Each year, the French Air Force (Armee de l'Air) organizes the
"Enseignements Militaire Superieure" (EMS) exhibition at Base Aerienne
number 123 Orleans. The aim is of this exhibition to demonstrate the
capabilities of the French Air Force. For CFAP (Commandement de la Force
Aérienne de Projection or Transport Command) and for CFAC (Commandement
de la Force Aérienne de Combat or Fighter Command).  In 2006 it was held
for the 16th time on September 21st. Some 200 students from all military
academies in France and invited military attaché's from foreign
embassies in Paris were present.

At the static show, all French fighter types and transport aircraft
types showed their weapons and capabilities. Various military students
in colorful uniforms from all countries over the world walked around and
in the aircraft. Besides the regular French aircraft like the Mirage
2000, Mirage F1, Rafale, C-160, E-3, C-135F and C-130, there were also
participants from the European Air Group (EAG) present, like German
Tornado and Phantom, Italian AMX and Spanish CN-235.

During the afternoon, the dynamic show was performed by transport
aircraft flying from
Base Aerienne 123 Orleans and fighter aircraft from Base Aerienne 279
Chateaudun.
Besides French Air Force aircraft, there were French Navy E-3 and
Rafale, English and
German Tornado's, Belgium F-16's and Swiss F-18's in the dynamic show.
The show was enhanced with pyrotechnics to simulate bomb attacks.
Aim of this dynamic show was to show fighter roles like ground attack,
SAM suppression and CAP (Combat Air Patrol). The transport aircraft
delivered parachutists and cargo by parachute. One C-160 landed on the
grass strip to deliver a jeep to support the landed parachutists.
After landing, the parachutists 'released' some (fake) hostages and took
them away in the C-160, taking off from the grass strip. After the cargo
aircraft, some helicopters showed a Search And Rescue (SAR) mission,
using Puma and Gazelle helicopters.

On September 20th, the rehearsal of the participating fighter aircraft
was photographed at the Chateaudun base, at 40 kilometers distance from
the Orleans base. The flightline was filled with some 30 aircraft:
French Rafales, Mirage 2000 C,D,N's, Mirage F-1's, English and German
Tornado's, Belgium F-16's and Swiss F-18's. In the afternoon the
aircraft were prepared for the rehearsals. After take-off, the aircraft
circled the base until they had to perform their demonstration at Orleans.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to SIRPA.AIR (Paris) for their support.

With a publication, please use this copyright statement near the photo:
(c) G.J.A. van Boven/Sentry Aviation News http://www.sentry.hangar1.net/