On 29 June 2008, 55.000 spectators visited the airshow at BA-102 Dijon. How many of them would have realized at that moment that this was going to be the very last airshow on this airbase? In 2008 first rumors were going around that Dijon was going to be closed and the airfield would get a civil function. And it happened, in the following years there was no airshow organized and in 2014 the squadrons were reassigned, and the base was put into reserve status. In 2016, the air base was officially disbanded.

Dijon Air Base
Dijon Air Base was established in 1914 and was an important air field for the French Air Force during WWI. After being in use by the Luftwaffe, and later the Allied Forces during WWII, the French officially regained control over the base in 1949. Dijon was the first base to be equipped with jet aircraft (the Havilland 100 Vampire). After the MD-450 Hurricane, the Mystère IV and the Mirage III, the base received its first Mirage 2000 in 1984. In 1999 this C-version was replaced by the Mirage 2000-5F.  In 2008 the base was home base of two squadrons: EC 01.002 “Cigognes with the Mirage 2000-5F and EC 05.002 “Cote-dÓr” with the Alpha Jet.

The airshow
Like often on (French) airshows, photographing possibilities weren’t too good.  Most of the planes on the static were completely surrounded by metal fences and even photographing towards the taxi- and runway was difficult due to heavy backlight.
There were six demo teams at Dijon. Marche Verte from Marocco, the Royal Jordanian Falcons, Team Reva, Team Breitling, Frecce Tricolori and the Patrouille de France. Other elements in the show were a demo of four Mirage 2000s, one Alpha Jet, a Dutch and a Belgian Viper and some vintage planes.