Marrakech-Ménara (Morocco)

Marrakech AeroExpo

23 - 26 April 2014

From the 23 until 26 April 2014, the biennial ‘Salon International de l’Aéronautique et de l’Aérospatial’, also known as

Marrakech Air Show or AeroExpo, was held for the fourth time already at the Royal Moroccan Air Force Base Marrakech-

Ménara. During the three previous events Marrakech Air Show, organised under the patronage of His Majesty King

Mohammed VI, has established itself as the meeting place for civil and military aerospace industries in the world with

special attention to the African continent. The show cannot yet be compared with the big trade shows, like Farnborough

or Le Bourget, but the international aviation industry has shown a growing interest for the African continent. The statistics

prove this, over 150 exhibiting companies, over 230 accredited media representatives, over 40 foreign delegations

and approximately 15.000 visitors from over 50 different countries attended the Marrakech Air Show. The show

was officially opened on Wednesday, 23 April, by the Prime Minister of Morocco, Mr. Abdelilah Benkirane. The first three

days of the expo are designated for trade attendees and press only, but on the final day, the Saturday, the showground is

also open to the general public.

Show
During the opening day and the public day a full flying display is held in the afternoon. This display starts by dropping

some paratroopers from a CN235, followed with the fly-by off the various types of the Moroccan Air Force. Highlight

of this fly-by is the pass of the KC-130H together with two F-5Fs, two Mirage F-1s and two F-16s. The F-5Fs actually

fly with their refuelling probes attached to the refuelling drogue baskets of the KC-130H, a sight you do not see often

at any other air show. Furthermore, two CL415s show their firefighting abilities and two AB205s their insect-spraying

capabilities. Also a small demonstration is given of the air assault capacity of the Moroccan Air Force, carried out by

several AB206 Jet Rangers, SA330 Pumas and SA342 Gazelles. Of course, the national aerobatic team, Marche Verte (Green

March), is showing their skills in flying of close formations, with ropes tied between the wings of the aircraft. The special

guests of this year air show was the Spanish aerobatic team Patrulla Aguila’ and they were present for the closing act of

the flying program. During the intervening days a limited show is performed. This often means that there is no paradropping,

no tanker formation fly-by and no air assault demonstration. Also only one of the CL415s and one of the AB205

is doing their demonstration. However, on the days prior to the actual show some flying activity can be watched, like this

year there was a small rehearsal of the fly-by already on the Monday and even two rehearsals on Tuesday.

Civil news
During the air show, Heliconia placed an order for two AW139s, which will be used at their offshore department,

with an option on more. Pending the delivery of the helicopters, Heliconia has meanwhile begun its offshore transportation

missions with two AW139, which are leased from AgustaWestland. The delivery of the new helicopters is set

for June or July 2014 already. At the moment Heliconia, which has its main base at Marrakech-Ménara airport, is operating

the AS350B2 & B3 & BA, AS355N, AS365N1 & N3, EC130B4 and R44-II.

Probably the civil star of the show was the Legacy 500 EMB550) of Embraer Executive Jets, which made its debut.

Scheduled to enter service in the first half of 2014, this midsize aircraft is the first in its class with full fly-by-wire

technology. The Legacy 500 has a range of 3.000 nautical miles (approximately 5550 kilometres) and a six-foot flatfloor

cabin, even wider than most other aircraft in the same category. Also at the show were the Phenom 300 (EMB505),

the industry’s most delivered business aircraft in 2013, the larger Legacy 650 (ERJ135), the business jet with the highest

utilization rate in the market and the ultra-large business jet the Lineage 1000 (ERJ190).

Military news
The most important military news came from LH Aviation. This French company and manufacture of the LH-10

Ellipse announced already last month that they will establish a subsidiary in Morocco, named LH Aviation Maroc. The

new assembly plant, whose total investment amounts to 10 million euros, will be established near Casablanca and should

be operational around 2015. The plant will have a capacity of 80 LH-10Ms per year and may eventually reach up to 200

aircraft per year. During the Marrakech Air Show the official agreement of this joint-venture was signed during a signing

ceremony by Mr. Mohammed Zouhair El Aoufir, the Managing Director from ONDA (Office National des Aéroports), and

Mr. Karim Bennani Mohsine, the Chief Executive and main shareholder of LH Aviation Maroc. The LH-10M will be the

first aircraft ever to be entirely made in Morocco. A prototype of the new M-model was present at the show. The main

difference between the LH-10 Ellipse, such as have been delivered to the air force of Benin and to the UAE company Jet

Energy, and the LH-10M is the non-retractable nose wheel on the M-model. According to a spokesperson of LH Aviation the

air force of Morocco is going to buy at least two LH-10Ms, but an official contract for this delivery is not yet been signed.

