The Aviation Magazine No 52 September-October 2017 | Page 78
For its 53rd edition, it was the 11F of the Naval Air Station (NAS) Landivisiau, who organized this important
gathering from Monday the 5th to Friday the 16th of June 2017. Landivisiau is located in Brittany, the
north‐western region of France. The NAS is the training base for the French Navy´s fighter jets. The NAS
host the Sqn 11, 12 and 17 all equipped with the Rafale Marine, for a total of 42 aircraft.
The annual event is a meeting point for all squadrons whose emblems are the tiger or similar large cat such
as the puma (cougar). Unfortunately some of the Tiger Squadrons were involved in other exercises or mili‐
tary operations around the world, therefore they could not participate.
The spirit of the Tiger is above all the spirit of camaraderie between the squadrons. The goal of this exer‐
cise mainly to exchange and be constructive from an operational point of view to improve working together
during operations. For 2017, 13 nations with 53 aircraft, 15 helicopter and 900 persons were involved.
The daily flight operations were planned in two packages, in Combined Air Operations (COMAO) and rela‐
tively smaller packages (SHADOW WAVE). Beside the combat aircraft, airborne warning and control aircraft
(AWACS), air refuelling aircraft, attack helicopters, including search and rescue helicopters almost all of the
type of air operations can be effectively enforced. The organization of the host nation was really brilliant.
The host squadron the 11F have painted a Rafale Marine in white and black. It look stunning! I addition the
French Air Force painted two additional Rafales: one two seater Rafale B from EC 03.030 „Lorraine“ and
one Rafale C from EC 01.030 „Cote d´argent“ both from AB Mont‐de‐Marsan in the south of France. They
looked definitely brilliant. Another eye catcher was a JAS39 from the CzechAF with a very unusual painting
on the tail. The 31.Sq of the Belgian Air Force has painted the tail in black with “Les Pirates Embarqués”.
That means: The pirates are going on board”. Not to forget the French helicopter Gazelle and the Tiger and
the Italian AB212 with a shark mouth. The design of the Swiss Air Force was not new, but the tail painting is
always impressive.
The Aviation Magazine Media would like to express our thanks to the host nation especially the Naval
Headquarter. Our special thanks for their great hospitality and assistance on base to Mme. C. (SIRPA Ma‐
rine) and Mme. M‐L. (Naval Station Landivisiau) with her famous team.
The Rafale Marine of the 11F