The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace (Museum of Air and Space) is one of the world’s oldest and most renowned museums dedicated to aviation and aerospace history. Located at Le Bourget Airport just outside Paris, the museum is a major attraction for aviation enthusiasts, history buffs, and those interested in the advancements of flight and space exploration.
Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace / Air and Space Museum
Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget
93350 Le Bourget
+33 1 49 92 70 00
April 1 – September 30
- Tuesdays – Sundays: 10:00 – 18:00
October 1 – March 31
- Tuesdays – Sundays: 10:00 – 17:00
Closed Mondays, December 25 and January 1
Admission fee
Gift shop
You can easily reach the museum by public transport (bus, metro, or train) or by car. Le Bourget Airport is well-connected to Paris.
Bus N°350 direct line from Paris and Roissypole.
Metro N°7 La courneuve-8 mai 1945 + Bus 152
RER B Le Bourget + Bus 152
Aircraft collection
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– 686 2016 C.324 C.1720 6 F1 F1258 01 275 15 – 6796/18 – 5929/18 – – N.556 – – 2690/18 – – – 556 S.254 S.5295 V-995 – – F-ZABY 5 216 – – 2009/JBL 1069/BGD F-GJAP F-ODSR F-WTSS F-BTSD F-WWDD 710/BCV F-WEPH F-BPVJ – 1685 – F-WFKC F-CAJA 61 F-ZBAY/23 156 F-GJRF TJ-AGH F-CCHM – F-AMKT F-PFLN F-AOFX F-AINX 334 F-ANRO G-EBYY G-EBYY F-PTXJ F-PVQI 01 01 226/DI 336 01 9/AH – 207/330-AO 01 01 289/2-EY F-BTTD 64 56 153/12-YY 154/4-LT F-ANRZ F-BHCD 7-CE 6 – F-AJTE F-CAEX 1399 – 31 F-CBGR F-CRBT 126979 2100558/U5-N 45570/FE F-GMGE FPF09 F-BAOP – F-HMFU F-CRRB FZG 76 – 7298/13- 23 26 28 29 17 F-BJSY F-WYDD NF11-5 3 – 10849 – – TR-LFB 3 – F-BNGM F-WGVC F-PEPF – 01 01 F-BDAD 22+40 335 148335 055/GC – 1103 F-ABAO F-AJFJ F-BGMQ/1048 F-BCBR D3801 122 D-EMAW J-277 03 1/VU 02/CB F-BOHH F-BPNU F-OHRB F-BICY 02 38 282 44-66318/MO-C 52736/11-EF 54841/13-PI 14915/RM 1,2,3,6,7 F-WGVA 3 130077/23S.6 18-1430 F-ALJT 10 F-ANYA F-APXO – 44-20371 28875/3-VA 28/AEP F-CRLL F-AJOR F-BMJJ A91/11-YG SA53 – F-CCAY 4/7-CE 01 01 – F-RBRO 1601/SDT 1703/F-RBRO 001 F-ZWWE F-BHHI/02 F-WFDQ 3/V F-WFRQ F-WGVD 01/AS F-WFKY 01/Y F216/GT R18/61-MM – 10 TB597/GW-B – 4 – F-BORT | Astra Wright BB
Bleriot XI Bleriot XI-2 Brequet 14A-2 Caudron G.3 Caudron G.4 Deperdussin B Deperdussin Monocoque 334 de Havilland DH.9 Donnet & Leveque A Farman HF-20 Farman MF-7 Ferber 6bis Fokker D.VII Hydravion Fabre Junkers J9 (D1) Levasseur Antoinette Morane H Nieuport 11 Nieuport 11N Paumier Biplan Pfalz D.XII R. Esnault-Pelterie REP D R. Esnault-Pelterie REP type K Santos Dumont XX Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter SPAD VII SPAD XIII C1 Voisin LA5 Voisin Farman 1bis Vuia 1 AIR 100 Altec MART MK II, UAV Amiot AAC 1 Toucan Avia 41 P Avia XV A Aerospatiale SA-319B Alouette III Aerospatiale SA341F Gazelle Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette Aerospatiale SN601 Corvette Aerospatiale BAC Concorde Aerospatiale BAC Concorde Airbus A380-861 Bell 47G B.D.M 01 Boeing 747-128 Brochet 850 Breguet 19 Grand Raid Breguet 19TR Super Bidon Breguet Type III Gyroplane Breguet 901 Brequet 1150 Atlantic Canadair CL-215 CASA Ca 1.109 CASA C212-100 CASA C212-200 Castel Mauboussin CMB 13 Caudron Regnier C 366 Caudron 282 / B Phalene Caudron C 109 Caudron C.272R Luciole F-AOFX Caudron C.60 Caudron C.800 Caudron C.630 Simoun Cierva CB 11 Autogiro Cierva C-8L