THE MORNING LIST
Have you ever seen the amazing Plane No. 3 by Clément Ader, suspended from the ceiling of the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris? France, the founding country of aviation with a handful of others, has, with the United States, the largest number of places devoted to flying machines. We have chosen four in France and one across the Channel, for visits with our noses in the air.
At Le Bourget, the past meets the future
Founded after the First World War, the Air and Space Museum, which moved several times before settling in Le Bourget – the first international aerodrome in France – in 1973, is one of the richest in the world. . It covers the whole history of air, from balloons and “chicken coops” to modern jets. It has more than 360 machines on 25,000 m2 exhibitions, which tell the story of aeronautics in France and around the world.
Civil aircraft, from microlights to Airbus, military, from the legendary Spad VII of 1914-1918 to the most recent fighters and bombers, Boeing 747, Concorde, military transport aircraft… Everything is there. The visit is impressive, especially since some of the key pieces are outside. Once every two years, alternating with Farnborough, England, Le Bourget airport and the museum host the International Aeronautics and Space Show. See you from June 19 to 25.
In Burgundy, on the hunt for fighter planes
It is a relatively unknown curiosity: the castle of Savigny-lès-Beaune (Côte-d’Or), in the heart of Burgundy – which also produces a quality monthélie -, houses the largest collection of fighter planes modern in the world, more than a hundred (the Guinness World Records attests to this). Michel Pont, who died in September 2021, who is at the origin, bought in 1979 this magnificent castle built in 1340 for the Duke of Burgundy.
In addition to viticulture, the man has several passions: racing cars, in particular Abarths, motorcycles, fire engines and above all planes, he who was in the air force. The castle park, taken over by his son Christophe, thus brings together former enemies such as Soviet Mig-15s, 17s, 21s, Mystères and Mirages from Dassault, and, recently acquired, an American F-16 (in addition to F-104, Crusader, also American jets). We stroll between the machines in the middle of the trees and possible deer on the run. Some planes can even be approached and ‘touched’, and all have an explanatory ‘identity card’.
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