Some excellent news for us spotters was the information that, beside some rumours, the Mirage F1s and the F-5s will not be

retired any time soon. In fact the modification program of the Mirage F1s has been completed by now and so we can

enjoy this beautiful aircraft for at least another decade. The Mirage F1s are updated to the Mirage MF-2000 standard, but

are locally designated as Mirage F-1xM-VI (x can be C or E). M-VI stands for ‘Modernisation à Version Intégrale’. Quite

a coincidence is the fact that this also is the abbreviation for the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI. The Alpha Jet had

undergone a similar update program at SABCA (Charleroi, Belgium) and these are also designated as MVI. Some other

small news facts are:

• The Chinese offers industrial cooperation with Morocco for the replacement of the F-5, they are hoping to sell the FC-1 Xiaolong to them;

• Bell Helicopters offers the UH-1Y as replacement for the AB205s;

• A second batch of F-16s is not expected in a short term;

• The Air Force of Morocco is still interested in the KC-135 but no purchase is expected in the near future (prior to

the show, some F-16s did some air-to-air refuelling training with the Utah Air National Guard KC-135R which was also present at the air show);

• The SA342 Gazelles will most probably not be upgraded but replaced. Candidates are not confirmed yet but most likely this will be an American or European model;

• The Moroccan Navy will receive at least one NH90.

Air Show 2016
In all likelihood the show is held again in 2016 and given that the Moroccan Air Forces then will celebrates its 60th anniversary,

this may be become a nice air show.

Note:
Because most of the unit designations are too long, the following abbreviations are used:

CIPC = Centre d’Instruction de Pilotes Combat

CIPH = Centre d’Instruction de Pilotes d’Hélicoptère

CIPT = Centre d’Instruction de Pilotes Transports

EATB = Ecole de l’Aviation Transport Bimoteur

EC = Escadre de Chasse

EdC = Escadron de Chasse

EH = Escadre de Hélicoptère

ET = Escadre de Transport

Escadre stands for Wing and Escadron for Squadron

The construction numbers in the report are those that were actually noted during the show.

Static:
CN-AKA/27	AB205A	EH 1	4349

CN-AQR/18

AB206B

EH 1

8635

228

Alpha Jet H(MVI)

CIPC

245

Alpha Jet H

CIPC

named “Al Ghait’

CN-AIZ

AS355F1

Gendarmerie Royale

5248

112/(CN-AHB)

AS565MB

11 Flotille

CN-ANA/A

Beech A100

EATB

CN-ANG

Beech B200

CIPT

CN-AMQ/MQ

C-27J

ET

(4)171

CN-AON/ON

C-130H

ET

CN-ABG

CAP10C

Marche Verte

183

CN-ABH

CAP10C

Marche Verte

184

CN-ATQ/TQ

CL-415MP

ET

2088

CN-AMA/MA

CN235M-100

ET

AL05-1-C023

CN-BZK

EC135T2+

Gendarmerie Royale

0978

CN-BZF

EC145

Gendarmerie Royale

9369

91933

F-5E

EdC ‘Borak’

CN-AZX

S2R-T660

Gendarmerie T660-

T660-118DC

CN-TWF

S2R-T34

Gendarmerie

T34-109DC

CN-AIJ

SA330L

Gendarmerie Royale

1393

CN-ARZ/26

SA330L

EH 1

1470

(CN-AC)P

SA342L

CIPH

1946

CN-AZF

SE3130

Gendarmerie Royale

1651

08-8004

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-8011

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

173

Mirage F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

(CN-B)TN/14

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

PM-14

(CN-B)TT/20

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

PM-20

(CN-B)TU/21

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

PM-21

CN-AHX

Titan Tornado II

Gendarmerie Royale

CSX62127

MC-27J

Alenia Aeronautica

MM81796/15-40

HH139A

81°Centro AE

08-8607/RS

C-130J-30

37th AS

5616

60-0360

KC-135R

191st ARS UT ANG

…

SA341F

Aerotec

1415

CN-COG

ATR72-212A

Royal Air Maroc Express

CS-HER

A109E

INAER

11083

F-HGHF

Falcon 7X

Dassault Av.

F-HLTI

P68OBS2

F-WWNX

LH10A

TY-41L Benin A.F.

002

HB-ZSU

Bell 429

Air Zermatt AG

57067

M-CESB

Ce560XLS

Cessna Aircraft Co.

