VIDEO: Croatian & French Air Force aerobatic teams perform over Zadar

by croatiaweek
September 20, 2019
in News

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

ZADAR, 20 September 2019 (MORH) – The Croatian “Wings of Storm” and the “Patrouille de France” perform a joint flypast over the Zadar Channel and practice flights in the Barracks.

The French Aerobatic Team “Patrouille de France” on 19 September 2019 arrived to the Barracks “Pukovnik Mirko Vukušić” at Zemunik for a two-day friendly visit to the Croatian Air Force’s Aerobatic Team “Wings of Storm”.

On their first visit to Croatia the “Patrouille de France” were welcomed by the “Wings of Storm”, and the two teams performed a joint flypast in a 14-aircraft formation.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

The formation was led by the Team Leader of “Wings of Storm” Captain Darko Belančić, and the French pilots were welcomed by the Commander of the 93rd Air Base Colonel Mario Pleša flying aboard one of the aircraft. The salute flypast of the two national aerobatic teams was observed by the French Ambassador to Croatia Gaël Veyssière and the Chief of Staff of the 93rd Air Base Lieutenant Colonel Boris Panić.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

After landing at the Base in Zemunik the two teams prepared for practice flights, during which the pilots of the Patrouille de France joined the Wings of Storm aboard the Pilatus-9M and the Croatian pilots experienced flying the French Alpha Jets.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

Captain Belančić said that “Patrouille de France” were another prestigious aerobatic team hosted in Croatia alongside “Frecce Tricolori” and “Red Arrows”, which affirmed the friendly relations with the world top aerobatic teams.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

“The joint salute flypast over the Zadar channel was most impressive, announcing the look of the sky over Zadar during the first international military air show to be hosted by Croatia in 2010 (CROIMAS 2020). It goes without saying that we talked about it with our colleagues of the “Patrouille de France”, who welcomed the idea. During their visit we have had a unique opportunity to familiarise with the elements of our flying sequences”, said Captain Belančić.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

The leader of the Patrouille de France Major Clément Racine, expressed appreciation for the warm welcome and enthousiasm over the invitation to perform at the “CROIMAS 2020”. “We are impressed by the visit to Zadar to our hosts – ” Wings of Storm”, and also by the fantastic joint flypast”, said Major Racine.

“Wings of Storm” have performed in France once – at an air show in the San Dizier Air Base in 2017. Along with co-operating with “Patrouille de France” the Team nourishes close co-operation with another French teams – the “Rafale Solo Display”.

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

The French Air Force’s Aerobatic Team “Patrouille de France” was established in 1953 and are based in the Salon-de-Provence Air Base. The Team flies in an 8-aircraft formation (Dassault Alpha Jet) and are the sole aerobatic team to have a female officer as Team Leader (Major Virginie Guyot 2009 – 2010).

(Photo credit: HRZ / M. Karačić)

The “Wings of Storm” and the “Patrouille de France” first performed side by side at the “Kecskemet Airshow 2007” in the Kecskemet Air Base in Hungary, and have regularly met at various international airshows sinc, building a professional and friendly co-operation.