On Monday, the
Patrouille de France, the aerobatic demonstration unit of the French Air Force (established in 1953), paid a quick visit to the site, inscribing the autumn sky with its signature plume of blue, white and red smoke.
On its way back to its base in Salon-de-Provence, 75 kilometres to the west, the Patrouille flew past ITER, giving the moment a feeling of Bastille Day.