Joint Warrior 13-01 RAF Leuchars April 2013 - Part 3 French SEM

[Des]

Dassault Super Etendard Modernisé or SEM for short from 17 Flotille (17F) operated from the main ramp at RAF Leuchars during the exercise and the following were taken there as well as from the runway edge during take-off and recovery.

 

Although an overall single-tone grey colour scheme had been introduced during operations over Afghanistan some years earlier all of the aircraft deployed to Leuchars carried the more common , older and well-worn two-tone camouflage although some did have the additional dorsal spine communication aerial introduced following experience over Afghanistan.

 

While all usually operated from the main ramp two of the aircraft (No.31 and No.43) which were involved in a gunnery sortie during the visit and were flown from the Operational Readiness Platform at the east end of the runway and returned there afterwards to be made safe.      Typically as seen here and on other deployments aircraft are parked with arrestor hooks dropped and air-brakes raised.

 

When seen on the day of the visit all carried 1100L droptanks on their inner wing pylons and where outer wing pylons were fitted these carried triple practice bomb carriers with and without practice bombs.     Individual aircraft carried examples of the Douglas 827B1 Refuelling Pod , ATLIS daylight only Designator Pod and Damocles night and all-weather Designator Pod on the centre-line.     On that occasion at least none were carrying a mix of outer wing and centre-line stores or pylons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wez]

Des,

 

Thank you for sharing these images, they are a great reference for anyone building a Super Entendard (especially in the forthcoming Heller Classic GB and the proposed French Fancy 2 GB).

 

Good examples of how in-service aircraft wear and weather, they look quite grubby.  Excellent stuff!

[Stephen]

Superb pictures @Des, thanks for sharing them.

[Coors54]

Another good looking French jet...

 

Dave

[RidgeRunner]

Now that's what I call a classy set of shots! What a beauty the Super Etendard was, in all its forms.

 

Martin