2003. It was still there by 2019.

This is the only Nord 2504 Noratlas built. It first flew on 17 Nov 1958, and was handed over to the Aéronautique Navale on 24 Jun 1959. It was intended to be the first of 24 aircraft for them, but the remaining 23 were cancelled. N° 01 was withdrawn from use on 1 Aug 1987 and donated to Escadrille Pégase in Jun 1988. The Noratlas was flown to Aix - Les Milles on delivery on 26 Jun 1988 as F-GFTS, and painted with "1958 - 30 Ans - 1988" titles on the nose (still visible in this photo). On 19 Jan 1989 it had registration F-AZNA reserved, but this was not taken up. None of the plans for this aircraft became reality, and as it turned out it would never fly again. It was eventually broken up in 2013. Note the jetpods on the wing tips.

Now stored at the French Naval Aviation Museum in Rochefort.

Initially delivered to RAF in 1943 as Dakota III KG436; Then to USAF in 1946 as 42-92647. Became civilian in Ireland as EI-ALT & EI-ACT; Sold to French Navy in 1961 and Wfu in 1982. Preserved and stored now in Paris Le Bourget Musée de l'air.

Seen here at static display during Nancy air base open day 1985. Was written off one year later, 16th May 1986, during a dramatic crash in Djibouti. Unfortunately all 19 people aboard lost their lives. In memoriam ....