Solenzara (LFKS) 2016 MIL

[Bennie]

March 4th traffic:
CTM1071 (F-RAJA)
RRR5710 (ZH874)

[Starman]

The Rafair C-130J would have been supporting 4 Hawks from 100 sqn: CF/XX202, CI/XX321, CJ/XX329 & CQ/(184). Don't for a minute think Serpentex is like TLP! Zara (as she is known locally) is active from 07.15Z thru 17.15Z (although 17.25 was more accurate today, and it was too dark for an old man such as I to read M2000s at that time (and too cold). Ah, is raining, we drink coffee. Ah the sun has come out, we have lunch. Ah, it's 12.30, the Ajaccio Spotters Club get on to take photos, really Between all that some Adel'A stuff flew thus:
Mirage 2000D; 3-XJ/602, 30-IL/622 (99% sure it was 30 and not 3), 3-JN/658, 3-JI/675, 3-XM/680 plus 2000Ns 125-BS/374 with 125-CM(372) noted Friday. And another 125- (if anyone has facebook there should be the ASC photos soon). There were a total of 11 M.MMs there.
Rafale; 30-EF/102, 4-IX/119, 30-HW/324 and 30-I(M) - too dark, singe seater plus 4-GW/144 on Friday, from a total of 7 - another of which was 4-HE.
Puma AS332 PP/(2093) plus one coded "AX", plus two Fennecs, "VM" & "VR".
C-160 64-GC/203 plus CASA 235 62-IE/071 both temp-based. A Lightning pod equipped D- Lear Jet was also active, as well as the aforementioned Hawks.
Back at the Gite for afternoon tea, strugging with the coffee machine and B-52 60022 flew past, the 2nd one of an anticipated pair broke and failed to make it!
The main gate is still guarded by the last production Vautour and there is a tatty looking, but reasonably complete Mirage F-1 near the southern shelters and visible from the lane. A Mirage IIIE should still be preserved near the flight line.
Yesterday (09/03) around 16.30 local a C-135FR made a T & G as we were deplaning from the Air Corsica A320, any offers? It recovered Zara-wards but was not there first light this morning
Some photos, maybe, when I get home!

[Bennie]

March 15th visitors (still there Mr. D?): AME1205 (2x F18).

[Sentry]

Hello

Hi Starman, we have seen each other in the (rainy) morning

AMX and F-18 have indeed landed in Zara yesterday

Some pictures of last Thursday:























one GBU-24 mark

[Bennie]

Heads up D: AME1505 (2x EF18) expected, aswell as BAF617 (CE-02).

[Starman]

With all due respect to my new Corsican buddies, your winter weather is not the best, but Starwoman needed a holiday so there we were. Actually I was only "logging" thru the lens, but you can get really close to the threshold so just for a sample of what's available: the out of focus Mirage shot is just there for the 9 star badge, representing the nine airmen who perished at TLP.

BTW as stated the SERPENTEX complement was 11 Mirage 2000s, including 602, 622, (627), (653), 658, 675, 680, 372 (not conf) & 374 plus two, 7 Rafas; 102/30EF, 105/4KE, 109/4IM, 119/4IX, 144/4GW, 324/30HW & (--8/--) (brackets = See Facebook), the four Hawks, two each Pumas, Fenecs & Transports and assorted transients.





and yes, the based helos do carry a serial, at the front, and in the same font just left of the "armee de la'air" titles -

[Bennie]

The bad winter weather doesn't really show on your 2nd image, 9-star man!

[CBR]

Thanks for the post, interesting report

[Starman]

In a vain attempt to keep this thread live I'm reposting thanks to the wonders of the WWW.

The 7th Rafale was 118/4-IW.
Some missing 2000Ds are/were 620/3-IU and 674/3-IR, and the following were confirmed 627/3-JO & 653/3-AU, an additional N was 366/125-BC, so more than 11!
An extra Hawk appears to be XX191 (uncoded, see http://avax.news/pictures/209330)
The Fenecs are VM/5431 & VR/5448
On one day at least the Spanish were 12-08 & 12-24 and another they were 15-18/C15.31 & 15-38/C15.25.
An AMX.T graphed by a local was "043" so should be MM55043/51.81
If the sun is out and the wind is behaving Zara is a great place for pix until Jean and Darme - thanks mate - appear, but it's not non-stop action, you will need a bottle or two of the rather pleasant Corse AC, an understated but fruity brew, and there is a Motel 6 alternative at the end of the lane so you don't have to drive far! Hic! The locals told the northern end is better for pix, but a 2 mile walk up the beach and hiding in the long grass is "de rigeur" non merci!

[Sentry]

The "locals" told you the opposite in fact, we went there and it's not as great all. Best place is where you were!

This week we have Belgian F-16s

[Hurricane]

The "locals" told you the opposite in fact, we went there and it's not as great all. Best place is where you were!
This week we have Belgian F-16s

Are these the F-16's that came from Gando?

[Sentry]

Belgian F-16s seen:

FA-87,69,110(Spitfire skin),116

[Starman]

... and the last word on Serpentex goes to the lucky "man with no father" who got a helo ride one day ... from the lane the 'Awks and the tops of the first 5 M.MM tails can be seen, the rest of les vites jets are behind a mound!



Au revoir La Corse!

[Sentry]

5x F-15B/D and a KC-707 from Israel Air Force yesterday

[Sjoerd]

Remarkable and great to see them up in the European theatre again! Full larger pictures and serials can be found on this forum http://spottingaviation.forumactif.com/ ... ses#178368 here.