N280GC

G280

Gulfstream Aerospace

N511EX

Ce208B

Cessna Aircraft Co.

N550GA

G550

Gulfstream Aerospace

N585EE

EMB505

Embraer Exec.

50500185

N620AT

AT-6C

Beechcraft Corp.

AT-002

N698EE

ERJ135BJ

Embraer Exec.

14501198

N800EU

Beech 350i

FL-840

N981EE

ERJ190BJ

Embraer Exec.

19000559

N2060K

Beech C90GTx

LJ-2060

OE-VRX

DA42M-NG

Diamond Aircraft

42.M013

PT-ZHY

EMB550

Embraer Exec.

55000004

The T-6C CN-BTN/14 and CAP10C CN-ABH were only noted on 23 and 24 April. The other days these were in the hangar

behind the static. The AT-6C, N620AT, arrived on Thursday 24 April, in the evening. The CN-AHB registration of the

AS565MB was only on a small paper inside the cockpit. The ATR72 CN-COG left the air show on the 24th.

Hangar static:
(CN-ACO)	SA342L	stripped	1945

The Gazelle was read on the c/n-plate in the cockpit. The tail of the Mirage F1CH 154 was also in this hangar, same as the

front fuselage of an unknown CM170.

Hangar (closed for public):

AS202/18A-1, Ecole de Pilotage:
CN-AUA/110, (CN-AUB)/111, (CN-AUC)/114, CN-AUD/115, CN-AUE/116,

CN-AUH/119, CN-AUI/(121(, CN-(AUJ)/122, CN-AUK/29, (CN-AUL)/128,

(CN-AUM)/165, (CN-AUN)/174.

Flightline:
CN-ATM/TM	CL-415MP	ET

CN-ATP/TP

CL-415MP

ET

CN-AMD/MD

CN235M-100

ET

AL05-4-C026

CN-ASG/33

SA330L

EH 1

1489

Under sunsheds:

T-6C, Ecole de Pilotage:
(CN-B)TB/(02), (CN-B)TK/(11), (CN-B)TP/(16), (CN-B)TR/(18), (CN-B)TX/(24)

CASA 101EB, Patrulla Aguila:
E.25-06/79-06/5, E.25-14/79-14/5, E.25-22/79-22/2, E.25-23/79-23/3,

E.25-52/79-34/4, E.25-62/79-17/4, E.25-63/74-17/1, E.25-78/79-02/6, E.25-86/79-32/7.

The E.25-14/79-14/5 was noted inside a hangar on the 23rd an left home on the 24th.

In the grass:
CN-AJV/22	AB205A	EH 1

CN-AJW/23

AB205A

EH 1

CN-AQE/05

AB206A

EH 1

CN-AQH/08

AB206B

EH 1

CN-AQI/09

AB206B

EH 1

CN-AQK/11

AB206B

EH 1

CN-AQM/13

AB206B

EH 1

CN-ARG/07

SA330L

EH 1

1347

CN-ARL/12

SA330L

EH 1

1372

CN-ASA/27

SA330L

EH 1

1471

(CN-A)CC

SA342L

EH 1

1894

(CN-A)CN

SA342L

EH 1

1937

(CN-A)CT

SA342L

EH 1

1963

(CN-A)CV

SA342L

EH 1

1972

(CN-A)CX

SA342L

EH 1

1985

The AB205 CN-AJV was seen flying on the 21st, 23rd, 25th and 26th, while the CN-AJW flew on the 21st, 23rd, 24th and 26th.

On the 21st, 23rd and 26th the flowing helicopters flew, from the Pumas the CN-ARG and CN-ARL, from the Gazelles the

CN-ACC, CN-ACT, CN-ACX and CN-ACV and from the AB206 the CN-AQI, CN-AQH, CN-AQK and CN-AQM.

Flypast 21 April:
CN-AOR/OR	KC-130H	ET

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91942, 91944

F-5F

EdC ‘Borak’

127, 128, 133, 1?4

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170, 171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

231, 233, 236

Alpha Jet H

CIPC

08-8016, +1

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

Flypast 22 April (morning):
231, 233, 234, 236, 244	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

08-8003, 08-8005,

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-0810, +1

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

127, 128

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170, 171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TG/07

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TH/08, (CN-B)TW/23

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

Flypast 22 April (afternoon):
233, 234, 246, +2	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

08-8009, 08-8014, +2

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

127, 128

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170, 171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TG/07