Autogiro Colomban Cri Cri Colomban MC Mini Criquet Dassault Mirage 3A Dassault Mirage 3B Dassault Mirage 3BE Dassault Mirage 3R Dassault Mirage 3V Dassault Mirage 4A Dassault Mirage 5 Dassault Mirage F1C Dassault Mirage G8 Dassault Mirage 2000 Dassault MD 452 Mystère IV A Dassault Mercure Dassault Super Etendard Dassault Super Etendard 4M Dassault Super Mystere B2 Dassault MD 450 Ouragan de Havilland DH80 A Puss Moth de Havilland DH89 Dragon Rapide de Havilland DH.100 Vampire FB.6 Dewoitine D.520 Dewoitine D VII Dewoitine 530 DFS 108-53 Habicht DFS Kranich II DFS SG-38 Schulgleiter DFS SG-38 Schulgleiter DFS Weihe DFS Olympia Meise Douglas AD-4N Skyraider Douglas C-47A Skytrain Douglas DC-8-53 Sarigue DragonFly 333 Dumolaro Pou de Ciel Farman 192 Farman F.455 Moustique Farman F 60 Goliath Fauvel AV 36 CR Aile Volante Fieseler FI-103 Focke Achgelis FA 330 Focke-Wulf Fw-190A-8 Fouga CM.170 Magister Fouga CM.170 Magister Fouga CM.170 Magister (front fuselage) Fouga CM.170 Magister Fouga CM.175 Zephyr Fournier RF 2 Gary Bennet Autogiro Gloster Meteor NF.11 Gourdou-Leseurre 87.192 Grassi Grunau Baby II Hanriot HD 14 Hawker Hunter F.6 Hawker Siddeley HS.125-3B Heinkel He 162A Salamander Henri Mignet HM 280 Pou de Ciel Hiller UH-12B Hirsch-MAéRC H.100 Jodel D 92 Bebe Junkers F 13 Leduc 010 Leduc 022 Lioré Olivier LeO C 302 Autogiro Lockheed F-104G Starfighter Lockheed P-2V-7 Neptune Lockheed SP-2H Neptune Lockheed T-33A Mignet HM-14 Pou-du-Ciel Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-21F-13 Morane-Saulnier A1 Morane-Saulnier MS.149 Morane-Saulnier MS-230 Et2 Morane-Saulnier MS.315 Morane-Saulnier MS.406 Morane-Saulnier MS.472 Vanneau Morane-Saulnier MS.500 Morane-Saulnier D-3801 Mudry CAP 10 Mudry CAP 20 Mudry CAP 231 Nord N262A-32 Nord N262A-32 Nord N262C-61 Nord 1203 Norecrin Nord 1500 Griffon Nord Scan Stampe Nord 702 Martinet North American P-51D Mustang North American F-100D Super Sabre North American F-86K Sabre North American T-6G Texan Oehmichen Helicopters Payen PA 49 Katty Pescara F 3 Piasecki HUP-2 Retriever Piper L-18B Cub Potez 36 Potez PZL 53 Potez 58 Potez P.43/7 Renard Hélicoptère Republic P-47D Thunderbolt Republic F-84F Thunderstreak Roland Kloeti RK-02 SA 103 Emouchet Schreck FBP 17 HT 4 Scintex CP1310 Super Emeraude SEPECAT Jaguar A Sikorsky H-34A Choctaw Sikorsky S-55 Chickasaw Siren C34 Edelweiss IV SNCASE Sud-Est SE535 Mistral SNCASE Sud-Est SE 3101 SNECMA C 400 P2 Atar Volant Stamer Lippisch Schulgleiter 38 Sud SE-3130 Alouette II Sud Aviation Alouette 2 Sud Aviation Alouette 2 Sud Aviation Ludion Sud Aviation SA3210 Super Frelon Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle I (nose) Sud-Est SE-3101 Sud Est SE5003 Baroudeur Sud-Ouest SO-1110 Ariel II Sud-Ouest SO1221 Djinn Sud-Ouest SE3130B Alouette II Sud-Ouest SO6000 Triton Sud-Ouest SO9000 Trident Transall C-160G Transall C-160R Vertol CH-21 Shawnee Vought F-8P Crusader Supermarine Spitfire Mk.XVI Wassmer 51WA Pacific Yakovlev Yak-3 Zeppelin LZ 77 Zlin 326 Trener Master |
Stored Dugny
