Rapid Rafale captures a French Air and Space Force Rafale hauling into a high-G pull, vapour streaming off its wings against a deep blue sky.This is an original Marqforde photograph of the Rafale Solo Display jet, taken during its routine at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford, at the moment the pull drew a veil of condensation across the wings.About the teamDassault's own pilots flew the Rafale's early airshow displays. In 2009 the French Air Force took over and created the Rafale Solo Display, a service ambassador in the same way as the Patrouille de France. Capitaine Cédric "Rut" Ruet flew its first three seasons.The display is run from Saint-Dizier by ETR 3/4 Aquitaine, the Rafale conversion squadron. Volunteers need more than 500 hours on the Rafale and patrol leader status, then face interviews with the coach, the commander and the current demonstrator, who has the final say.Each pilot flies two seasons, then coaches the next. Capitaine Bertrand "Bubu" Butin displayed in 2022 and 2023, then coached Capitaine Jean-Brice "Mimouss" Millet through 2024 and 2025. The pilot designs the roughly ten-minute routine, which the Chief of Staff must approve.Quick facts Aircraft: Dassault Rafale C, fitted with wingtip smoke generators for display work Team: Rafale Solo Display, the French Air and Space Force's solo jet ambassador since 2009 Performance: flown at up to nearly 1,500 km/h, all within a 10 km radius of display centre Unit: ETR 3/4 Aquitaine, Base Aérienne 113 Saint-Dizier Notable fact: Capitaine Alexandre "Rocky" Roeckel became the ninth Rafale Solo Display pilot, for the 2026 and 2027 seasons Display context: high-G pull with wing vapour at the Royal International Air Tattoo, RAF Fairford
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