Patrouille Cartouche Doré

La Patrouille Cartouche Doré is the formation aerobatics team of the French Air Force's pilot school, EPAA (école de pilotage de l'armée de l'air). The Cartouche Doré presentation is flown with three TB 30 Epsilon trainers. The team consists of five EPAA instructors; the leader and alternating pilots for the left and right position. For each event the three display pilots are joined by the fourth pilot flying the spare aircraft and taking on the role of logistics, safety officer, and commentator.

In April 1989 preparation started for a display in celebration of reaching 100,000 flight hours with the TB 30 Epsilon at Cognac. The new ambassadors first appeared with two aircraft at Salon-de-Provence on May 9, before their official presentation with three aircraft for the milestone celebration at Cognac on June 2, 1989. The aircraft received a white, black and gold paint scheme with 100,000 markings for the occasion. After the event it was decided to continue the Cartouche Doré to represent the EPAA. In 1992 the team went abroad for the first time, attending the Abbeyshrule Air Show in Ireland. In 1994 the Epsilons of the team received its own blue, white, yellow scheme. Starting with the 2012 season, it's been replaced by the current dark blue, silver and gold livery that was first unveiled at the 50 year anniversary of the EPAA in September 2011.

2014 marked the 25th year for the Cartouche Doré. Following the 2016 season the team announced the Cartouche Doré will be disbanded for now.