First up, finding a good Rafale.
I wanted to try to fix the Rafale M from the Abacus Carrier Strike Force package and tripped over this:
https://flyawaysimulation.com/downloads/files/23740/fsx-dassault-rafale-and-c-update/
Its an interesting package of a rare aircraft for FS9 with a great VC and tuned FD by
Bob Chicilo. Ignore the FOR FSX ONLY stuff, however-
WARNING! While it works fine in my install, I haven't spent enough time with it to say it WON'T goof up your Sim.
The 3DO is a little limited but not that bad. The textures are good old DXT3 and won't cause any issues. The flight dynamics are VERY stable although there still is a tendency of having the plane barrel roll on the ground (but you really need to abuse it). I tried a basic install and didn't add any of the FSX gauges and the VC looks (and works) fine right out of the box.
To be honest, this thing flies a little TOO good and the designer,
Cyril Pioffet, was an obvious fan of the real aircraft while it was still in testing. The only thing you're missing for carrier flights is an arrestor hook in the 3DO but it will trap in the cable zone with the best of them. Recommended if you REALLY need a Rafale for FS9 and you're willing to take some chances with possible FSX dynamics issues and a fairly old paint scheme. 
While I'm on the subject of French carrier aviation, MAIW has a really nice scenery and AI package for FRENCH RAFALES. The two main Rafale M bases are included (within a realistic distance of the MAIW Charles de Gaulle and the "local" Abacus Charles de Gaulle in the Eastern Med). MAIW includes a full set of VPCMod files.
Filling out your your French carrier experience, a quick search will turn up a nice repaint for the Abacus E-2C Hawkeye in Aeronavale markings:
I *think* this repaint is also available at the regular sites, but I snagged mine here:
https://www.fs2000.org/2014/06/17/fs2004fsx-aeronavale-e-2c-hawkeye-4f-logo/
MAIW says the callsign for these Hummers should be "French Navy" but that seemed a little silly if they're flying over home turf so I went with the generic "Navy" callsign and a random number.
Abacus included the E-2 and the C-2 COD in their Flight Deck 4, 5, and 6 packages. While they're a bit goofy in real life as turboprops, don't sneeze at these two planes. They are a HANDFUL in FS9 when you're looking for a Three Wire landing and figuring them out will make you a better FS pilot.
Heading back to the US, I was also on the lookout for some "Eastern/Atlantic Fleet" texture sets for the E-2 and C-2. Normally, I look for textures done by Antonio Diaz but this time I spotted a texture set that covered ALL of the CODs of VAW-120 homeported at NS Norfolk.
This set (VAW120E2C2.ZIP) was done by Aaron Haase as AI traffic for FSX and FS9, but you get full texture folders for the Abacus COD. He also includes the "Greyhawk" call sign and all you really need would be to add the "AD" call letters to the tails if you wanted them. Pair all of this with the MAIW scenery for Norfolk, Va. and the Carriers2006 package and you wind up with a really nice area for carrier landings.
That's it for now, may your next wire be a 3 wire.
I knew there had to be an F-35C for FS9 out there, somewhere.
