HISTORY

"Palyvestre" comes from Latin "Paludes", which means marsh. The airfield is located in a marshy plain which level is only just higher than sea level and this plain is still unfit when it is warm. Palyvestre airfield was initially a pasture field, it knew aeronautical fashion right from the early of the century. In 1911, Mrs Hélène Dutrieu won the "Fémina" cup there, with a 38 minutes flight in her Farman biplane. In 1919, the Secretary of the Navy decided to set up and drain marshes. In 1920, the Navy already used the Palyvestre airfield. Lieutenant de Vaisseau Teste took off in order to land his Hanriot on the deck of CV Béarn, in this way carrying out first deck landings of the French Navy.

In 1922, the airfield was rented and the first sheet-made hangar was built. On February 1st 1925, official birth of the military base which was named Centre d'Aviation Maritime du Palyvestre (Palyvestre Naval Aviation Center). During the same year, the aviation d'escadre (aviation group) set up there with its Gourdou-Leseurres and Dewoitine 300s which was posted to CV Béarn from his commissioning date in 1927. Landing and wire testings were made at Hyères. From 1928, seaplane base was created and the 3S1 flight received CAMS-37s. Between the end of WWI and WWII, NAS Palyvestre accommodated many kinds of aircraft which are now well-known : Morane, Potez, Wibault, Levasseur, Nieuport, Delage, Dewoitine, Chance-Vought, Bloch and even an auto gyro, the Léo C-30 of the 3S2 flight.

From November 8th 1942, the base was closed until in early 1945. Seaplane base was destroyed during the Landing of Provence - it was not rebuilt. Instead of, there is an harbor. At this time, the 54.S flight was created, which main mission was landing and catapulting admissions on aircraft-carriers for the French Navy's pilots (Ecole d'Appontage et de Chasse Embarquée). This unit was replaced in 1956 by the 59.S (disbanded in 1997) Ecole d'Aviation Embarquée (Naval Aviation School). The 54.S was first equipped with Seafire Mk IV, SNJ-5 Harvard and SBD-5 Dauntless. From 1950, the air fleet was renewed with F6F-5 Hellcat fighters and SB2C-5 Helldiver bombers.

The USA lent to France CVL Bois-Belleau and Lafayette which were used waiting the commissioning in 1960 and 1962 of CV Clemenceau and Foch. New aircraft, with a new kind of engine appeared, the era of the jet engine just begun.

Indeed, the old Corsairs and Avengers were replaced by Aquilons, Fouga CM-175 Zéphyrs, Étendard IVMs, Br.1050 Alizés (turboprop.) and finally Super-Étendards. Those last ones equipped 17.F squadron and 59.S flight based at Hyères. Furthermore, since June 25th 1966, a draft agreement was drawn up between the French Navy and various airline companies such as Air France, Kyrnair and AOM.

UNITS

 

Set up on 250 hectares and 8 kilometers of perimeter. The following units are based within N.A.S. Hyères :

-See below. -There are also, within the field, the "Pélicandrome" which is used by the French Sécurité Civile for refuelling its aircraft. A detachment of French Customs, a detachment of the Gas Department of the French Armed Forces and of the Maritime Work. Aeronautical activities are organized around two runways, the first one 050-230 measures 2 120 meters, the second one 140-320 measures 1 900 meters. The whole base is divided into four zones. -"Life" zone : it put together the quartering, offices, garages, workshops, firemen, infirmary. Technical zone is composed by the tarmac, hangars and stopping area. Which is reserved for 'guest aircraft' coming from other squadrons. Industrial zone is used to repair aircraft and helicopters. Commanding house is composed by headquarters offices of the base, operational premises (communication center, control tower, meteorology). Squadrons' offices are set up close to hangars which accommodate their aircraft and technical installations. -The first mission of the N.A.S. is alignment and training of the units. Aircraft and helicopters of the French or allied carriers operating in the Mediterranean Sea may land there. The base provides technical support for those guest units and for the different detachments (customs, police...).

Units currently based : C.E.I. (Centre d'Entraînement et Instruction/ Training and instruction center) Hyères. 31.F squadron equipped with WG-13 Lynxs. 35.F squadron equipped with AS 365F Dauphins (including a Dauphin N dedicated to SAR duties) and d'Alouette IIIs. 36.Fsquadron equipped with AS 565SA Panthers. C.E.P.A./10.S (Centre d'Expérimentation Pratique de l'Aviation Navale/ French Naval Aviation Test Center) owning a MS.880 Rallye, a Alouette III and a WG-13 Lynx. E.P.P.E. (École du Personnel de Pont d'Envol/ Flight Deck Crews School). A detachment of 32.F squadron equipped with a SA.321G Super-Frelon which provides long-range rescue missions. A detachment of French Customs with two F-406s maritime surveillance aircraft, two Cessna 404s and three Ecureuils helicopters. A marine company. Une compagnie de fusiliers marins.

CONTACT

Base Aéronavale Chemin Palyvestre 83400 HYERES FRANCE  France : 04-94-12-45-00 Overseas : 00-33-4-94-12-45-00

UNITS BASED COMMANDING OFFICERS N.A.S. HYÈRES 2005 AIRSHOW. SEE THE N.A.S. WITH GOOGLE EARTH.

sources - acknowledgements :
Bertrand Deleest
Louis Cinca
"Les commandements de l'Aéronautique Navale" (1912-2000) - Major Norbert Desgouttes ARDHAN 2001