Page 79 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

Ten years
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76-79 Rafale AFM Feb2020.indd
76-79 Rafale AFM Feb2020.indd
of excellence
Since the first flight of the Rafale
A demonstrator in 1986, the
Dassault fighter has become
a popular airshow performer.
With its great lines, plenty of
raw power and fine-tuned flight
controls, it’s made for turning
heads at public displays, as
Anthony Pecchi explains.
D isplaying the Dassault Rafale is baked display featuring a Mirage 2000. In 2009, the
Rafale was considered to be ready to take over
into the aircraft’s DNA. From the
very first flights flown by the gloss this responsibility, with Escadron de Chasse
white Rafale A technology demonstrator (EC) 1/7 ‘Provence’ approached to assume the
in the hands of test pilot Guy Mitaux- task. However, with the Rafale having joined
Maurouard, the French fighter has grown combat operations in Afghanistan two years
in stature. The prototypes C01, B01, M01 earlier, it was already proving something of a
and M02 were all flown by Dassault test strain. In 2011, when missions over Libya kicked
pilots such as Yves Kerherve, Denis Garnier, off under Opération Harmattan, the decision
Eric Gérard and Philippe Duchateau. was taken to entrust the responsibility for the
Eric Gérard has been a Dassault test pilot solo display to Escadron de Transformation
since 1991. He told AFM: “During an airshow, Rafale (ETR) 2/92 ‘Aquitaine’ – the Rafale
the idea is to show the capabilities of the operational conversion unit – due to the fact
aircraft in a very short time. A presentation that this unit was less engaged in overseas
should not exceed five or six minutes and operations and, as such, more readily available.
should be in a very limited volume of sky The initial air force pilot selection for the role
and close to the ground. It is necessary in 2009 was undertaken with a clear mandate
that the aircraft displays its power and its from Dassault. Capt Cédric ‘Rut’ Ruet from
ability to manoeuvre with precise flight EC 1/7 was chosen in 2009, having come to
controls.” Famous for the size of his cigars, the Rafale from the Mirage 2000N in 2006.
Gérard is also known for pioneering the He was one of the most experienced serving
manoeuvre of looping immediately into an Rafale pilots at that time and was also a
incredibly steep descent to landing. “You previous solo display pilot in the Alpha Jet E.
need absolute confidence in the flight The work-up commenced with two flights
controls for this,” he smiles. “With the with Ruet in the back seat of a Rafale B and
Rafale, it’s worry-free and, to this day, the Duchateau in the front. Ruet then spent a few
Rafale is the only aircraft achieving it.” days with the Patrouille de France to learn
Philippe ‘Duch’ Duchateau assumed the role about aerobatics and display flying, as well as
of Dassault Rafale display pilot from Gérard what it meant to be an ‘ambassador’ with a high
in 2007. “I remember the debriefing of my profile within the service. He then got into the
first training flight very well,” he recalls. “I’m detail of a Rafale display, gradually polishing the
on the terrace of a café in the city centre of routine and getting down to display altitude.
Istres, and Gégé [Gérard] pulls on his big “I wanted to keep everything I liked in Duch’s
cigar and says: ‘It’s not too bad, Duch, demo,” explains Ruet. “The square loop, the
but you’ll have to tighten all that up.’” slow loop after a low-speed flypast, the steep
Rafale display A decade of trophies
in air force hands
Duchateau was the last Rafale The French Rafale solo demonstration has always
fared well at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT)
display pilot from Dassault before at RAF Fairford, UK. It has won more than its fair
the reins passed to the Armée share of trophies over the years.
de l’Air (French Air Force) in Year Award Pilot
2009, three years after the 2009 Best solo display Sir Capt Cédric Ruet
aircraft entered service at Douglas Bader Trophy
Saint-Dizier. The air force 2011 Paul Bowen Trophy Capt Michael Brocard
had many public relations 2012 Sir Douglas Bader Capt Michael Brocard
tools at its fingertips, Trophy
including the Patrouille 2016 Paul Bowen Trophy Capt Jean-Guillaume
de France and what it Martinez
called Presentation 2017 King Hussein Capt Jean-Guillaume
Alpha, a solo Memorial Sword Martinez
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