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French soldiers and pilots work on a Rafale jet fighter at the air base in Mont de Marsan, southwestern France, August 31, 2015. For decades a symbol of fruitless endeavours to sell French fighter jets abroad, the Mont-de-Marsan pilot training centre in southwestern France opened its doors this summer to a large contingent of will-be Rafale pilots from Egypt – testimony to a long-awaited commercial breakthrough in which big sales contracts have been signed with Cairo, Doha and several others buyers whose multi-billion-euro deals include cockpit schooling. Red carpet treatment for first foreign visitors includes a “rest room Egypt” relaxation space on the ground floor of the premises and upstairs photos of the Egyptian pilots proudly lined up in front of the latest-generation jets they will soon take command of. (Photo by Regis Duvignau/Reuters)
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