Ailes Anciennes Toulouse is an association that preserves and restores old airplanes and helicopters. It is located in Blagnac, close to the museumAeroscopia. In its collection has over 50 aircraft, some of which are being worked on, some are displayed in their field and others are ceded to Aeroscopia (e.g. the Super Guppy being one of them).
About three or four times a year, Ailes Anciennes organizes what they call Visites Cockpit events. In those days, most of the aircraft on display are opened for visitors to enter in them, sit in their cockpits, experience them, get explanations from enthusiast volunteers of the association, walk through their cabins and cargo hold compartments. Last year we went for the first time. See here the post I wrote then about it.
Last April 2nd, we went there again (as over 540 other enthusiasts), as it is always a nice experience to walk around those pieces of craft, plus this time we went with my father-in-law.
In relation to last year’s visit, this time there was a new restoration hangar, named “Ateliers Louis Breguet” after the aviation pioneer and it was possible to enter into the double decker (“Deux Ponts“) Breguet 765 Sahara, an antecessor to the Airbus A380, designed in the 1940s, introduced in service in the 1950s with 20 units built.
The best way to give some flavour of the place is sharing some pictures:
Facing Caravelle back door.
Sitting onboard a Sud Aviation Caravelle.
Dassault Mirage III.
Side view of Breguet 765 Sahara.
Upper deck of Breguet 765 Sahara.
Interior of Breguet 765 Sahara.
Cockpit of Breguet 765 Sahara.
Hangar Louis Breguet.
De Havilland Vampire T11 built in France by SNCASE.
Cargo hold of Nord 2501 Noratlas.
I recommend the visit to Ailes Anciennes in its Cockpit days (10€ for adults). Take a look at their website to see when the next one is scheduled (normally in spring).
The Blog by Javier 