An American in Paris

Flashback: Paris 1900. July 13 and 14, 2017.
I am totally biased when it comes to Paris. As everyone who lives there in real life knows, and especially those who are not that fortunate but had the chance of visiting the City of Lights, as I have in multiple occasions, to be able to walk through the streets of Paris in Second Life is amazing and a heart warming experience. When Lieutenant Colonel Paterne Lefavre told me, after the Independence Day Airshow 2017 at Agrippa (see "ID4 Airshow 2017 Photo Coverage"), that the French squadron would have the privilege of celebrating their National Day in Paris 1900 I was thrilled and couldn't wait for it to come true. It did and it was memorable, as I knew it would be (see "Sous le Ciel de Paris...").

But the day before is where we are here. And that day, as I sat alone at the audience platform on Paris 2000, working on my Navy paperwork (that never ends!), the 14th of July arrived without notice and a marvelous invitation popped up in one of my IM windows:
[2017/07/14 08:34] Paterne Lefavre: Do you want to make a run with me?
My reaction was not expressed in the grateful reply but in real life I said something like "Do I want to....!! Are you kidding me!!!??" Few minutes later, having switched from my tropical whites to the Blue Angels flight suit, I was standing by the Patrouille de France "Zero" I knew so well from Agrippa; the aircraft Lcl. Lefavre uses for solo trial runs before the air shows. And what followed was unforgettable.

I have no words really to express all the photos show, so I will leave them here with brief notes as record of a unique experience I was not expecting and for which I am in Lcl. Paterne Lefavre's debt. To fly in the sky of Paris.

As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

Above:
A PAF Alphajet on the Champs Elysées. Lcl. Paterne Lefavre, Athos 1, and the "Zero". 
In the inserts, top to bottom: Ready for take off from the Place de l'Étoile; air brakes extended, facing the unique runway towards Notre Dame; airborne, as the cathedral gets real big, real fast!

Above: 
Zooming towards the Eiffel Tower. I was so excited I did not even think I was not in control of the aircraft as I usually am! I loved every second.
In the inserts, top to bottom: Now you see me... Now you don't. The "Zero" merged with the Tour Eiffel on the pinnacle of a barrel loop; exiting the barrel over the Arc de Triomphe and back to the Eiffel Tower.

Above: 
Conserving energy on the drop towards the Étoile for a half cuban over the Arc de Triomphe.
In the inserts, top to bottom: going down and rolling at the half of the eight.

Above: 
Wheeeeeeeeeeee!!! Just... Wheeeeeeeeee!!!
[2017/07/14 08:47] Asra Kron (x4ten): wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
[2017/07/14 08:47] Paterne Lefavre: lol

Above: 
Once more unto the breach! The "Zero" dives for another pass between the Arc de Triomphe and the Galeries Lafayette Haussmann. Ah, Paris, que je t'aime!
In the inserts, top to bottom: triumphant pass; climbing to the sky of Paris. Encore!

Above: 
Full sequence, main and inserts, with the "Zero" in great style. The Alphajets still sport the liveries from the 2017 American Tour the PAFsl mirrored when they honored us with their presence at the Blue Angels Independence Day Air Show this year. For the avid enthusiasts, an excellent coverage of the 2017 American Tour can be seen following this link to an excellent piece by France 2.

Above: 
The landing path. The "Zero" with flaps down and gear extending on a very tight turn towards Notre Dame on the way back from the demo area. On the bottom right corner the audience platform in Paris 2000 can be spotted.
In the inserts, top to bottom: the final approach; aligned with the Champs Elysées and a glorious taxi around the Place de l'Étoile. Having done that before several times in real life driving a car (HA!!) the irony was not lost on me, nor was the privilege. The dream run was nearing its end and I had to stop myself from tapping Lcl. Lefavre's zero zero seat and saying what was on my mind: "Again, please!"

Above: 
A dream has come true for me.
With Lcl. Paterne Lefavre on the exceptional "tarmac" provided by the Place de l'Étoile, with the Arc de Triomphe as background. I think I thanked him 137 times. 
In the inserts, top to bottom: the "Zero" comes to a stop at the Étoile after a full round taxi; open canopies and a very special debriefing. In a few hours, the Patrouille de France would take to the sky of Paris for a glorious flight (see "Sous le Ciel de Paris...")
Merci de tout cœur, Pat.

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
Angel 7

Sous le Ciel de Paris...

Sous le ciel de Paris
S'envole une chanson
Elle est née d'aujourd'hui
Dans le cœur d'un garçon
Sous le ciel de Paris
Marchent des amoureux
Leur bonheur se construit
Sur un air fait pour eux ...

