Air base 116 “Lieutenant-Colonel Tony Papin” is organizing an open house event, which will be the French Air Force’s only air show in 2021.
Before fall arrives, there’s nothing like an air show featuring some of the best ambassadors from the French Air Force (Mirage, Rafale, Alphajets from the Patrouille de France aerobatic team, and more). Not to mention fighter planes from all over Europe: Swiss F-18s, Belgian and Danish F-16s, Romanian Mig-21s, and a Typhoon from Royal Air Force (United Kingdom). The skies will be abuzz with parachute-jump demonstrations and a tactical presentation of the A-400M, which is sure to delight the approximately 30,000 spectators expected daily.
On the ground, spectators will find a wide range of jobs in the Air and Space sector represented at corporate stands, for the most part. Flight simulators and aircraft tours will also be available to the public, who were not able to enjoy the event in 2020. On a more “confidential” note, this open house event will also be an opportunity to discuss the future of this air base, which is expected to house a Rafale squadron in the long term – the year 2032 is frequently mentioned.
Air base 116 is one of the oldest in France. Operations started in 1916 with the creation of the Lafayette squadron, which was composed of American airmen who came to help France and the United Kingdom in the battles of World War I. Since 2011, it has been home to the fighter squadron 1/2 “cigognes” and its Mirage 2000-5F aircraft.
Luxeuil Air Show, air base 116, September 18-19, 2021. 70300 Saint-Sauveur. Free entry.
Manage my cookies