The last airworthy Alizé has been grounded
The Alizé Marine Association has announced the premature end of operations by its rare Breguet Br-1050 Alize ex-French Navy carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The Association Alizé Marine, owner/operator of the world’s last remaining airworthy Breguet Br-1050 announced that as of 30 April 2023, Alizé No.59 (F-AZYI) will be grounded. The Association is being forced out of its hangar at Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée airport by the municipal authority, which owns the airport and has not provided any alternative accommodation.
Unfortunately, none of the steps taken by the association to secure the operation of this rare aircraft at the airport have been successful and therefore the association is unable to continue its activity.
Offers to help have been made by French Navy bases elsewhere in southern France, but the association says the ongoing challenge of maintaining and presenting such an aircraft to the public is based on a set of parameters of a technical, financial and logistical nature, which the association could not control in case of transfer to another site. In addition, the historical coherence of the heritage conservation project carried out by Alizé Marine would be completely distorted, since the history of the aircraft is closely linked to that of the airport, formerly an Air Base.
Alizé Marine will hold an extraordinary general meeting, at which it will consider the possibility of liquidation.
Alize in Flight
Bréguet 1050 Alizé
The Bréguet Br.1050 Alizé (French: "Tradewind") was a French carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft. It was developed in the 1950s, based loosely on the second prototype Bréguet Vultur attack aircraft which had been modified into the Bréguet Br.965 Épaulard anti-submarine warfare aircraft.
The Alizé No.59 made its first post-restoration flight on the French civil register, as F-AZYI, from Nîmes in May 2013. Since then the rare 1959-built Alizé has performed at a number of French airshows and could be seen flying in different combinations of historic and modern French Navy types put together by the Cocardes Marine organisation. Besides displays in France, the Alizé has also appeared at the Jersey International Air Display and the Royal Navy International Air Day at Yeovilton. It is very unlikely that we will see another Alizé in the air again.
The Official Statement
Statement from the Alizé Marine Association
“hello to all,
The Board of Directors of the association Alizé Marine, met today, decided to suspend the flights of BR 1050 Alizé No. 59 until April 30, 2023, the expiration date of the lease granted by Nîmes Métropole, manager of the Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée airport where the collection plane is parked.
None of the steps taken by the association to try to keep the last specimen in the world in flying condition of this aircraft on the airport platform have resulted in, it is estimated to be unable to continue its activity.
The ongoing challenge of maintaining and presenting such an aircraft to the public is based on a set of parameters of a technical, financial and logistical nature, which the association could not control in case of transfer to another site, despite the options found by the National Navy for shelter on other airfields in the south of France. In addition, the historical coherence of the heritage conservation project carried out by Alizé Marine would be completely distorted, since the history of the aircraft is closely linked to that of the airport, formerly an airbase.
The future of the association and its iconic aircraft will be decided at the next extraordinary general meeting. Its liquidation is being considered.
Alizé Marine would like to warmly thank all those who have supported it since its establishment in 2009 and expresses its deep gratitude to the various patrons who accompanied it as well as to the National Navy, their unwavering support from the first moment.
This Saturday, April 29 at the airport of Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée, the BR 1050 Alizé No 59 of the Alizé Marine association will make its last flight. Come all and admire him one last time.
Today the 25th of April 2023, Alizé Marine Association’s Board has decided to ground the Breguet 1050 Alizé #59 effective 30 April 2023, the expiry date of Nîmes Métropole’s agreement granting the association the right to station the vintage aircraft on the airport « Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée ».
None of the actions taken by the association to try to maintain the last flying unit of this aircraft type in the world on the airport platform having been successful, the association considers itself unable to continue its activity.
The permanent challenge of maintaining and presenting to the public such an aircraft is based on a set of technical, financial and logistical parameters that the association would not be able to control in the event of a transfer to another site, despite the options found by the French Navy to relocate the aircraft on other airfields in the South of France. Furthermore, the historical coherence of the heritage conservation project carried out by Alizé Marine would be totally distorted since the history of the aircraft is closely linked to that of the airport, which was once a naval air base.
The future of the association and its emblematic aircraft will be decided during a forthcoming extraordinary general meeting. Its dissolution is considered.
Alizé Marine would like to warmly thank all those who have supported the Association since its creation in 2009 and expresses its deep gratitude to the various patrons who have accompanied it as well as to the French Navy, a true supporter from the very beginning.
This Saturday 29 April at Nîmes Grande Provence Méditerranée airport, the BR 1050 Alizé nº 59 of the Alizé Marine association will make its last flight. Come and admire it one last time.”
