Second A400M unit at Orléans-Bricy

On 9 September 2021, the second Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace (AAE, French Air and Space Force) Airbus A400M unit will be established at base Aerienne 123 Orléans-Bricy (BA123). The unit, Escadron de Transport 4/61 Bearn (ET04.061) consists of two escadrilles, SAL14 and SAL18.

Bearn was previously known as Escadron de Transport 1/64 (ET01.064) and was disbanded on 25 August 2017 operating the C-160R Transall at BA105 Evreux-Fauville.

The unit is the most decorated transport squadron due to its ten years of war missions in Indochina from 1946 to 1956, a decade during which several crews were killed during perilous missions accomplished on the AAC-1 Toucan (Junkers Ju-52) and the C-47 Dakota. From 1960 to 1982 Bearn operated the Nord 2501 Noratlas. It was based at Paris-Le Bourget until June 1967, when it moved to Evreux-Fauville. In April 1982, the unit transferred to the C-160NG Transall.

So far, eighteen A400Ms have been delivered to the AAE. The transporters are operated by Escadron de Transport 1/61 Touraine (ET01.061) at Orléans-Bricy. For the 9 September occasion, A400M 0110/F-RBAR, has been decorated with special Bearn markings. The A400M was shown to the public last weekend when flying during the air meeting at La Ferte Alais, where Otger van der Kooij photographed it during a fly past.

Photos by Otger van der Kooij and AAE