Taking over from the factory

The Rafale Solo Display was created in 2009, when the air force took over Rafale demonstrations from Dassault Aviation’s test pilots. It belongs to the Rafale conversion squadron, Escadron de transformation Rafale 3/4 “Aquitaine”, at Base aérienne 113 Saint-Dizier, and is the service’s official fighter demonstration, flying a ten-minute routine at around fifty events a year in France and abroad.

Two years flying, two years coaching

Each pilot is an instructor on the squadron and flies the display for two seasons, then spends two more coaching the successor. Since 2009 the role has passed from Capitaine Cédric Ruet (“Rut”) through “Micka”, “Tao”, “Marty”, “Babouc”, “Schuss” and “Bubu” to Capitaine Jean-Brice Millet (“Mimouss”) in 2024–2025. For 2026–2027 the pilot is Capitaine Alexandre Roeckel (“Rocky”), supported by some fifty mechanics of ESTA 15.004 Haute-Marne.

A new livery every season

The display aircraft is a single-seat Rafale C fitted with wingtip smoke generators, with a Rafale B two-seater as spare. It wears a new scheme each season, painted by base personnel to designs by the official air and space painter Régis Rocca, who has dressed the jet since 2009. The 2026 livery, a tricolour design with pixelated elements on the fin, was unveiled at Nancy-Ochey on 4 May 2026.