Tag: France

Three wounded in Beech 18 crash in Corsica

Only a few days after the Beech 18 runway excursion at the Paris Air Legend airshow, we have learned that the Beech 18 registered G-BKGL crashed yesterday near Vescovato in Corsica. According to local authorities, the three people on board were wounded.  One has reportedly suffered severe burns, and is in a life-threatening condition.  A …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/09/15/three-wounded-in-beech-18-crash-in-corsica/

Beech 18 damaged in take-off accident at Paris Air Legend airshow

The Beechcraft Model 18 (E18S) F-AZEJ belonging to  the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis was damaged today in a take-off accident on the first day of the Paris Air Legend 2021 airshow. Fortunately, nobody was hurt in the accident. The aircraft reportedly struggled to get airborne, veering off the runway and coming to a stop in an …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/09/11/beech-18-damaged-in-take-off-accident-at-paris-air-legend-airshow/

Historic Jaguar damaged during the opening raids of Gulf War transferred to Paris Air & Space Museum

January 17, 2021 is the 30th anniversary of the initial strikes of Operation Desert Storm led by the US-led coalition  against Iraq. It was also the day on which the SEPECAT Jaguar A91 of the French Air Force made its last flight after suffering extensive battle damage.  On this day, the aircraft officially joined the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2021/01/19/historic-jaguar-damaged-during-the-opening-raids-of-gulf-war-transferred-to-paris-air-space-museum/

SNCASE Aquilon wreck discovered in Mediterranean Sea

On November 20, 2020, the Pourquoi Pas ? , a ship of the French oceanographic fleetoperated by the Ifremerand the French navy was conducting scientific work south of Porquerolles in southern France, when its remotely-controlled Victor6000 robot discovered the wreck of an Aquilon fighter, a French-built de Havilland Sea Venom, nearly 8,000 ft beneath the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/11/28/sncase-aquilon-wreck-discovered-in-mediterranean-sea/

René Billotet, last survivor of No 342 (Free French) Squadron, has passed away

Sergent-chef René Billotet, born on 18 April 1925 in Dôle (France) and last survivor of the Royal Air Force’s No 342 (Free French) Squadron passed away at his home aged 95. Better known in France as the Groupe de Bombardement Lorraine, the squadron played an essential and unusual role during the D-Day landings. On the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/11/21/rene-billotet-last-survivor-of-no-342-free-french-squadron-has-passed-away/

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 flies again in Duxford

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS flew again on 6 August 2020 at Duxford with John Romain at the controls. The aircraft was heavily damaged in a take-off accident in June 2017 and was sent to Duxford for complete repairs. It still carries its former markings of No 152 Squadron RAF in south-east Asia. The aircraft is …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/08/09/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-flies-again-in-duxford/

Stampe & Vertongen SV-4 crashes in France, one deceased and one wounded

A Stampe & Vertongen  Stampe SV-4 crashed near the Angers-Marcé airport on Saturday the 4th of July, killing its pilot. The second crew member was hospitalized and is in critical condition. Both crew members and the aircraft were part of Stampe Aéro Passion, an association based at the Angers-Marcé airport. The causes of the accident …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/07/05/stampe-vertongen-sv-4-crashes-in-france-one-deceased-and-one-wounded/

Two killed in Ryan PT-22 crash in France

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit 41-1964 (N53018) in Cerny in 2014 (Photo Johnny Comstedt (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

Two people were killed in the crash of their Ryan PT-22 Recruit (registered N53018) near Beaulieu in the Puy-de-Dôme department in France on Sunday the 23rd of February. The causes of the accident are not yet known but witnesses indicate hearing unusual sounds coming the accident aircraft just before the crash, suggesting engine problems could …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/02/24/two-killed-in-ryan-pt-22-crash-in-france/

Daniel Koblet †

Daniel Koblet at the controls of the Morane-Saulnier D-3801 (MS.406) HB-RCF at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

Swiss pilot and  mechanic Daniel Koblet passed away on 14 January, aged only 60 after a short battle against illness. Koblet was well-known by classic aircraft and warbirds enthusiasts as a pilot and mechanic. He flew the sole surviving Morane-Saulnier MS.406 (actually a Swiss license-built D-3801) at airshows and participated in many aviation-related movies. Our …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2020/01/19/daniel-koblet-%e2%80%a0/

Sole airworthy Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr damaged in runway excursion in France

Fouga Zéphyr n°28 (F-AZPF) en 2013 (Photo tommpouce (CC BY-NC 2.0))

The world’s only airworthy Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr, a French naval jet trainer which first flew in 1959 and served until 1994, was damaged in a runway excursion on November 4. Nobody was hurt in the accident, but the right main gear struck an obstacle and the aircraft was damaged. It has been established that the …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/11/09/sole-airworthy-fouga-cm-175-zephyr-damaged-in-runway-excursion-in-france/

Aéroscopia museum in France receives an Airbus A380

An Airbus A380 at ILA 2006 (Photo Łukasz Golowanow (CC BY-SA 2.5))

The French museum Aéroscopia, located in southern France near Toulouse, received the Airbus A380 MSN 002 on 29 August. The aircraft was simply towed to the museum as it is located next to the airbus assembly complex. Source (and photos): Aerobuzz | Aéroscopia accueille son A380

Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/08/31/aeroscopia-museum-in-france-receives-an-airbus-a380/

Iouri Maksaïev, one of the last Normandie-Niémen veterans, has passed away

Iouri Maksaïev (Source : Russia Beyond)

Iouri Maksaïev, one of the last Normandie-Niémen veterans, passed away on August 3, 2019. Born in 1926, he trained as a mechanic and served in the famous franco-soviet fighter regiment equipped with Yakolev Yak-3 fighters and deployed on the Eastern Front. After the war, he remained in the armed forces until 1951 and then worked …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/08/06/iouri-maksaiev-one-of-the-last-normandie-niemen-veterans-has-passed-away/

Morane-Saulnier MS.733 flies again in France

Morane-Saulnier MS.733 n°134 F-WYOT ( Photo © Vintage Aircraft Midi Pyrénées )

On 17 March 2019, the Morane-Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon No. 134 (registered F-WYOT) made its first flight after a four-year restoration. This first test flight lasted thirty minutes, and was made with gear extended. Five other flights were made since. This aircraft is a former French air force example, and was purchased by a Swiss owner …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2019/04/04/morane-saulnier-ms-733-flies-again-in-france/

Two de Havilland Vampires destroyed in hangar fire near Paris

The Melun-Villaroche airfield (Google Maps screenshot)

A hangar fire at the Melun-Villaroche airfield near Paris destroyed two privately-owned de Havilland Vampires Saturday morning, according to local media and sources. The fire reportedly started in one hangar, totally destroying the aircraft inside, before spreading to the neighbouring hangar and severely damaging another Vampire. Some sixty firefighters were engaged to contain and stop …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/12/09/two-de-havilland-vampires-destroyed-in-hangar-fire-near-paris/

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890 to fly again in 2019 following post-accident restoration

Spitfire PR.XIX PS890/F-AZJS at Duxford in 2015 (Photo Alan Wilson (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The French newspaper Le Républicain Lorrain reports that the Spitfire PR.XIX registered F-AZJS, which was damaged in a take-off accident in June 2017, is currently being restored by Historic Flying Limited in the United-Kingdom as well as in the USA. The aircraft is expected to fly again  in the spring of 2019. More information and …

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Permanent link to this article: https://www.worldwarbirdnews.com/2018/11/26/spitfire-pr-xix-ps890-to-fly-again-in-2019-following-post-accident-restoration/