BREITLING JET TEAM

THE LARGEST PROFESSIONAL CIVILIAN TEAM PERFORMING ON JETS

Precision. Speed. Audacity. Aerobatics is one of the world’s most demanding disciplines – and one of the most fascinating sights. A concentrated blend of technique, mastery and style.

In order to share its passion for aerobatics with a broad audience, Breitling has created the Breitling Jet Team, the world’s largest professional civilian flight team performing on jets.

With its fast and powerful aircraft piloted by flying aces, this unique aerobatics team illustrates the brand’s cherished values: performance, precision, aesthetic sophistication and innovation. Each appearance of the Breitling Jet Team is a breathtaking vision. A meticulously coordinated ballet in which planes sometimes fly within 3 meters of each other, at speeds of over 700 km/h! A rapid-fire succession of figures that are perfectly calculated, mastered, synchronized and fine-tuned down to the smallest details. Exactly like a Breitling chronometer movement. Welcome to a world where outstanding feats are the rule!

In order to share its passion for aerobatics with a broad audience, Breitling has created the Breitling Jet Team, the world’s largest professional civilian flight team performing on jets.

Team

Jacques Bothelin

Leader and manager of the Breitling Jet Team, Jacques Bothelin – nicknamed “Speedy” – is one of the world’s most experienced aerobatics pilots. He has clocked up over 11,500 flight hours on 145 types of planes, and performed around 2,800 demonstrations in 25 countries. As manager, he handles the flight team’s schedule and defines the show program. As leader, he heads the formation, flying plane No. 1.

Nickname:	Speedy
Year of entry:	2003
Flight hours:	11500

Favorite figure
Loop and "B one" Band

Bernard Charbonnel

A fighter pilot specializing in ground attacks, “Charbo” mainly flew on Jaguar and subsequently Mirage 2000N aircraft. He shares a passion for old planes with “Ponpon”, and they jointly collect certain treasures from the past. “Charbo” has 8,500 flight hours behind him.

Nickname:	Charbo
Year of entry:	2003
Flight hours:	8500

Favorite figure
Ocean Master Wave

Christophe Deketelaere

Before joining Jacques Bothelin’s team, Christophe Deketelaere, known as “Douky”, was a fighter pilot on Jaguar and Alpha Jet aircraft within the French Air Force, where he was also an Alpha Jet instructor. He has notched up 6,200 flight hours.

Nickname:	Douky
Year of entry:	2003
Flight hours:	6200

Favorite figure
Synchro pair percussion

François Ponsot

A Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 fighter pilot as well as a Mirage 2000 flight presenter at international air shows, “Ponpon” has nonetheless remained passionately dedicated to vintage aviation. He devotes most of his leisure time to flying and restoring leg-endary planes (Stampe, T6, Zlin and other warbirds). “Ponpon” has 6,500 flight hours to his credit.

Nickname:	Ponpon
Year of entry:	2003
Flight hours:	6500

Favorite figure
Vertical Split

Georges-Eric Castaing

Before joining the Breitling Jet Team in the “second slot” position, “Georgio” served for 24 years in the French Air Force, flying Fouga, Tucano, Alpha Jet, Mirage F1 and Mirage 2000 aircraft. He spent three seasons (2008-2010) with the Patrouille de France. He has racked up 5,300 flight hours.

Nickname:	Georgio
Year of entry:	2014
Flight hours:	5300

Favorite figure
360° Blackbird Formation

Paco Wallaert

During his 22 years as a French Air Force fighter pilot, “Paco” flew Tucano, Jaguar and Alpha Jet aircraft. From 2009 to 2011, he was part of the Patrouille de France, subsequently serving a season as its technical coordinator. He is pursuing his career in the Breitling Jet Team as “right outside wingman”. He has 4,800 flight hours under his belt.

Nickname:	Paco
Year of entry:	2014
Flight hours:	4800

Favorite figure
Barrel Roll

Patrick Marchand

Patrick Marchand, known as “Gaston”, enjoyed a career as a fighter pilot on Jaguar and Alpha Jet planes. He performed flight demonstrations over a five-year period as part of a pair of Jaguars, the “Raffin Mikes”. He has clocked up 6,100 flight hours.

Nickname:	Gaston
Year of entry:	2005
Flight hours:	6100

Favorite figure
Apache Roll

Philippe Laloix

After a career as a fighter pilot on Mirage F1 and Alpha Jet aircraft, “Sheriff” became part of the Patrouille de France, where he stayed for five years. In 1998, he joined Jacques Bothelin’s team and flew four seasons on a PC-7, before switching to an L-39C. He has 9,000 flight hours to his credit. An acknowledged expert in formation aerobatics, he is both the Breitling Jet Team instructor and a pilot capable of replacing any of the others within the team.

Nickname:	Sheriff
Year of entry:	2003
Flight hours:	9000

Favorite figure
Final Break

Figures

Barrel Roll

Final Break

Apache Roll

360° Blackbird Formation

Synchro pair percussion

Loop and "B one" Band

1/4 Clover

Vertical Split

Ocean Master Wave

Loop

Opposite Barrel Roll

Planes

POWERFUL AND SOPHISTICATED JETS

L-39 ALBATROS

The Breitling Jet Team is made up of seven L-39C Albatros aircraft, Czech-made twin-seater military training jets that can also be used for passenger flights. These magnificent planes represent an excellent compromise between performance, aesthetics, reliability and operating costs. They were widely used in all former Soviet bloc countries. The Breitling Jet Team planes were acquired in exceptional technical condition. To accentuate their powerful, taut and dynamic appearance, Breitling has equipped them with a black, anthracite gray and metal gray livery perfectly reflecting their spectacular feats – while also improving the visibility of the breathtaking feats they perform. A bold, high-impact design in which each pilot’s number appears in an extremely original way, tightly framed and cropped to follow the shape of the wings and ailerons. Another spectacular detail lies in the dark shade of their fuselage, which creates a vivid contrast with the metal gray of the underside of the wings and sometimes makes the jets look almost like missiles when viewed from the ground.

Specifications

Max speed in level flight	750 km/h (405 Kts)
Max Speed in a dive	910 km/h (490 Kts)
Ceiling	11000 m (36000 ft)
Thrust	1 800 kg
Mass when performing	4 000 kg
Max G force	+8 g / -4 g
Length	12.13 m
Wingspan	9.46 m

New watches 2018

New watches

Navitimer

Superocean

Transocean

Chronomat

Professional

#SQUADONAMISSION

News

Partnership

Send my watch for service

User manuals

FAQS

Find your Breitling