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Lann-Bihoué Airshow

9-10 May 2026

Lann-Bihoué Airshow - 9-10 May 2026

BAN Lann-Bihoué 2026: 80th anniversary (1946 - 2026)

Held at the Base d'Aéronautique Navale (BAN) Lann-Bihoué near Lorient, this meeting aérien served as a monumental double celebration. It marked both the 80th anniversary of the Naval Air Base and 400 years of the French Navy.

We only attended the Spotters and Family Day on Saturday under perfect weather conditions. Unfortunately, we skipped Sunday's main event due to non-stop rain throughout the entire day.

Flying Display Highlights

The international lineup brought rare heavy metal and fast jets to the Breton skies.

Hellenic Air Force F-4E Phantom II: The undisputed star of the show. The Greek F-4 Phantom wowed the crowds with its smoky twin-turbojet engines, aggressive delta-wing profile, and thunderous low passes. Seeing this Cold War icon fly in 2026 was a rare privilege.
German Air Force Panavia Tornado: Germany’s Tornado put on a masterclass of tactical power. The swing-wing strike fighter demonstrated incredible acceleration, high-speed banks and its signature reverse-thrust roar.
French Naval Airpower: To honor the 400-year naval milestone, native Breguet Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, Falcon 10M, NH-90, Dauphin, Dassault Rafale M fighters dominated the home turf with nice formations and tactical simulations.

Unfortunately the home based E-2C Hawkeye was cancelled due to operational reasons and the highly anticipated Polish Air Force participation was cancelled at short notice.

Cocardes Marine Heritage Flight

The historic flight formation of Cocardes Marine, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, was one of the a highlights of the day. These immaculately restored French naval classics provided a magnificent historical counterbalance to the raw power of the Greek Phantom and German Tornado.

The association brought French naval aviation history to life with rare, airworthy legends that dominated the Breton skies:

Breguet Br.1050 Alizé: The undisputed heavyweight of French naval heritage. This unique, carrier-borne anti-submarine warfare aircraft captivated the crowd with its distinctive turboprop hum and massive presence.
Fouga CM.175 Zéphyr: The navalized variant of the famous Magister trainer, complete with its distinctive carrier tailhook. Its sleek V-tail design and characteristic jet whistle were a nostalgic highlight.
Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris: This early, four-seat jet trainer and liaison aircraft showcased the pure elegance of France’s post-war aviation industry.
Morane-Saulnier MS.733 Alcyon: The graceful, piston-engine basic trainers provided a beautiful, slower-paced contrast to the thunderous frontline fast jets.
Aérospatiale Alouette II SE.3130: Unlike the standard military skids, the Alouette II Marine featured a quadricycle wheel undercarriage. This made handling and securing the aircraft on tiny, swaying ship flight decks much easier
Sud-Aviation Alouette III SA-316B: Stationed aboard aircraft carriers like the Clemenceau and Foch, the Alouette III famously flew the "Pedro" (Plane-Guard) mission. It hovered directly next to the carriers during launch and recovery operations, ready to pull crashed jet pilots out of the ocean instantly.

The Spirit of Lann-Bihoué 2026

Despite the Polish cancellation and the absence of the E2-C Hawkeye, the combination of rare international jets, rich naval heritage, and the unmatched beauty of Brittany made this a perfect opener in our European airshow season of 2026. Coupled with the precision aerobatics of the Patrouille de France, the passionate deployment by Cocardes Marine ensured that the 400 years of the French Navy celebration felt historically complete and authentic.

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Lann-Bihoué Airshow (FR)

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