Book. “Les Ailes d’Orléans – The History of Air Base 123 ‘Commander Charles Paoli’ – Home of the French A400M”
A book that immerses readers in the famous BA 123, one of the French Air and Space Force’s major bases, located in the heart of the Beauce region.
Located about fifteen kilometers from the capital of the Centre-Val de Loire region, the Air and Space Force’s 123 Orléans-Bricy “Commander Charles Paoli” base has a staff of more than 2,600 men and women. Pilots, technicians, engineers… All of them are busy keeping the A400M running so that it can carry out its missions for the Air and Space Force, alongside the Rafale and Mirage aircraft from the Dassault galaxy.
Author of the book “Les Ailes d’Orléans – L’histoire de la base aérienne 123 ‘commandant Charles Paoli’ – Repaire des A400M Français” (The Wings of Orléans – The history of Air Base 123 ‘Commander Charles Paoli’ – Home of the French A400Ms), Colonel Jean-François Déplanche is none other than the commander of Air Base 123, a position he has held since 2023. A former pilot and captain on the C-160 Transall, he has logged some 3,800 flight hours during operations Épervier (Chad, 2005-2007), Licorne (Gabon, Senegal, 2010-2011) and Barkhane (Niger, 2015).
This high-ranking officer and experienced pilot coordinated this book in order to explain from the inside how the BA 123, a logistical flagship, operates. Rather well, it seems…
Book. “Les Ailes d’Orléans – The history of Air Base 123 ‘Commander Charles Paoli’ – Home of the French A400Ms.” Author (edited by), Jean-François Déplanche. Éditions Privat. ISBN: 9782708992894
