Musée Volant Salis Essonne
Musée Volant de Salis – a collection of aircraft in full working order!!
All the aircraft in the museum are in full working order. Let’s go back to the time of the legendary figures of early aviation… In 1909, Louis Blériot was the first person to fly a plane across the English Channel. He influenced Jean-Baptiste Salis’ choice of aviation as his vocation. Three years later, Salis took off in a « libellule (dragonfly) » that he had restored himself and several years later he became the first aviator to fly over Mont Blanc. In 1953, he restored the Blériot XI and flew across the English Channel in it. When he died his son, Jean Salis, took over and also flew across the Channel in the Blériot XI ! He founded an association called the « Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis », which maintains the vintage aircraft in full working order.
An aerial ballet of antique planes
After 15 years of effort and 1,000 working hours, the spare parts handled by these aviation buffs became 78 elegant propeller-planes. Two Blériots from 1909 and 1913, a Morane and a Caudron from 1913-1914 represent the early years of aviation. Fokker Triplan, Albatros, Spad, SE 5 recall the exploits of fighter pilots. Quiver with the excitement at the sight of the first aerobatic and passenger planes. Marvel at the last prop fighter planes and aircraft from films. And they all fly ! In addition to the museum, there is a shop with lots of gifts and souvenirs ; maiden flights in vintage planes take place all year round. After the museum visit, weather permitting, you can watch the aerial ballet of “vieux coucous” (antique planes).
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