A Sample Feature From Aviation News

Charles de Gaulle –

Above: On the flight deck of the Charles de Gaulle nine Super Etendards are being prepared for their afternoon missions. On the far left of the angled deck, the Alouette III SAR is also prepared. Compared with US Navy carriers, the 'island' (or 'hôtel' in French) is located much further forward. Below: Two crew chiefs prepare Super Etendard number 38 for its next mission. This aircraft is fitted with a centre-line recce-pod. (All photos, author).

On the morning of Monday, December 4, 2006, the French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle (R91) left Toulon, heading for an exercise in the Mediterranean Sea. Soon after leaving port, ten Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM), one E-2C Hawkeye and two search-and-rescue helicopters (an older Alouette III and a newer Dauphin) flew aboard. Joris van Boven was on the ship to witness the action.

For four days, the Charles de Gaulle would sail along the south coast of France, keeping the coastline in sight. Missions were planned from before sunrise until after sunset. The main purpose of this exercise was to perform the first carrier landings and catapult take-offs flown by the enhanced Northrop Grumman E-2C Hawkeye. The French Navy flies three E-2 aircraft and number three (BuNo 166417) was fitted with the new eight-bladed propellers, flown during these exercises by company test pilots.
The ten Dassault  ‘Super Etendard Modernisé’ (SEM) aircraft of the 11F Flottille were on board for shakedown activities prior to their three-month deployment aboard the carrier to the Middle East; the older Super Etendards are used in the ground-attack and photo-reconnaissance roles. Not on board during the four-day cruise, the French Navy’s new Dassault Rafales would provide air-cover to the Super Etendards during simulated attack operations. Before flight, one of the two SAR helicopters (callsign ‘Pedro’) would take-off and position itself near the left side of the ship.

Above: Super Frelon number 162 from 32 Flottille takes-off from the carrier deck after delivering and picking up passengers. During the 20 minute flight to Hyéres, all on board have to wear the orange wetsuits. Below: Green-shirted deckcrew slide the arresting-cable back into position after a landing.

For the rest of this feature please see the April 2007 issue.