Little Blue Cloud Conquers British Skies
By Stéphane Duchemin, Wing Leader & President, CAF French Wing
Villemaréchal, France (August 4, 2026) - For a full month, from late June to late July, the CAF French Wing’s Piper J-3 Cub, affectionately named Petit Nuage Bleu (Little Blue Cloud), completed a major tour across the United Kingdom. Bringing our aircraft to meet aviation enthusiasts at various air shows was both an operational success and a memorable human adventure.
Henry Simpson, from the Imperial War Museum Duxford, looks back on how the operation came to be: "I was fortunate to meet the French CAF unit and its leader, Stéphane Duchemin, whilst helping to organize the Dallas Fort Worth unit's European tour, 'Navy To Victory', in 2025. Planning for the Petit Nuage Bleu tour began just after the French unit supported and hosted 'Ready-4-Duty' at La Ferté-Alais."
While this tour follows on from the R4D tour, I have been working with the CAF since 2017 to bring historic aircraft to Europe. After hosting D-Day veterans and C-47s in 2019, and continuing this momentum in 2024 and 2025, discussing this project with Henry was the logical next step: it was the perfect opportunity to restore Petit Nuage Bleu to its role as an ambassador for the Commemorative Air Force in Europe.
Patrouilles des Piper performs at the Summer Airshow at IWM Duxford. Photo by Phil Glover. |
French Wing Leader Steph Duchemin (right) presents DFW Wing Leader Chris Volpe (left) with a certificate recognizing his support of the European tours. Photo by Henry Simpson. |
Solid Logistical Foundations at Duxford
Organizing this adventure benefited from invaluable logistical support provided by IWM Duxford, led by Thomas Turner (Airfield Operations Manager) and Sarah Arnold (Air Show Manager). The legendary airfield became the rear base for our Cub and support equipment. Henry Simpson played a key role in planning: "Over several months, we put together a viable UK air show programme and logistical support for host airfields to facilitate a multi-week tour across the Channel."
The initial lineup was outstanding:
• Shuttleworth Collection Festival of Flight (Old Warden)
• IWM Duxford Summer Air Show
• Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at RAF Fairford
• RAF Marham Families Day
• IWM Duxford American Flying Day
• Old Buckenham Airshow
International events disrupted this schedule. RIAT 2026 was cancelled due to Middle East military operations and intensive RAF Fairford usage by the US Air Force, making base security for 150,000 visitors impossible to guarantee. While losing RIAT was a disappointment, I put it into perspective: "The geopolitical context gives a deeper meaning to this mission, reaffirming the enduring bonds uniting the UK, the USA, and France."
Crossing the Channel: The Big Leap
"While it was not a transatlantic tour like the R4D, it was a major undertaking for a lighter aircraft," Henry Simpson noted.
Jean-Yves Cercy, Finance Officer and Chief Pilot of the French Wing, recalls the Channel crossing: "From an aviation standpoint, the final weeks were frantic, balancing aircraft preparation, paperwork, and obtaining the Display Authorization for our little J-3.
After refueling in Amiens and Calais, the real adventure began passing Cap Blanc-Nez toward England at 2,100 ft and 70 mph... 'Feet wet', as sailors say! I monitored the oil temperature closely as heat haze reduced horizontal visibility without an artificial horizon. Fortunately, the White Cliffs of Dover appeared after ten minutes. It was impossible not to think of the aviation pioneers who crossed under far tougher conditions.
After a quick stop at Headcorn, I flew the final 1h20 leg routing around London airspaces to reach Duxford, our home base for the month.
Camaraderie and Displays across the UK
Joined by our road support team carrying trade stand equipment, Petit Nuage Bleu took to the air for Old Warden. At every venue, our stand became a gathering point for CAF Colonels and local enthusiasts, greatly assisted by UK-based members of the CAF Dallas-Fort Worth Wing who traveled long distances to help.
At Shuttleworth, James Butt and Marc Boult provided a warm welcome. Saturday marked the Cub's first display flight. Jean-Yves recalls: "Delivering a solo display in a J-3 at such a legendary venue was daunting, so I opted for a straightforward routine. On Sunday evening, as the wind died down in magnificent light, flying was pure joy."
The intensity stepped up at the IWM Duxford Summer Air Show. Jean-Yves describes the experience: "An afternoon practice with a complex scenario: formation flypasts, breaks, a solo run by the Cub, tail-chases, and pyrotechnics! It was new to me and thoroughly exhilarating. The weekend displays went off flawlessly thanks to Phil, our flight leader."
Following a pause around French National Day, Alexis Delefosse ferried the aircraft to RAF Marham for Families Day. Placed on static display alongside modern F-35B Lightning IIs, our Cub held its ground proudly.
Back at Duxford for American Flying Day, François Hébrard performed a commended solo flight display among living history groups representing WWII Fighter and Bomber Groups.
Grand Finale at Old Buckenham
The tour concluded at the Old Buckenham Airshow, warmly hosted by Matt Wilkins. Highlighted by dynamic displays—including Spitfire MH434 flying in formation—the weekend also featured a special meeting between CAF DFW Wing Leader Chris Volpe and myself. I presented Chris with a framed profile print of Petit Nuage Bleu set against the tour map, recognizing the hard work of British DFW members.
Howard Aran, a UK-based DFW member, reflected: "Howard Aran, Katie Brown, and Tristram Carter were invited to assist our French colleagues at Shuttleworth, Duxford, and Old Buckenham. We met hundreds of enthusiasts and made new international friends. It was hard work, but truly rewarding to build stronger bonds across the Channel and Atlantic."
Pierre Lovino flew the aircraft safely back to Le Plessis-Belleville airfield in France.
Mission Accomplished
Henry Simpson concludes: "I hope this tour proves what a small CAF unit can achieve when working together. The reception we received speaks for itself. This adventure revealed the best of our international community, united by a shared passion."
This tour was a resounding success. Petit Nuage Bleu flew reliably without a single mechanical issue, charming thousands of spectators. Our primary goal—a human adventure bringing British, American, and French members together behind a common mission—brilliantly represented the Commemorative Air Force and paved the way for future European operations.
To learn more about the CAF French Wing, visit www.caffrenchwing.fr/en/ you can also follow the Wing on social media on Facebook or YouTube.
