Airbus Joins Celebration of Air France and Patrouille de France Anniversaries

A special flight demonstration and film mark 90 years for the airline and 70 for the display team.

Jonathan Welsh

Thursday, December 28, 2023 at 12:31 PM ET

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Aircraft from Air France and Patrouille de France celebrate in formation. [Courtesy: Air France]

Key Takeaways:

An Air France Airbus A350-900 flew in a celebratory aerial demonstration with Alphajets from the Patrouille de France display team.
The event marked the 90th anniversary of Air France and the 70th anniversary of the Patrouille de France, while also paying tribute to the French aviation industry.
The "Athos A350" mission was a meticulously planned and choreographed demonstration, combining the organizations' existing flights into a 45-minute show involving eleven aircraft.
A month of preparation was required for the demonstration, which produced "exceptional images" for a film directed by Eric Magnan.

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A celebratory aerial demonstration recently came together in the skies over France as an Air France Airbus A350-900 joined a formation of Alphajets from the Patrouille de France display team.

The airborne meet-up was part of a yearlong observance marking the 90th anniversary of Air France and the 70th anniversary of the Patrouille de France. The performance also served as a tribute to the French aviation industry.