Full AB on the waist catapult

This Rafale M was delivered to the Marine Nationale, Aeronavale or Aéronautique Navale on 8 February 2012. It is seen here being directed to the bow catapult of the Charles de Gaulle.

Since 2018, this Super Etendard is in use as an instructional airframe at Hyeres Le Palyvestre. The aircraft is seen here being directed to the catapult of the Charles de Gaulle.

The SA365F1 is much improved variant of the SA365 for the Marine Nationale. It has been used since 1991 for general duties, for backup purposes, Search and Rescue and plane guard mission aboard French NAval ships, including the Charles de Gaulle. The variant 365F is used since 1999 with Flottille 35F, which is based at Hyères Le Palyvestre (France).

A SEM being launched from the R91

This Etendard served the Aeronavale up to April 2016. The aircraft went into storage and was sold to Argentina in January 2018 and received code 3A-215, 216, 217, 218 or 219. The tie-up is not known. After arrival in Argentina, the Etendard is stored at Comandante Espora (EA32) air base.

This former is a former 11F aircraft, withdrawn from use in 2008 and stored at Hyéres since mid-2009. The aircraft is preserved at Toulouse museum (France) since 2018. On the picture the tail of serial 15 (former 17F) can be seen too. This Super Etendard is stored at Hyéres since mid-2011.

Former Swiss AF J-4097 went to the Texas Air Command Museum, Arlington (TX) with registration N58HH on 20 Nov'95. Via an unknown owner in Delaware the F58A was sold to the Northern Lights Aerobatic Team Inc. and Equipe de Voltige Northern Lights Inc, Montreal (QC) as C-GZIB from Jul'03. It moved to Lortie Aviation Inc, Lac Saint-Joseph (QC) and remained C-GZIB from 10 Sep'08 (and was operated from Istres). Then N340AX with Hunter Aviation Int'l Inc, Newark (DE) in Dec'16, leased for 3 yrs to TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc Trustee, North Salt Lake (UT) from '18 and is now still owned by Hunter Avn

Pictured just after launch from one of the side catapults of the R91. The steam is caused by a launch of one of the bow catapult.

Close to 50 Super Etendard Modernisé's (SEM) were delivered to the Marine Nationale. The SEM is based on the Super Étendard, which is based on the Étendard IVM. The Super Etendard Modernisé was constantly upgraded by the French Navy through its life. It was used for anti-ship, strike, reconnaissance and nuclear strike missions. Here, serial 4 is launched from the R91, its bridle (the cable that attaches the Etendard to the steam catapult) is just dropped after launch in the sea (one bridle is used for each launch!).

Former Swiss Air Force serial J-4073 was sold on 16 Dec'94. The aircraft was transferred to the Luchtmacht museum in the Netherlands on 16 Jun'95 and sold to Skyline Historical Flight, Anna Paulowna, Netherlands on 1 Aug'02 with registration C-RUUD. That registration was canx on 16 Dec'03. Via Aeromech Int'l Resources Ltd, Windsor (UK), the Hunter became part of the Vastgota Veteranflygforening (VVF) in Sweden as SE-DXI on 29 Apr'04. Then to Lortie Aviation Inc, Lac Saint-Joseph (QC) as C-FRHU on 16 Nov'07. From 2011, the French Navy used it with Apache Aviation from Istres AB, still as C-FRHU

This Epsilon was known former 315-XG from late 1986 onwards. The trainer received a secondary civil registration F-SEXG after maintenance on the French military basic training aircraft was executed by civil hands from summer 2006. The TB-30 was used by the small French Air Force demonstration team "Cartouche dorées", which livery can be seen on this picture.

This former is a former 11F aircraft, stored at Hyéres since mid-2011

Serial V-11 leads a formation with two F-35s. The Gulfstream IV of 334sq, with the Dutch Minister of Defense on board, picked up the first two Dutch F-35As on their maiden deployment from their home base Edwards AFB (CA) to Dutch soil. Both Lightning II s, F-001 and F-002 were assigned to the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (31st TES) and returned some weeks later to Edwards to continue their test program.

First arrival in the Netherlands. Pictured just after the Atlantic crossing for its first visit to its future homebase. This is the second F-35A for the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force). The aircraft (FMS 10-5019) made its first flight on 27 June 2013 and was delivered to the KLu on 01 August 2013. It was assigned too the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron (31 TES) at Eglin AFB (FL) and carried the (USAF) OT tailcode during its test program. After the 31st TES, the Lighting was transferred to Edwards AFB (CA) where it joined the 323 Test Squadron.

Resting after the Atlantic crossing for the very first time. This first F-35A for the KLu, arrived in its maiden deployment at Leeuwarden on 23 May'16. F-001 (FMS 09-5008) took the skies for the first time on 6 Aug'12, and was delivered to the KLu, before the Dutch government decided for an F-35 order, on 25 Jul'13. It was assigned to the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin AFB (FL) and carried the (USAF) OT tailcode during its test program. After the 31st TES, the -35 was transferred to Edwards AFB (CA) where it joined the 323 Test Squadron. Currently assigned to 308th FS at Luke (AZ)

During a combat deployment against ISIS in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, F-16A J-631 was deployed to Jordan to fly missions over Iraq and Syria. Here, the Viper is seen in that dusty environment, equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAMs on its wingtips and a GBU-12 Paveway II underneath its right wing. J-631 is a Fokker built F-16A (FMS 80-3631, Fokker c/n L-128), it made its first flight on 25 Mar'83, was delivered to the KLu on 2 May'83 and assigned to 311sq. Late '83 the F-16 was transferred as F-16A(R) to recce sqn 306sq. It was modified to AM in 2000. It is stored at Volkel since Aug'20.

During a combat deployment against ISIS in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, F-16A J-136 was deployed to Jordan to fly missions over Iraq and Syria. Here, the Viper is seen in that dusty environment, equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAMs on its wingtips and a GBU-12 Paveway II underneath its right wing. J-136 is a Fokker built F-16A (FMS 85-0136, Fokker c/n L-232), it made its first flight on 30 Jul'87, was delivered to the KLu on 31 Jul'87, was modified to AM in 1998.

During a combat deployment against ISIS in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, F-16A J-515 was deployed to Jordan to fly missions over Iraq and Syria. Here, the Viper is seen in that dusty environment and taking off for another anti-ISIS mission, equipped with AIM-120 AMRAAMs on its wingtips and a GBU-12 Paveway II underneath its right wing. J-515 is a Fokker built F-16A (FMS 87-0515, Fokker c/n L-277), it made its first flight on 29 Mar'90, was delivered to the KLu on 3 Aypr'90, was modified to AM in 1998.