French Aerobatic Team To Fly Over West Point

WEST POINT, N.Y. - The Patroulille de France, the French Air and Space Force Aerobatic Team will conduct a flyover of West Point on Tuesday at 10:42 a.m. as part of their national goodwill tour of the United States in commemoration of the 250th founding of the nation.  

The flyover is a way for the French to honor the historical bond between our militaries and academies as cornerstones of a rich tradition of cooperation.

The flyover will consist of eight Dassault Alpha Jets and one Airbus A400 transport plane at the head. The aerial group will take off from Stewart Airport at 10:40 a.m. and flyover West Point at approximately 10:42 a.m. The flight path is currently projected for them to fly down the Hudson River north to south, over The Plain at West Point and continue to New York City and the Statue of Liberty. The aircraft will maintain an altitude of 1000 feet. The jets plan to release red, white, and blue smoke for 10-15 seconds during the flyover.

The Patrouille de France, the official aerobatic demonstration team of the French Air and Space Force, is bringing its world-renowned precision flying to the United States as part of “Liberté 250,” a symbolic mission celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence and the historic alliance between France and the United States.

Flying the Alpha Jet, the Patrouille de France performs elegant formation maneuvers, dynamic opposition passes, and signature smoke displays in the colors of the French flag. Their performance combines military precision, artistry, and national pride in one of the most recognizable aerial displays in the world.

For this special anniversary mission, the Patrouille de France aircraft will feature commemorative tail markings with the American flag on one side and the French flag on the other. The deployment will include the team’s Alpha Jets, support aircraft, spare aircraft, and dozens of French military personnel supporting the mission across the United States.

The tour will culminate on July 4 in New York, where the Patrouille de France is expected to participate in the naval and aerial parade commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

About West Point:

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and Nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.