Patrouille de France The Patrouille Acrobatique de France ( , " French Acrobatic Patrol " ) , also known as the Patrouille de France or PAF , is the precision aerobatic demonstration team of the French Air Force . Originating in 1931 , it is the world ' s oldest and one of the most skilled demonstration teams . Pilots currently fly the Dassault - Breguet / Dornier Alpha Jet . History . In 1931 France ' s first aerobatic demonstration took place over Étampes - Mondésir . It was performed by the instructors from the local flying school with Morane - Saulnier MS - 230 planes . In the period 1932 - 1939 , under the command of Captain Pierre Fleurquin , the team received considerable praise and was chosen to represent France at international events . Over in Dijon the " Weiser " team , consisting of 18 planes ( Morane - Saulnier MS - 225 and SPAD 510 ) gained fame for their team displays in which the planes were tied together . The " Patrouille d ' Étampes " team relocated to Salon - de - Provence in 1937 , adopting the name " Patrouille de l ' École de l ' air " ( " Flying school Patrol " ) . The Second World War interrupted the operations of both teams . In 1947 , the Minister for the Air created an aerobatic team from the Air Force . Led by Captain Perrier , a former pilot from the " Patrouille d ' Étampes " team , it initially consisted of twelve Stampe SV . 4 aircraft . Following the increasing popularity of their performances , a number of similar units were formed within the Air Force . In 1952 , Squadron Leader Delachenal , a pilot from the 3rd combat division stationed at the airbase at Reims - Champagne , formed a team of four F - 84 aircraft . In 1953 , during an aerial event at Maison Blanche in Algeria , the show ' s commentator , carried away by the spectacle he had just witnessed , gave the team the name " " Patrouille de France " " . Over the following decade four separate aerial display Air Force units ( 12th unit – Cambrai - Épinoy ; 4th unit Bremgarten ; 2nd unit – Dijon - Longvic ; 7th unit – Nancy - Ochey ) continued to perform at both national and international events . In 1964 however , budget cuts led to reductions throughout the Air Force , including the dissolution of the Dassault Mystère IV team . Nonetheless , a few months later , keen that the " Patrouille de France " name should not be lost , the Ministry of Defence decided to create an official " " Patrouille de l ' École de l ' air " " . Its team of six Fouga Magister aircraft stationed once again at Salon - de - Provence and became France ' s premier aerial display team for the next 16 years . The final display involving the Fouga Magister , now nine in number , took place on September 16 , 1980 at their home base of Salon - de - Provence . They were replaced by seven Alpha Jet , with an additional plane added in 1982 . The aircraft , under the leadership of Squadron Leader Bernard Inge , has remained unchanged to this day . In 1986 , the team took part in an historic fly - past above New York City . In 2009 , the Patrouille de France achieved a world premiere when Commandant Virginie Guyot was appointed leader , becoming the first woman in history to lead a demonstration team . Aircraft . Each aircraft is painted blue - white - red , with the gun placement replaced with a smoke generator . Search lights are installed on the aircraft nose , and the viewfinder has been removed to improve visibility .