July 7 saw the annual Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton
International Air Day in Somerset. The
evening before, as I was about to watch the World Cup, I heard a roar of jet engines, so dashed out into
the courtyard to see what was overhead.
Approaching from the southwest was a formation of five aircraft; two
were Rafale Ms of the French Aeronavale, two others I could not identify and,
bringing up the rear of the formation, another Aeronavale jet in the shape of a
Falcon 50M. The five jets disappeared
from view, but a short while later the two Rafales returned and spent the next
twenty minutes or so circling low over South Somerset in the general area of
RNAS Merryfield. I grabbed my camera and
managed to get some shots of them.
Presumably they were rehearsing their
routine for the International Air Day when, according to the organisers
information, after a "thunderous formation take-off the display showcases both present day frontline naval tactics and the exceptional performance capabilities of the fast, powerful and agile Rafale M."
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French Rafale jet fighters of the Aeronavale over South Somerset on July 6th. |
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French Navy Rafale M jet fighter over South Somerset on the evening of July 6th. |
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A Rafale M of the Aeronavale over South Somerset on July 6th. |
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