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Air Legend 2025 Melun-Villaroche

Part 2

Text:	Urs Schnyder
Pictures:	Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader

Eurocopter EC120B Calliope F-HBKN) F-AZLZ) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Eurocopter EC120B Calliope F-HBKD (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Mirage IIIB (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Beechcraft Staggerwing, (F-AZJP) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Cessna 195A (F-AYTX) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

North American AT-6B Texan F-AZTL (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Dassault Falcon 10 MER (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Aeronavale

Although the military was scarce this year, the Aeronavale did some nice formation flying with a current Falcon and two historic jets, the Morane Saulnier MS760 Paris and the Fouga Zéphyr. Considering that the Paris and Zéphyr were flown by civilian pilots, the formation was quite tight and tidy. After the fly pasts in a formation of three they split up. The Paris and Zéphyr again in formation, before each jet gave an individual flypast with the Zéphyr in gear down configuration to show that it is indeed a naval aircraft sporting a tail hook

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Corsair

Although carrying American markings, the Vought F4U Corsair was also used by the Aeronavale in the F4U-7 version that was specially built for France to equip their four carriers that they had bought in the late 1940s. They were delivered in 1952 – 53 and took part in the Indochina war. In 1956 painted with yellow and black recognition stripes they took part in the Suez campaign after Egypt had nationalised the Canal. Some Corsairs flew missions in the Algerian war between 1955 and 1962 from the carrier Bois Belleau. The Aeronavale even tested guided anti tank missiles with their Corsairs. They were finally taken out of Aeronavale service in 1964.

Vought F4U-5NL Corsair (D-FCOR) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Vought F4U-5NL Corsair (D-FCOR) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Classic early Jets

The de Havilland DH100 Vampire was built as a Mk6 for the Swiss Air Force and taken into service as J-1127. Like all Swiss Vampires and Venoms it received the pointed nose so typical of this variant. In 1992 it became the property of Aerodima Radio Air
Service Sarl, Clos Fontaine with the new registration F-AZOO. In 2004 it was bought by Fiocconi Patrice and is based the the airfield of Melun Villaroche keeping the registration F-AZOO.

De Havilland DH100 (F-AZOO) Vampire (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

The CT-133 was built under license in Canada by Canadair. Numbered 263, it was one of 656 CT-133s powered by a Rolls-Royce Nene 10 instead of the Allison J33 as in US built aircraft. After its service with the Royal Canadian Air Force it went to the Jet Aircraft Museum in London, Ontario, Canada. It was no longer flown and kept in good state of repair. Its present markings are not authentic, they actually represent the aircraft flown by Michel Tanguy in the 1959 cartoon book l’École des Aigles in which he scores his first victory. It must be the only historic aircraft marked thus.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Canadair CT-133 Siver Star (F-AYMD) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Morane

Once again, a Morane in French colours flying around French Skies. It is actually a variant of the Morane 406 that was license built in Switzerland. They developed the 406 into the D3801 with more powerful engine, different radiator and propeller. It is now painted in the colours of the first production model, as flown by the famous French test pilot Rozanoff. Unfortunately the pace of development was such that at the start of the war the Moranes found themselves outclassed by their more modern opposition. There is actually another D3801 in France, not too far away in the Musée de l’Air at le Bourget.

Morane Saulnier D-3801 HB-RCF) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Morane Saulnier D-3801 HB-RCF) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

D-Day

A stalwart at many French Airshows is the Chalair DC-3. They have now removed the big Chalair title on the left side of the fuselage and kept only a small one next to the door. This time the escort was provided by a Supermarine Spitfire IX MH415. It was built in 1943 at Castle Bromwich and served with 129 and 222 Squadrons of the RAF before being retired from active service. Post War is served in the Dutch air Force from 1946 until 1953 when it was handed over to the Belgian Air Force that used it until 1956. It then flew as a target tug with a private company and took part in some films like the longest day and Battle of Britain. It then went into the ownership of Wilson ‘Connie’ Edwards as payment for his services and moved to Texas where it stayed until it was sold in 2014. After a restoration it flew again in April 2021 from Sywell in the UK. MH415 is one of the most authentic Spitfires to fly today.

