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Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
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Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
In its 52nd year, this edition of “Le Temps des Hélices” offered a different way of presenting the airplanes. In recent years, “Le Temps des Hélices” has focused on the history of aviation, from the first beginnings with the “Les faucheurs de marguerites” to modern jets. It was therefore refreshing to see that a completely different approach was taken in 2025. "Cinema" was the topic. Many of the AJBS machines were used in films and TV series. Therefore, scenes from films were shown again.
The weather forecast especially for Saturday was not very good but on the day it only rained for about five Minutes during the display. The bad weather during the days before prevented many aircraft from making it to La Ferté-Alais which reflected in the flying display.
There were also cancellations due to incidents, the Messerschmitt Bf 109E (D-FEML) based in Bonn was unable to arrive due to complications relating to its recent sale. The W Air Collection's Spitfire RM927 (F-AYXX) was absent as it had been slightly damaged whilst taxiing over unmarked, unsuitable ground at Biscarrosse a week earlier. The AJBS's Vought Corsair was also grounded as it awaits carburettor parts. There was also a strong wind that prevented some planes from flying. This was especially the case on Saturday. Altogether there were about 20’000 spectators during both days which was much less than usual, no doubt caused by the negative forecast.
Ace of Aces ( L’As des as)
Jean Paul Belmondo was one of the most popular actors in France. From the "Nouvelle Vague", he developed into an agile hero of action-orientated films. In "The Ace of Aces" from 1982, Belmondo becomes the protector of a Jewish boy as the coach of the French boxing team during the 1936 Olympic Games. The introduction shows how Jo Cavalier (Jean Paul Belmondo) and the German Gunther von Beckman both crash in the First World War after a dogfight. After they start a fight over the question of who shot down whom, the two eventually become friends.
The aerial combat scene was recreated by a Fokker DR.1 Triplane and a Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A Scout.
Fokker DR.1 Dreidecker F-AYDR (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A Scout F-AZCY (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Fokker DR.1 Dreidecker F-AYDR (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5A Scout F-AZCY (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
A very well-known film sequence is the scene in which Indy and his father are pursued by a German fighter and Professor Dr Henry Jones, the father, accidentally shoots of the tail aircraft. A Pilatus P-2 was used as the German aircraft in the film. The Pilatus P-2 bears a strong resemblance to the Arado Ar-96 training aircraft used by Germany, which could carry a machine gun and light bombs and could therefore have done everything the P-2 does in the film. The Pilatus P-2-06 used in La Ferte with the registration F-AZCE belongs to the AJBS (Amicale Jean Baptiste Salis).
Pilatus P-2-06 and Boeing PT-13 Kaydet (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Pilatus P-2-06 F-AZCE (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Pilatus P-2-06 and Boeing PT-13 Kaydet (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Pilatus P-2-06 F-AZCE (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Boeing PT-13 Kaydet F-AZJR (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
James Bond, Octopussy
Octopussy, which was shot in 1983, was the last James Bond film in which Sir Roger Moore played 007. A visibly aged Moore with thinning hair played an agent who attacks a base of an unknown nation with the Bede. The BD-5J version holds the record for the world's smallest jet aircraft, weighing only 162.7 kg. You only realise how small it really is when you see it flying past. As there was no open hangar to fly trough it was restricted to normal flypasts. The owner and Pilot of the BD-5J is Nicolas Charmont.
Bede BD-5J F-PJET (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bede BD-5J F-PJET (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bede BD-5J F-PJET (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bede BD-5J F-PJET (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Bede BD-5J F-PJET (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North by Northwest
North by Northwest is a spy film directed by Alfred Hitchcock in 1959. The scene in which the protagonist Roger Thornhill, played by Cary Grant, is attacked by a crop duster armed with a machine gun is iconic. In the 1959 film it was a Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-1 "Yellow Peril", in La Ferte-Alais an almost identical looking Boeing Stearmann Model 75 was used for this purpose. Due to the applicable safety regulations, the Stearmann had to fly considerably higher than in the film. It was therefore almost impossible to get a shot of the actor running on the runway, playing Roger Thornhill, and the Stearman together.
Then a formation of six Stearmanns was formed, a rather rare sight, as there were rarely so many machines of this type present at the "Le Temps des Hélices". The editors were unable to find out which movie this formation referred to.
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Roger Thornhill on the run (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Skylark (Adémaï Aviateur)
“Skylark” or in French “Adémaï Aviateur” is a movie that was shot in France in 1934. Very few people still know this movie today. Adémaï is played in the movie by the famous Fernandel and is a student pilot who, due to a mix-up, has to pilot an aeroplane without training. In La Ferte-Alais, the scene was recreated with a Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special from the "Blue Bear Club".
Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Piper PA-11-90 Cub Special (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
The longest Day
The Longest Day or D-Day is a common name for the Allied Operation Overlord, the landing of Allied troops in Normandy on 6 June 1944. The film ‘The Longest Day’, based on the book by Cornelius Ryan and featuring an ensemble cast of famous US, British, German and French actors, was released in 1962. The film is still regarded today as one of the most accurate films about the Allied landings. The film's title tune is particularly impressive.
In La Ferte-Alais, the ‘longest day’ was represented by three Douglas C-47 Skytrains escorting a North American P-51D Mustang. One of the C-47s was a Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain ‘Ready 4 Duty’ of the U.S. Navy. This Commemorative Air Force aircraft had travelled all the way from Dallas, Texas. More on this in a later report.
Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain N229GB (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain N229GB (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper F-HVED (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper F-HVED (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas C-47B Skytrain F-AZOX (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain N229GB (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper F-HVED (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas C-53D Skytrooper F-HVED (Picture courtesy Michael E. Faderr)
Douglas R4D-6S Skytrain N229GB (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Normandie Niemen
Normandie-Niemen is a relatively unknown film from 1959, depicting the fate of a French flying squadron that fought in the Soviet army during the Second World War. After their arrival in Russia, the French are grouped together in a squadron and the language barriers ultimately prove to be insurmountable. The fact that the film is relatively unknown is due to the fact that it was produced by the Soviet Union and France during the Cold War and was mostly shown in the Eastern Bloc.
Yakovlev Yak-3 F-AZLY(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yakovlev Yak-3 F-AZLY(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yakovlev Yak-3 F-AZLY(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yakovlev Yak-3 F-AZLY(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Yakovlev Yak-3 F-AZLY(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Mission Impossible
The Armeé de l'Air Airbus A400M Atlas tactical display impressed with the manoeuvrability of this large transport aircraft. The Loadmaster standing and waving in the side door was a reference to the 2015 film Mission Impossible - Rogue Nation with Tom Cruise as the IMF's Ethan Hunt.
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Airbus A400M Atlas F-BRAN (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Pearl Harbour
It is a tradition in La Ferte-Alais to re-enact the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7 December 1941. It used to be based on the film Tora! Tora! Tora! from 1970, but today the remake ‘Pearl Harbor’ from 2001 is cited. "Pearl Harbor" was largely negatively received by film critics, as many scenes are completely historically incorrect, but this film was a bigger success at the box office than the 1970 original, which was released during the Vietnam War.
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Empire of the sun
The Empire of the Sun is based on the semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by the English writer J. G. Ballard. Ballard was born in Shanghai, China, in 1930 and experienced the Japanese attack on China as an eleven-year-old. He was interned in a Japanese civilian prison camp until the end of the Second World War and returned to England with his family in 1946. In Steven Spielberg's 1987 film, the Mustang only makes a brief appearance and is probably better known for its missions in Europe than in Asia.
North American P-51D Mustang G-CLNV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang G-CLNV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang G-CLNV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang G-CLNV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American P-51D Mustang G-CLNV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Always
Always is an American fantasy film directed by Steven Spielberg in 1989. Pete Sandich, played by Richard Dreyfuss, is a pilot of firefighting planes that are used to fight forest fires. During a fire-fighting mission, his plane catches fire and Pete dies. From then on, he protects the young pilot Ted Baker as a ghost.
The Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Grumman S-2F Tracker) formerly used by the Securite Civile, which is now in civilian hands, stood for the firefighting aircraft from the film. The Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat showed that it can still be used as a firefighting aircraft with two accurately targeted water drops onto the airfield. Today, the Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat is operated by the Amicale des Pompiers du Ciel in co-operation with the Musée Européen de l'Aviation de Chasse in Montélimar. The aircraft made its maiden flight in civilian hands in September 2024.
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Conair S-2FT Turbo Firecat (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Good Morning Vietnam
Good Morning, Vietnam is a feature film by Barry Levinson from 1987. Unlike many other popular films about the Vietnam War, this film does not focus on the fighting, but on the GIs involved and the civilian population of Saigon at the time. The film has a very good soundtrack with songs from the mid-sixties.
This can be seen as a connecting element to the display of the aircraft in La Ferte-Alais. As the Douglas Skyraider was cancelled this year due to major maintenance work, the choice of aircraft was limited to three North American T-28 Trojans.
North American T-28B Trojan F-AYVF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28 Trojan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28C Trojan F-AZQV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28C Trojan F-AZQV (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28B Trojan F-AYVF (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28S Fennec F-AZHR (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28 Trojan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28 Trojan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28 Trojan (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American T-28C Trojan F-AZQV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
North American T-28C Trojan F-AZQV (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
North American T-28 Trojan (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
North American T-28S Fennec F-AZHR (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
North American T-28S Fennec F-AZHR (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
