The aircraft was the M24, a machine of the second batch delivered in 2008 (F2 standard later upgraded to F3).
According to Air and Cosmos, the pilot would have lost control of his aicraft during a low atltitude BFM training with a USNavy F-18 off the cost of the Ibiza Island, Spain.
The Pilot hopefully managed to eject safely and was recovered by a helicopter of the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier.
The M24 had notably be involved in the early ASMP-A trials.
Source: Air&Cosmos.
Picture : Rafale M24 seen in the CdG hangar bay last June 18, 2012 ©Antonio Carrasquilla
It was a young pilot finishing certification
ReplyDeleteIt is alive, that is the most important thing.
black serie in this moment
Deletehttp://www.defencetalk.com/two-british-airmen-missing-as-jets-crash-in-north-sea-43559/
Two British airmen missing as jets crash in North Sea
Were the last three Rafale lost to accident all been M model? Glad that the pilot is alright, though.
ReplyDeleteYes they were all Rafale Ms.
DeleteOne M near the Pakistani coast ran out of fuel due to pilot error.
Two Ms crashed into each other south of France, when flying close formation, also due to pilot error.