JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS,Va. --
The Patrouille de France, the French air force’s aerial demonstration team, performs during the ATLANTIC TRIDENT 17 World War I Remembrance Day at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., April 21, 2017. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the U.S. Air Force’s participation alongside the French air force and Royal Air Force during World War I.
The goal of AT17 was intended to share and develop training, tactics and procedures and to enhance interoperability through combined coalition aerial campaigns.
The French air force’s aerial demonstration team consists of a commander, nine pilots and 30 ground-crew members.
The eight-aircraft Patrouille de France formation is the largest aerial demonstration team in the world.
The F-22 Raptor was one of three acts during the World War I Remembrance Day, including the French air force Dassault Rafale and the Patrouille de France.
The Raptor performs both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, allowing full realization of operational concepts vital to the 21st century Air Force.
The air demonstration was held at the end of the second week of the exercise.