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There aren’t many aerobatic teams that can claim to have reached the age of 70: in fact, the Patrouille de France are arguably the second-oldest continuously active aerobatic team in the world, after the Blue Angels, formed in 1952. Their formal comissioning followed in September 1953 (officially making them the third-oldest team, after the Thunderbirds), and their 70th anniversary will, accordingly, be marked by the French Air and Space Force next season.

The celebration will be rolled into the Journée Portes Ouvertes (JPO) scheme, run by the Fondation des Oeuvres Sociales de l’Air (FOSA). Each year, FOSA organises two airshows under the JPO banner, which rotate between the French Air & Space Force’s active air bases. The first of next year’s events is slated to be held at the Patrouille de France’s home base, BA701 Salon-de-Provence, just north of Marseille, and will be themed around the anniversary. The last airshow to be held there was in 2013, marking the team’s 60th season. On that occasion, the line up included an incredible total of nine national aerobatic teams; visiting teams included the Red Arrows, Patrouille Suisse, Frecce Tricolori, the Red Devils, Bialo-Czerwone Iskry, Frecce Tricolori, Krila Oluje and Patrulla Aguila. Naturally, all of Europe’s top teams have once again been invited to join the celebrations, and This is Flight has been reliably informed that a very large number have already accepted, making this a must-attend shows for aerobatic team fans. You can also expect the highly-acclaimed Patrouille de France to develop a special anniversary-themed airshow routine for all their displays next year, featuring manoeuvres such as the “5-3 Croisement”, referencing the team’s comissioning in 1953.