Military Model Scene

Title: French Naval Aviation
Author: Henri-Pierre Grolleau
Publisher: Key Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-80282-195-6

This is number 7 in the Modern Military Aircraft series from Key Publishing, the series now distributed through Pen & Sword. This one is a small-format 96-page book showcasing the equipment of the French Naval Air Arm, the Aeronautique Navale as it has modernised itself over the last 20 years.
After a helpful Foreward to give us some background, it leads into 6 chapters which tell us about the roles and equipment of the force. It starts with outlining the 3 main elements of the Aeronautique Navale, and the role of each one. It explains the training regimes and has a table of the aircraft types, their bases, units and the numbers of aircraft (including helicopters) employed. Chapter 2 covers Training and Aircrew Selection, with their different streams and the different aircraft used for each one. Chapter 3 covers Carrier Aviation, which features the French carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, and the fast jet Rafale and E-2C Hawkeye for airborne surveillance. This leaves chapter 4 to cover the various Naval Helicopter types that are in use while chapter 5 covers an interesting variety of Maritime Patrol and Maritime Surveillance aircraft. Finally, chapter 6 looks at the SAR Missions undertaken as France has coastline covering the English Channel, the Atlantic, the Mediterranean and some more in the Far East. With informative text, each chapter is supported with a selection of first class colour photos that aviation enthusiasts will enjoy. From fast jets such as the Rafale, there is also the Dassault Atlantique 2, which despite being an older design has been regularly upgraded.
With over 200 full colour images the book is highly illustrated throughout and shows just how the French Naval Air Arm has upgraded their equipment over the last 20 years, and more work still in the pipeline. A good value book, and another one which will also offer a good collection theme for modellers, with a good mix of possible airframe types.
Thanks to Pen & Sword for the review copy.

Robin