Aviation Museums France

France, with its rich aviation history, is home to some of the world’s most remarkable aviation museums. Here are the aviation museums in France, known for their extensive collections, historical significance, and interactive exhibits:

Civil prefix: F-

Air Force: Armeé de l’ Air

Army Air Force: Armeé de Terre

Naval Air Force: Aéronavale

Aviation museums by city

• Aérodrome de Melun Villaroche (77) – Musée de l’Aviation de Melun Villaroche
• Albert (80) – L’Epopee de l’Industrie et de l’Aéronautique
• Aéroport d’ Angers-Marcé (49) – Espace Air Passion, Musée Régional de l’Air
• Athis-Mons (91) – Musée Delta
• Aulnay-sous-Bois (93) – Conservatoire Citroën Héritage
• Avord (18) – Pôle Aéronautique d’ Avord
• La Baule-Escoublac (44) – Musée Aéronautique Presqu’ile Cote d’Amour
• Belfort (90) – Fort de l’OTAN (Fort Lefebvre)
• Bétheny (51) – Musée de l’ Aéronautique Locale
• Biscarosse (40) – Musée de l’Hydraviation
• Bordeaux – Merignac (33) – CAEA – Conservatoire l’Air et l’Espace d’Acquitane
• Caen (14) – Mémorial de Caen
• Caen-Carpiquet Airport (14) – D-Day Wings Museum
• Catz (50) – Normandy Tank Museum Closed
• Cerny (91) – Aero Vintage Academy
• Cerny (91) – Musée Volant Salis
• Chateaudun (28) – CANOPEE  Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes
• Colleville-sur-Mer (14) – Overlord Museum
• Corbas (69) – Musée de l’Aviation Clément Adler former EALC – Espaces Aero Lyon Corbas
• Dax (40) – Musée ALAT et de l’helicoptere
• Domazan (13) – Chateau de Bosc
• Douzy (08) – Musée des Débuts de l’Aviation
• Duclair (76) – Musée Aut 1944
• Excenevex (74) – Ailes Anciennes de Haute-Savoie
• Figeac (46) – Musée Paulin Ratier
• Fismes (51) – Musée France 40 Véhicules
• Gex (01) – Musée Départemental Sapeurs-Pompiers
• Guer (56) – Musée de l’Officier de l’Académie Militaire de Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan
• Hatten (67) – Musée de l’Abri de Hatten (Ligne Maginot Museum)
• La Baule-Escoublac (44) – Musée Aéronautique Presqu’ile Cote d’Amour
• la Ferte-Alais (91) – Musée Volant Salis
• la Ferte-Alais (91) – Mémorial Flight
• La Wantzenau (67) – MM Park
• Le Versoud (38) – Centre d’Etudes et de Loisirs Aerospatiaux de Grenoble
• Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne (85) – Historial de la Vendée
• Limoge (87) – Musée de la Résistance de Limoge
• Melun Villaroche (77) – Musée de l’Aviation de Melun Villaroche
• Merville-Franceville (14) – Batterie de Merville
• Meaux (77) – Musée de la Grande Guerre de Meaux
• Migné-Auxances (86) – Museum Chez Manuel Closed
• Mont de Marsan – Base Museum Base Aérienne 118 Mont de Marsan
• Montélimar -Ancóne (26) – Musée Européen de l’Aviation de Chasse
• Orange (84) – Musée Aéronautique d’ Orange
• Paris (75) – Musée des Arts et Métiers
• Paris – Le Bourget (93) – Musée de l’Air et de l’ Espace
• Pau (64) – Musée mémorial des parachutistes – Paratroopers Memorial Museum
• Perpignan (66) – Musée de l’Aviation – Les Mas Palegry Closed
• Plobannalec (29) – Musée Aéronautique de Cornouailles Closed
• Ranville (14) – Mémorial Pegasus
• Réau, Moissy-Cramayel (77) –  Musée Aéronautique et Spatial Safran
• Reims – Champagne (51) – Musée de la base aerienne 112 Closed
• Rennes – Musée aeronautique Bretagne
• Rochefort (17) – Musée de l’Aéronavale
• Saint Côme-du-Mont (50) – Centre Historique des Parachutistes du Jour-J Dead Man’s Corner Museum
• Saint-Herblain (44) – Le Grenier de l’Aviation
• Saint Victoret (13) – Musée de l’Aviation
• Sainte Marie du Mont (50) – Musée du Débarquement Utah Beach
• Sainte Mere Eglise (50) – Musée Airborne
• Sávigny-lès-Beaune (21) – Musée du Chateau Sávigny-lès-Beaune
• Thiepval (80) – Historial de la Grande Guerre – Musée de Thiepval
• Thonon-les-Baines (74) – Ailes Anciennes de Haute-Savoie
• Touchay (18) – Musée Aéronautique du Berry
• Toulouse (31) – Cité de l’espace
• Toulouse-Blagnac (31) – Aéroscopia
• Toulouse-Blagnac (31) – Ailes Anciennes Toulouse
• Vannes – Meucon (56) – Morbihan Aéro Musée – Monterblanc
• Vraux (51) – Musée du Terrain d’Aviation de Condé-Vraux 1939-1945
• Warluis (60) – Musée de l’Aviation de Warluis Beauvais
• Wizernes (62) – La Coupole