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TH/08, (CN-B)TW/23

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

Flypast 23 April:
231, 233, 234, 236, 246	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

CN-AOR/OR

KC-130H

ET

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91942, 91944

F-5F

EdC ‘Borak’

127, 128, 133, 1?4

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170, 171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

08-8003, 08-8005

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-8009, +3

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TG/07

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TH/08, (CN-B)TJ/10

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

Flypast 24 April:
231, 233, 234, 236, 246	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

127, 128, 144

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TG/07

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TH/08, (CN-B)TJ/10

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

Flypast 25 April:
231, 233, 234, 236, 246	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

08-8005, 08-8009

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-8010, 08-8014

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

127, 128, 144

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TH/08

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TM/13, (CN-B)TV/22

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

Flypast 26 April:
231, 233, 234, 236, 246	Alpha Jet H	CIPC

CN-AOR/OR

KC-130H

ET

50613, 50617, 91924

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91932

F-5E

EC 2 ‘Tigre’

91942, 91944

F-5F

EdC ‘Borak’

127, 128, 144

Mir.F1CM-VI

EdC ‘Assad’

170, 171

Mir.F1EM-VI

EdC ‘Atlas’

08-8002, 08-8003, 08-8005

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-8009, 08-8010

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

08-8016

F-16C-52

EC ‘Atlas Falcon’

(CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TH/08

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

(CN-B)TJ/10, (CN-B)TM/13

T-6C

Ecole de Pilotage

On base, the following aircraft are preserved, stored or dumped. Only the aircraft that were actually seen are mentioned.

Near Technical school:
(0-37862)/862	C-119G	(CN-AMH), white special colours

At the roundabout near main gate:
…	CM170	Blue colours, yellow tanks

…

MH1521M

Yellow/blue colours

…

MiG-15UTI

…

MiG-17F

Yellow colours

…

Sea Fury FB.11

…

T-6G

Black/red colours

…

T-6G

Yellow colours

Both MiGs and the CM170 were visible from the static area.

Near the parade ground:
… (2x)	CM170		On pole, white/blue colours

…

T-6G

On pole, blue/yellow colours

All were visible from the outside.

On the parade ground:
…	CM170	On pole, white/red special colours

226

CM170

On pole, white/red special colours

…

T-6G

Blue special colours

85?

T-6G

White special colours

The CM170s and the blue T-6 were visible from the outside.

In front of Ecole Royale de l’Air:
...	CM170	red special colours, green tanks

Storage ramp:
10x	CM170	7 camo + 3 silver special colours

11x

T-34C-1

all bagged

13x

T-37B

all bagged

Dump:
26676, 27732/51, 27787/70	SNJ-4	Dumped

…/28, …/53, .../54 +1

SNJ-4/T-6G

Dumped

114702/78

T-6G

Yellow special colours, no tail, no

engine:
…	T-28A	Dumped, Fuselage only

All were visible from the outside.

Visitors:
CN-BZJ	AS550C2	Gendarmerie	22

CN-ANX

Beech 300

EdT (VIP)

23

CN-AMN/MN

C-27J

ET

23

CN-AOF/OF

C-130H

ET

27

CN-AMK

Ce560XLS+

EdT (VIP)

23

CN-AMG

CN235M-100

EdT (VIP)

23 (white Colours)

CN-ARS/19

SA330F

EH 1

27

CM01

Falcon 20E-5

21Sm

26

MM62172

Falcon 900EX

93° Gruppo

24

MM62245

F900EX-EASy

93° Gruppo

26

T.21-09/35-47

C295M

353Esc

26

(T.21-10/35-48)

C295M

353Esc

22

TR.20-01/403-11

Ce560

403Esc

23, 24

84-0109

C-21A

76th AS

22, 23, 24, 25

Serial of the C295M T.21-10 came from SBS and so was not read!

On Monday, 28 April, the following T-6Cs returned from Ben Guerir:
(CN-B)TA/01, (CN-B)TC/03, (CN-B)TD/04, (CN-B)TE/05, (CN-B)TF/06,

(CN-B)TG/07, (CN-B)TH/08, (CN-B)TI/09, (CN-B)TJ/10, (CN-B)TL/12,

(CN-B)TM/13, (CN-B)TO/15, (CN-B)TQ/17, (CN-B)TS/19, (CN-B)TV/22 and

(CN-B)TW/23

Credits: Edwin de Geeuw, Mark de Geeuw, Andy Marden, Coen Pasterkamp, Peter Steenhouwer, Bob Sutherland, Leonard van Teeffelen, Hans van der Vlist and Scramble forum.

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