Armée De L'air Ambassadors

Armée de l’Air ambassadors

New colours, and a new display pilot: every other year, the Rafale Solo Display gains a new look. Nativel, callsign ‘Babouc’, and taken up a coach. The air force filtered the applications Frédéric Lert and Anthony coaching role for the incoming aviator. and sent me a list of names. The final choice Pecchi caught up with the team. came back to me, and the decision was made Choosing the pilot in full consultation with ‘Rut’, ‘Michael’ and he Rafale’s solo displays were “A call for applications was issued to all Rafale ‘Tao’, the former incumbents of the position.” initially performed by Dassault squadrons for the new display pilot,” ‘Marty’ Capitaine Nativel was announced as the T Aviation pilots, who developed a explained. “The requirements were simple: to new RSD pilot in February last year. A native breathtaking ten-minute routine for airshows be a qualified patrol leader, to have more than of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, ‘Babouc’ and other public events. In 2009, responsibility 500 hours on the Rafale and to be available for joined the Armée de l’Air in 1999 and now for demonstrating the ‘omni-role’ fighter was two years as a pilot and two more years as a has 3,000 hours on jet types including transferred to the Armée de l’Air (French Air 800 on the Alpha Jet, 1,000 on the Mirage Force), which then established the Rafale Solo 2000N and 2000D, and 1,000 on all types Display (RSD). The RSD is among the of Rafale, including the Marine Nationale so-called ‘ambassadors’ of the air arm, fulfilling (French Navy) Rafale M. (Hours on the a similar role to the Patrouille de France carrier-capable Rafale were not acquired aerobatic team, or the Alpha Jet Solo Display with the fleet but within the Rafale conversion provided by the École de l’Aviation de Chasse squadron at Saint-Dizier.) He became a (EAC, Fighter Aviation School) 314 at Tours. patrol leader in 2013 and is now aged 38. Capitaine Jean-Guillaume Martinez, callsign Things then proceeded very quickly, as ‘Marty’, was the Rafale Solo Display pilot ‘Marty’ recalled: “At the end of last season, in 2016 and 2017. Now he has given way ‘Babouc’ began h is apprenticeship with three to his replacement, Capitaine Sébastien flights, with me in the back seat of a Rafale B,

54 // SEPTEMBER 2018 #366 www.airforcesmonthly.com Top: The stunning paint scheme for the latest Rafale Solo Display jet was devised by ‘Babouc’ together with Régis Rocca. The colours were chosen to echo the famous all-black Rafale C01 and the Rafale A prototype, which combined an overall white scheme with tricolour fl ashes. All photos Anthony Pecchi unless stated Above: Rafale C130 ‘4-GI’ arrives over Gloucestershire for the Royal International Air Tattoo, accompanied by the RSD’s spare jet – on this occasion, two-seat Rafale B305 ‘4-EC’. Rich Cooper Main image: ‘Babouc’ approaches the cameraship in the solo display Rafale C, with the Alps forming a spectacular backdrop. The jet is fi tted with wingtip smoke generators for its demonstration role. Inset left: Capitaine Sébastien Nativel fl ew the Mirage 2000N and 2000D strike aircraft prior to converting to the Rafale and serving on a frontline unit at Saint-Dizier. Since 2015 he’s been with the type operational conversion unit at the same base.

www.airforcesmonthly.com #366 SEPTEMBER 2018 // 55 Armée de l’Air ambassadors to grasp the physical challenges of the display. Then he made five flights on the two-seat Extra 330LC of the air force’s aerobatic team, just to become accustomed to aerobatics at low altitude. The training during the winter season could then begin: 33 flights, starting at 2,000ft above the ground, then 1,000ft, then 500ft, which is the regular display altitude.” Preparing the jet Meanwhile, the aircraft received its new colours. The 2018 scheme is the result of co-operation between ‘Babouc’ and designer Régis Rocca, while the physical application of the livery was the work of Escadron de Soutien Technique Aéronautique (ESTA, Aeronautical Technical Support Squadron) 15/4 ‘Haute-Marne’. Fifteen days in the paint shop resulted in a jet that was as spectacular as ‘Babouc’ wanted: “I wanted a plane that recalled both the prototype Rafale C01, which was entirely black, and the Rafale A demonstrator, which was white with a tricolour flag on the tail. The artwork that came out of our exchanges was presented to the chief of staff of the air force who gave the final green light.” The new-look team’s first display took place above Albacete, Spain, during the 40th anniversary celebrations of the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme on May 12-13. The following weekend, May 19-20, the RSD made its French public debut at La Ferté Alais airshow. The complete programme for the year had not been confirmed at the time of AFM’s interview and could still spring a surprise or two. After a display for the RAF Cosford Air Show in Shropshire on June 10, ‘Babouc’ performed at the Royal International Air Tattoo at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire on July

Capitaine Sébastien Nativel, ‘Babouc’ 1999 Joins Armée de l’Air 2002-05 Mirage 2000N pilot with EC 3/4 ‘Limousin’ at Istres 2005-08 Alpha Jet instructor at Cazaux 2008-11 Mirage 2000D pilot with EC 3/3 ‘Ardennes’ at Nancy 2011-15 Rafale pilot with EC 1/7 ‘Provence’ at Saint-Dizier 2015- Rafale pilot with ETR 3/4 ‘Aquitaine’ at Saint-Dizier 2018- Rafale Solo Display pilot

13-15. While ‘Marty’ won a pair of trophies after two outings at RIAT, 2018 provided an opportunity for another Armée de l’Air unit to walk away with the honours. This time, Couteau Delta – the French Air Force tactical demonstration team of two Mirage 2000D strike aircraft – received the As The Crow Flies Trophy for the best display, as judged by members of the Friends of RIAT. AFM

Acknowledgements: The author wishes to thank SAFRAN for supporting the photo sortie

Top right: ‘Babouc’ completed his conversion to Rafale Solo Display pilot in the course of 33 training ﬂ ights in the winter season. He was coached by his predecessor on the RSD, Capitaine Jean-Guillaume Martinez, ‘Marty’. Right: Rafale C133 ‘4-GL’ of ETR 3/4 ‘Aquitaine’ leads the demo jet during a pre-season photo sortie. Serial C133 was the previous RSD aircraft but has now reverted to standard grey colours.

56 // SEPTEMBER 2018 #366 www.airforcesmonthly.com Rampant Rafale Flying with the French Air Force solo display team