Auteur · Jean Dréjac · Compositeur · Hubert Giraud

Bastille Day! July 14th, 2017.
The Patrouille de France (PAFsl) will fly in the sky of Paris 1900 for the French Republic national holiday. The Air Show will start at 13:00 hours SLT (1 pm) and the organization provides first class seats on an elevated platform outside the demo sim, a breath away from the Eiffel Tower.

SLUR for the Audience platform: Go HERE!

The French squadron will take off from the Champs Élysées in an unprecedented and spectacular event that will place the pilots over the Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile and the Eiffel Tower, where the demonstration will take place. A unique Air Show by the oldest aerobatic team in SL, just as the real life squadron they so well represent is the world's oldest aerobatic squadron. Ten days after the 4th of July, here is the Quatorze Juillet! 

Update to be placed here after the Air Show! Stay tuned!
Update of July 14 below. As usual, click on the images to enlarge.

Above:
July 14, Champs-Elysées, Paris 1900, France in Second Life. The Patrouille de France makes a dream come true: fly over the most emblematic French city in Second Life, Paris 1900, on Bastille Day.
Photos (click to enlarge):
Large - The four Alphajets selected to fly over Paris align in Diamond formation for take off on one of the most amazing and exclusive runways in SL: the Champs-Elysées. For this mission, the chosen pilots were Lcl. Paterne Lefavre, Athos 1, Col. Rhea Thor, Athos 2, Cdt. Gwenblonde, Athos 3, and Lt. Sego Milo, Athos 4. Unlike real life Paris, these Champs-Elysées are condensed, as all Paris 1900 and 2000, and the take off run (and landing) were a STOL exercise.
Top right - Final verification on the ground. In reality, only the Leader starts on the Champs Elysées, the Interiors and the "Charognard" (Slot) are on the Place de l'Étoile, Athos 4 has its rear wheels against the plate of the Arc de Triomphe. Must make room!
Center and bottom right - Free warm up. Each pilot takes care of preflight individually to make up for the local conditions. Hot and static for take off. Brakes off! (bottom).

Above:
Paris 2000, bordering Paris 1900, had a platform created for Bastille Day, allowing for a great audience location. For security reasons (a.k.a. lag control!) the Paris 1900 regions were inaccessible to the general public during the air show. I did however chose the top of the Montparnasse Tower to best view the demo from Paris 2000 and try to get some photos from a vantage point. Alas, Paris 2000 was full and lag was a problem, but I did get a few shots and a great (up close and personal) view of the Alphas!
Photos (click to enlarge):
Large - C'est parti! The Diamond spear head comes to the top of a loop as Athos 4 recovers. The Panache Tricolor over Paris on July 14th. An amazing occasion. I am standing on the edge of the Montparnasse Tower, visible on the bottom right of the photo - a recurrent sight on these shots!
Top right - The Tour de Montparnasse, in a condensed Paris in SL overlooking the Place de l'Étoile and the Champs Elysées. The audience platform can be spotted to the right of the tower.
Center right - My vantage point! (Mes excuses, Damelessage Igaly! I know the audience was supposed to be on the platform, but the tower was just... standing there!)
Bottom left - The Diamond spear head zooms at very low altitude over the Arc de Triomphe. One of the many occasions I had to point the camera down!

Above:
Too bad I was struggling not to crash and to be honest I was focused on watching this unique event through my own eyes rather than through the camera lens but still managed a few decent shots. A wonderful air show and a day to remember, when the PAFsl took to the sky of Paris. More next year, please!
Photos (click to enlarge):
Large - Athos 1 and 2 break on a tight looping getting very close to the Montparnasse Tower and the region border (notice how close I am! - bottom right of the photo). The two pilots demonstrated again how well they go together. Always a pleasure to watch, and a great lead by Lcl. Lefavre.
Top right - The audience on the platform below could be heard from the top of Montparnasse Tower as the Patrouille de France made the sky of Paris more beautiful. Applauses and cheers at each loop, cuban eight and roll. The spear head seen in great style at yet another loop top.
Center and bottom right - One final tight looping before the four tricolor Alphajets headed for the tight landing I had the privilege to experience the day before (see here!). A memorable occasion was about to reach the end, but the party would go on after in Paris! Vive la France et Joyeux Quatorze!

Very nice video of the occasion, courtesy of Papillon (a.k.a. Carole Renard). Merci, Pap!!

Note: For my adventure the eve of Bastille Day, see "An American in Paris".

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO / NFDTXO / TFCOM