Fantastic video brings you aboard low-level flying French Navy warplanes

January 21, 2014 Aircraft Carriers, Military Aviation

David Cenciotti

The American aicraft carrier USS Truman is currently closely co-operating with French Carrier Charles De Gaulle in the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet AOR (Area of Responsibility – Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean).

But, whereas you can find plenty of material about all the U.S. flattops, images and videos shot by French naval aviators are a bit rarer.

That’s the reason why the following footage, shot both “feet wet” (at sea) and “feet dry” (flying over land) of the Rafale M aircraft of the 11F (Flotille) and Super Etendard of the 17F of the Aeronavale (French Navy) is particularly interesting.

Watch the French Naval Aviation at work in mixed formations over the ship and over NW Scottish countryside during last years detachment of Rafales, Super Etendards and E2c Hawkeye to RAF Leuchars for Exercise Joint Warrior.

Footage shot during low-level formation flying is really stunning.

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.

LJ says:

January 21, 2014 at 9:08 PM

Hi David, I’m pretty sure these images are made during an excercise in Scotland. The airfield is Leuchars, the low flying parts are scottish hills.
- DC says:
  
  January 21, 2014 at 10:41 PM
  
  You are spot on. Its Leuchars and NW Scottish countryside during last years detachment of Rafales, Super Etendards and E2c Hawkeye during Exercise Joint Warrior
- cencio4 says:
  
  January 21, 2014 at 10:48 PM
  
  You guys make this blog great with lots of hints, suggestions and heads-up!
  
  Thanks for pointing this out, much appreciated
Tweedle Dee says:

January 22, 2014 at 4:01 AM

It’s interesting how they use those hand signals. I haven’t seen a lot of that. Curious as to what the advantages are over just talking over the radio and what they mean.
- jetaddicted says:
  
  January 22, 2014 at 12:58 PM
  
  can’t jam visual signals.
  yet, that would be the last option, as planes do no fly that close to each other, normally.