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A day at Hyères - La Palyvestre NAS,
On
the 19th of May we were welcome at Marine Nationale BAN Hyères-La
Palyvestre. Situated direct at the Mediterranean sea Hyères is also a
civil airport. On the military site it is home to 36F flying the Dauphin
witch in French naval service is called Panther. 35F flying the Panther
as well the older Alouette III, 31F flying the Lynx and
the naval air arm practical
experimentation centre CEPA/10S flying various
types.
The shipborne helicopter
squadrons are based in Hyères (Var) and Lanvéoc-Poulmic (Finistère). The
Panther is present on the patrol frigates, air defence Cassard-class
destroyers and La Fayette class frigates. It contributes to anti-ship
warfare. The Lynx is present on the anti-submarine destroyers. It has
dipping sonar and torpedoes, to constitute an essential weapon system
for submarine warfare. The Dauphin Pedro assums search and rescue
missions for the pilots of the carrier air group. The Alouette III is
carried by the Jeanne d’Arc, replenishment tankers and the surveillance
frigate based in French Polynesia and New Caledonia. It assumes support
and training missions (naval training).
Two Dauphin
and Super-Frelon helicopter squadrons are specialized in the search and
rescue of individuals at sea, off our coasts: 32F is based in
Lanvéoc-Poulmic and Hyères with Super-Frelon and 35F with Dauphin in
five permanent public service detachments (Le Touquet, Cherbourg,
Lanvéoc- Poulmic, La Rochelle and Hyères).
After checking in with security
we went strait to the platform and the hangers. We moved in front of the
hangars to take our pictures both inside as out on the platform. Because
of the active flying we had to stay near the hangars. Flying this day
were the Lynx, Alouette III, the Panther and even a Super Frelon from
4F. Slowly becoming a rare breed.
After we had seen all the
hangars and taken pictures of all the helicopters flying we went to the
(military) control tower to get some more pictures from up there. Flying
at that moment however was few and time was running out. After this
visit it was back to and out the main gate. A good visit came to an end.
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