French Naval Aviation is the naval air arm of the French Navy. The long-form official designation is Force maritime de l'aéronautique navale. Born as a fusion of aircraft carrier squadrons and the naval patrol air force, the Aéronavale was created in 1912. The force is under the command of a flag officer officially titled Admiral of Naval Aviation (ALAVIA) with his headquarters at Toulon naval base. It has a strength of around 6,800 military and civilian personnel. It operates from four airbases in Metropolitan France and several detachments in foreign countries or French overseas territories. Carrier-borne pilots of the French Navy do their initial training at Salon-de-Provence Air Base after which they undergo their carrier qualification with the US Navy.
Arm insignia of personnel of Naval aviation
Two Super Étendard, two Rafale fighters and an E-2C Hawkeye at the 2010s French Naval Aviation Centenary Airshow
Rafale fighter on the flight deck of Charles de Gaulle at dawn
Rafale fighters on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle
Naval aviation is the application of military air power by navies, whether from warships that embark aircraft, or land bases.
An F/A-18C Hornet launches from the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Kitty Hawk
Mayfly was built in 1908 and was the first aircraft to be used in a naval capacity.
Lieutenant Charles Samson's historic takeoff from Hibernia in 1912.
Japanese Maurice Farman seaplane from Wakamiya