| F-BRQE F-GCVL 4305 D-5787 C227/16 NX664/WU-21 N61909 F-ABCP F-AHBE 4/62-ND 02/E 10 N166FE F-BLCD F-BGSO 41-8860 SV+NJ C-714C1 (CA-553) – BR.21-129 F-AZOC F-PVQI F-WLKB 280 42/EF 460/13-QR 617/4-BE 334/33-CC R-2115 62/CI 501/33-FP 01 01 90/12-YQ 01 J-1155 J-1636 – 603/6 – – F-ZBBF 44-34773/F F-ZBCA/45061/CA 45819 496/312-UO 763/AM – 99+39 01 23 NF11-9/BF NF14-747 ID-44 J-4099 – 16+07 C.4K-156/471-28 F-BFAN F-BICR F-ZVMV 14115 35055/GC 35061 41553 9041/18 18/314-DA – 26 3009 F-BCNM 1/330-DA 40 83 13/VD 72 135/LX 44/F-BZCK 162/F 194/316-FP 131/CUC 57 67/AIA 121 9 – FR30 63-8300/WW 29665/20 32515/04 35069/36 37808/71 A1 E3/339-WF F-OBIP 121 3/V 116/F-SEYG/4 F-BBQL 02 787 1797/BBG F-ZBAN 634/92-JD 307 330/30-ML 144 02 FR101 98+09 810 | Aero Commander 680FL Grand Commander Aerospatiale SE 210-III Caravelle Albatross D.Va (replica) Albatross D.Va (replica) Aviatik C.1 Avro Lancaster MR.7 (cockpit) Beech C-45F Expeditor Bernard 191 Oiseau Canari Bleriot SPAD-Herbemont 52 Breguet Br 941S Breguet Br.1001 Taon Bréguet Br.1050 Alizé Boeing 727-22F Boeing 707-328B Boeing B-17G Super Fortress Boeing Stearman PT 17 Kaydet Bucker Bu 181 Bestmann Caudron C.713 Caudron 714R CASA 2-111D Cessna 140 Croses EC.6 Mini Criquet Dassault Falcon 20 Dassault MD-311 Flamant Dassault Mirage 3C Dassault Mirage 3E Dassault Mirage 3E Dassault Mirage 3R Dassault Mirage 3RS Dassault Mirage 4P Dassault Mirage F.1B Dassault Rafale A Dassault MD 452 Mystère IV A Dassault Super Mystere B2 Dassault Super Mirage 4000 de Havilland Vampire FB.6 de Havilland Venom FB.50 De Rouge Elytroplan Dewoitine D.520 DFS 230 Donnet-Leveque Type A Dornier Do28A-1 Douglas A-26B Invader Douglas DC-7C AMOR Douglas DC-8-55F Embraer EMB312F Tucano English Electric Canberra B.6 Farman FIAT G-91 R3 Gina Fouga CM.173 Super Magister Fouga CM.175 Zephyr Gloster Meteor NF11 Gloster Meteor NF14 Hawker Hunter Hawker Hunter F.58 Hawker Siddeley HS125-3B HFB 320 Hansa Jet Hispano HA1112M-1L Buchon Hurel Dubois HD 10 Hurel Dubois HD 34 Lockheed L-749A Constelation Lockheed T-33A Lockheed T-33A Lockheed T-33A Lockheed RT-33A LVG C.VI Max Holste MH1521M Broussard Mignet HM.8 Mikoyan Gurevich MiG-23ML Mil Mi-1 Morane-Saulnier MS.317 Morane-Saulnier MS760 Paris Morane-Saulnier MS760 Paris Morane-Saulnier MS760 Paris Mudry Cap 10B Nord N262E Nord N1101 Ramier Nord N2501F Noratlas Nord N2501F Noratlas Nord N2501SNA Noratlas Nord 3400 Nord Aviation (SNCAN) N 3202 Master Nord Aviation (SNCAN) N 3202 Master North American T-28 Fennec Polikarpov I-153 Chicka Potez 25 Republic RF-84F Thunderflash Republic F-105G Thunderchief Saab J29B Tunnan Saab J32E Lansen Saab J35A Draken Saab Sk37E Vigen SEPECAT Jaguar A SEPECAT Jaguar E Short S.25 Sandringham 7 Sikorsky HSS-1 SNCASE SE-5003.03 Baroudeur SOCATA TB-30 Epsilon Stampe et Renard SV-4C Sud Aviation Alouette 2 Sud Aviation Alouette 2 Sud Aviation Alouette 2 Sud Aviation Alouette 3 Sud Aviation Vautour 2B Sud Aviation Vautour 2N Sud Aviation Vautour 2N Sud Aviation SA321G Super Frelon Sud-Ouest SE3130 Alouette II Sud-Ouest SO1221S Djinn Sukhoi Su-22M-4 Westland Lynx HAS4(FN) |
Key Highlights of the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace:
- History and Significance:
- Founded in 1919, the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace is located on the site of Le Bourget Airport, which has a rich history itself, being the location of Charles Lindbergh’s first transatlantic flight in 1927.
- The museum was established to preserve the history of aviation and space exploration, showcasing the evolution of flight from its early days to the present and future of aerospace technologies.
- Exhibitions and Collections:
- The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace’s vast collection spans over 150 years of aviation history, with more than 150 aircraft on display. It also covers the development of rocketry, satellites, and space missions.
- Aircraft and Aviation Milestones:
- Early Flight: The museum features early aircraft such as blimps, balloons, and pioneering planes like the Blériot XI, the P-51 Mustang, and the Concorde.
- Notable Aircraft: Some iconic aircraft on display include:
- The Concorde: The supersonic passenger airliner that was one of the most advanced aircraft of its time.
- The Airbus A300: The world’s first twin-aisle commercial airliner, a key development in modern aviation.
- The Boeing 747: The iconic jumbo jet that revolutionized long-distance air travel.
- Wright brothers’ replica: A representation of the Wright Flyer, which made the first successful powered flight in 1903.
- Space Exploration:
- The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace also houses a significant collection of spacecraft and rockets, including models of space shuttles, satellites, and the famous Mir space station.
- Key exhibits include pieces related to France’s space missions, including Ariane rockets, and displays about France’s contributions to European Space Agency (ESA) missions.
- Educational Programs:
- The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace offers numerous educational activities for visitors of all ages, including hands-on exhibits and interactive displays that engage with the principles of flight, aerodynamics, and space exploration.
- There are also temporary exhibitions that focus on specific themes, such as the history of aviation in wartime or the future of space exploration.
- The Planes and Spacecraft Hall:
- One of the most impressive sections of the museum is the Hall of Aircraft where visitors can walk among a variety of airplanes from different eras, from early flight to modern commercial and military aircraft.
- The Space Section features a section dedicated to the history of space exploration, complete with spacecraft models, astronaut suits, and educational displays about the various space missions undertaken by France and other countries.
- The Air and Space Garden:
- Outside the Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace, there’s an open-air display with aircraft and missiles, making it a great spot for visitors to see the larger planes up close and even get into some of the planes during special events.
Special Events:
- The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace hosts special events throughout the year, such as air shows, educational workshops, and space-themed exhibitions. It’s also a hub for aviation enthusiasts, with many aviation professionals and hobbyists visiting regularly.
Conclusion:
The Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace offers a comprehensive journey through the history of flight, from the Wright brothers’ first powered flights to the latest developments in aerospace technology. It’s a must-visit destination for anyone passionate about aviation, space exploration, and technological innovation, providing a rich educational experience for all ages.
The Paris Air Show (Salon international de l’aéronautique et de l’espace, Paris-Le Bourget) is the world’s calendar-oldest air show. Established in 1909, it is currently held every odd year at Le Bourget Airport at the tamarc of Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace.
Pictures Rob Vogelaar