French Polynesia

• Hiva Oa – Espace Jacques BREL

Gate Guard/Monument

• Albert (80) – Potez 36/14 Railway Station Albert
• Aeroport Cannes-Mandelieu (06) – Beech E18S F-BUOP

Spotted

• L-birds back to Normandy – Saint-Andre-de-L’Eure, France
• Daks over Normandy – Aeroport de Caen-Carpiquet, France
• Fouga Zéphyr and Mirage 5BR, Le Surples, Portes-lès-Valence France

Top Aviation Museums in France

1. Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Air and Space Museum) – Le Bourget, Paris

• Highlights:
  • One of the oldest and largest aviation museums in the world.
  • Houses over 350 aircraft, including the Concorde, WWII fighters, and historic prototypes.
  • Features space exploration exhibits, including rockets and satellites.
• Notable Displays:
  • Two Concorde aircraft.
  • The “Grand Gallery” showcasing early aviation pioneers.
• Visitor Tip: Located at Le Bourget Airport, it’s easily accessible from Paris.

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2. Aeroscopia Museum – Toulouse

• Highlights:
  • Celebrates Toulouse’s role as a hub for aerospace innovation.
  • Features iconic planes like the Concorde, Airbus A380, and Caravelle.
  • Interactive exhibits on aircraft design and manufacturing.
• Notable Displays:
  • A fully accessible Concorde interior.
  • The Airbus A400M military transport plane.
• Visitor Tip: Combine with a visit to Airbus factory tours nearby.

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3. Musée Européen de l’Aviation de Chasse – Montélimar

• Highlights:
  • Dedicated to fighter aircraft, with an impressive collection of over 60 military planes.
  • Showcases post-WWII fighter jets from various countries.
• Notable Displays:
  • Dassault Mirage series.
  • A collection of vintage aircraft engines.
• Visitor Tip: Great for military aviation enthusiasts.

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4. Musée Safran – Villaroche (near Paris)

• Highlights:
  • Focuses on aviation engines and aerospace technology.
  • Explores the history of Safran’s contributions to aviation and space.
• Notable Displays:
  • Engines from early aviation to modern jetliners.
  • Helicopter and rocket components.
• Visitor Tip: A unique perspective on aviation through the lens of engineering.

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5. Musée de l’Aviation Légère de l’Armée de Terre (ALAT) – Dax

• Highlights:
  • Dedicated to light aviation of the French Army.
  • Features helicopters and light aircraft used in military operations.
• Notable Displays:
  • ALAT’s extensive collection of military helicopters.
  • Exhibits on aviation in modern warfare.
• Visitor Tip: Ideal for fans of rotary-wing aircraft.

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6. La Coupole – Wizernes (Pas-de-Calais)

• Highlights:
  • A WWII-era bunker transformed into a historical museum.
  • Explores the development of the V-2 rockets, early ballistic missiles, and their connection to post-war space technology.
• Notable Displays:
  • A detailed history of rocketry and its evolution into space exploration.
• Visitor Tip: Includes a 3D planetarium for astronomy enthusiasts.

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These museums showcase the breadth of aviation history, from pioneering flights to cutting-edge aerospace technology. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or a casual visitor, there’s something for everyone!

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