Flight Sergeant Romain PAQUIS, flight engineer and head of “traditions” of the Rafale Solo Display team, gave a donation to Antoine de SAINT-EXUPÉRY’s nephew and godson, François d’AGAY, President of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Youth Foundation (F-ASEJ), at the Cité de l’Espace in Toulouse on 17 November 2012, in the presence of Jean-Philippe MAYOL, President of the association Les Ailes du Petit Prince.

This donation came from the sale of badges, which were inspired by the French Air Force’s Rafale fighter jet, specially painted for air shows with The Little Prince on its tail, located at the “Major Antoine de Saint-Exupéry” French Air Base 113 (BA113) in Saint-Dizier.

The money received will allow the financing of first flights in light aircraft for sick and handicapped children of the Île-de-France region during an event to be organised in Le Bourget in September 2013 by Les Ailes du Petit Prince, in partnership with the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Museum of Air and Space) in Le Bourget and the F-ASEJ. This event will form part of celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the first edition of the book The Little Prince (New York, 1943).

During the event, this badge in the effigy of the Little Prince was presented to astronauts Jean-Loup CHRÉTIEN, Patrick BAUDRY and Michel TOGNINI, in the presence of Nicolas DELSALLE-MUN, Secretary-General of the F-ASEJ, Flight Sergeant Romain PAQUIS, Jean-Philippe MAYOL, Catherine GAY, President of the Festival des Étoiles et des Ailes, Marie-Vincente LATÉCOÈRE, President of the Latécoère Foundation, and Emmanuel BREGUET.

On behalf of the entire team of the F-ASEJ, we wish to warmly thank all personnel of the Rafale Solo Display team for this socially-responsible initiative benefitting children.

More information :

French Air Force Website

French Air Force Facebook Page

Rafale Solo Display Website

Rafale Solo Display Facebook Page