French sport aircraft at Chambly

n the U.S., it's Oshkosh; in the UK, it's usually Cranfield; and in France, it's the Reseau du Sport de l'Air rally (RSA). The RSA started as a home-builders rally, but as the variety of aircraft owned and operated has increased, it has expanded to accommodate many other sport-- aircraft types, classics, antiques and warbirds.

In recent years, the rally found a home at Epinal in the Lorraine region of eastern France, although in the 54 years in which the RSA has held international and national rallies, the event has been held in a variety of French locations.

Until April 2001, Epinal was still the declared venue; then a row broke out between the RSA and authorities there, and the RSA called their bluff. Just two months before the July 20 to 22 date, it upped and moved to a new venue-the huge 1950s former USAF F-86 base at Chambly-Bussieres, just 35 miles north of Epinal and southwest of Metz. Its 10,000-foot runway is still in excellent condition, and its many taxiways and dispersal areas provided more than adequate room for the 600-plus aircraft that flew there.

Among the rarities flown to Chambley in 2001 was a restored D.H. 82A Tiger Moth-one of 30 ex-Royal Air Force examples that slipped into civilian use among French aero clubs in the early 1950s. These aircraft helped to get France into the air again after WW II. This particular example, F-BGCS (ex-French Air Force and RAF DF210) was used by the Aero Club de Champagne at Reims. It's now registered in the French historical sequence as "F-AZTM" and is still based at Reims (Prunay airfield), but is owned by Serge Maigrot.

On the heavier side were several more traditional warbirds: the JCB Aviation North American P-5 1D Mustang F-AZSB from Nimes painted as Nooky Booky IV; a T-6 Texan and the French Air Force version of the T-28 Trojan-the Fennec. There was also a variety of Yak-52s.

In the 1950s, Piper Cubs served with the French Armee de l'Air in many roles, including as trainers, and they were later supplemented with Cessna L-19 Bird Dogs. France's Cub heritage was represented by two contrasting examples: an L-18C F-BVOZ (painted yellow as USAF53-3162) and F-BFYU-a J-3C-65 and former French military (ALAT) example 44-79865. The former was once based in Belgium-a first for the Belgian Air Force-and it then became a civilian as "OO-FBA"; it is now based at Nancy, France. The latter is now owned by the Association Aero Retro, Colmar, France, and wears more traditional U.S. Army olive drab.

Association Antelope members flew the largest aircraft from Montpellier. The Nord 260 shown here was the third of its type built in 1962; it's a French attempt at a turboprop commuter liner. It was powered by Turbomeca turboprops and, in series production, became the Nord 262. The French sold several to U.S. airlines such as Allegheny Commuter's Ransome Airlines and Swift Aire Airlines based in San Luis Obispo, California. The Nord 260 shown was rescued by enthusiasts several years ago and is now maintained in airworthy condition on the French airshow circuit.

The RSA has not announced where the 2002 rally will be held-a wise move after 2001's events!

-Geoffrey P. Jones

Copyright Air Age Publishing Feb 2002
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