[Uzin]

I'm french, and except Closterman, I don't see how I can be proud of our past " Air Force " ..

I think the question is not about French air force itself, but about the airplanes. And in this respect, France can be proud of several crates which other countries fruitfully used - cf. Malvinas, Izrael, etc.
Just my 2pence of foreigner.