Supermarine Spitfire MK. I (OO-IXB) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Douglas DC-3 (F-AZOX) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Douglas DC-3 (F-AZOX) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Douglas DC-3 (F-AZOX) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire MK. I (OO-IXB) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Supermarine Spitfire MK. I (OO-IXB) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Douglas DC-3 (F-AZOX) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Gruesome

This aircraft is the result of six years of determination. Hugues Duval, whose family owns an aviation collection at Rennes airport wanted to ad a DC-3. However, he didn’t just want another historic aircraft, it should be an airliner licensed as such and able to carry passengers. In order to get it licensed, the airframe needed to have no modifications done and have a continuous maintenance record. He looked everywhere but found it in Melun. As it needed to meet all the criteria of a modern airliner, a lot of manuals and processes for maintenance and training had to be created together with the Civil Aviation authority. It even has a black box! Finally in Spring 2025 at the La Férte Alais Airshow the first commercial passengers were carried and the dream became a reality.

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Me 262 vs. P-51

After the P-51 Mustang Marinell was flying around for a while the Messerschmitt Me 262 came up and the two started doing a tail chase around the airfield. The Mustang belonged to the 504th Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group of the Eight Air Force. Its pilot was normally Captain Bradley Stevens who named it after a Girl he met before leaving the US. Her Name was Mary Anell which became Marinell on the Mustang. On the 13 th of August 1944 while being flown by another pilot it was shot down over Normandy. It had survived only 45 days of combat operations but in this time had four victory tallies to its credit.

North A,merican P-51D Mustang (G-MRLL) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North A,merican P-51D Mustang (G-MRLL) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

The Messerschmitt Me 262 is one of a small series built in the US by the Texas Airplane Factory. Five aircraft were built and the one Me 262A/B-1c W.Nr.501244 registered D-IMTT and belonging to the Messerschmitt Stiftung in Manching was the one flying. It uses modern General Electric CJ610 turbojet engines. The original engines had a lifespan of only 10 to 20 hours.

Me 262A/B-1c (D-IMTT) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Flying Bulls

The flying Bulls were again supporting the airshow this year with their P-51 and their B-25. The announced P-38 Lightning unfortunately didn’t make it. The B-25J-35-NC SN 44-86893 was accepted in August 1945 by the Air Force. In 1947 she was modified for testing Radar systems for the Air Defence Command. She remained in service until 1956 last as a ground instruction airframe. In 1957 she was retired to Davis-Monthan into storage. In 1958 she was sold and converted into a tanker to combat forest fires. This lasted only a few years until the type was banned for this task. She was sold and stayed in storage until 1977 when she underwent a seven year restoration with Kansas City Warbirds. In 1985, she flew the ceremonial last flight out of Fairfax Airport becoming the final B-25 to fly out of that historic location. In 1995 she was bought by the Flying Bulls which means that it can celebrate 30 years with them this year.

North American B-25J Mitchell (N6123C) (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

North American Mustang & Mitchell (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American Mustang (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American Mustang & Mitchell (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American Mustang & Mitchell (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American B-25J Mitchell (N6123C) (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

North American Mustang & Mitchell (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

A-400M

This is not the first time that we have seen the A400 displaying this year. However, there were some things we haven’t seen before.
On Friday during the training flight the huge flag that is normally hung from the side door was torn off and fluttered to earth, therefore forcing the display to be done without it. When the time came for its display, we thought it approached from a rather high altitude. However, why it did so became apparent when we saw parachutists leaving the aircraft. It was the Team Phenix of the Armée de l’Air who used the A400 to take them up. This is the first time we saw the A400 dropping parachutists. Once the Phenix had landed, the A400 did its display. It approached from behind a small forest using the trees to mask its approach from the audience and popping up trough a gap in the trees. It is really amazing how agile this big aircraft is. There was another first in store. A formation flight of two DC-3 and the A400 in line astern. We haven’t seen that before either.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Airbus A400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Airbus A400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

Airbus A400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Airbus A400M Atlas (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Patrouille Tranchant

For the second year in succession, the Patrouille Tranchant performed the final display of the Airshow on both Saturday and Sunday. The Team leader is Hugues Deval whose family collection also owns the aircraft. He was awarded his pilot certificate at the age of 17 on his Morane 733. On his 18 th birthday he qualified on the Fouga Magister. He is also a long Haul Air France pilot and the owner of the DC-3 Gruesome. He is therefore the right man to lead the team as they put their Fouga Magisters trough their paces. There is something to be said for an Aerobatic Team flying old vintage trainers. They are rather quiet compared to modern fast jets and you hear only a whistle as they pass in front of you. Unfortunately the Sunday only provided a grey background to their program which was a pity because aerobatic teams and blue skies make a perfect combination as the Saturday had proved.

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)

(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)

Our thanks go to Iza Bazin for providing press facilities.

-	last update 14. October 2025	Written 28. September 2025	-	-
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