Hi all,
An early start was required to be at Chateaudun to see what we could get from outside and meet the museum curator in good time. For those who haven’t been before, the museum is located on the base and therefore requires prior permission to gain entry.
The museum curator told us that Chateaudun was to close as an active military base in 2021 and those aircraft not dealt with by the German runway civilian contractors, as they are required by the Air Force for future preservation or return to active service, will be stored around the remaining active French bases or possibly taken on by a civilian contractor at a location not yet decided.
We were also told that the empty airfield site would then be given back to the nearby town and that the plan was for the old airfield to be used to create jobs by encouraging industry to take residence.
He also said that the museum was to remain but may move from the Northside hangar it is currently in, to the Nivouville site hangars which would give it more space and allow for everyday public access rather than the prior permission route currently required.
We were shown around the CANOPEE (Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes) museum by some enthusiastic and knowledgable volunteers who all had military service behind them. This is a great collection of French military aircraft and is well worth a visit.
Some Chateaudun history follows……
The French airbase Chateaudun was founded by the French government in 1934 to place aircraft of the French Air Force in storage. The airfield was therefore designed as a huge storage facility. At the beginning of the Second World War there were 634 aircraft in storage at this airbase making it an important base for the German troops and the German Luftwaffe.LOG: Chateaudun, Toussus-le-Noble, Buc, Taverny & Paris/Charles de Gaulle
During the Battle of France, the Germans had bombed the complex heavily and they destroyed many stored aircraft. On June 14, 1940, the Germans took over the airfield and found a deserted airbase. The runway of the airbase was improved for the German planes which were going tro operate from this base.
Chateaudun would be an important airbase for the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. Eventually, the airfield was taken by the Americans on August 20, 1944, during the northern French campaign. The Americans gave the control over Chateaudun back to the French government in September 1945.
From 1946, the repair work was started at Chateaudun. LR.601 was stationed at the airbase and the storage of the French aircraft would be resumed again. Chateaudun immediately became the storage facility like in the previous days of the French Air Force. In 1951, the repairs were complete and the airfield was again fully operational.
The name Base Arienne 279 was linked to the airbase in 1954. Today there are still several hundred aircraft (but reducing daily) in storage at Chateaudun making it the largest distribution center of aircraft in France, although as already indicated, this will soon change……
Pictures can be seen at;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72157711670140847
Gate Guard:
367/367-TP, Dassault Mirage IIIRD, Gate Guard, French Air Force (367)
Preserved near main gate:
464, Fouga CM.170R Magister, On Display, French Air Force (464)
Nivouville & German runway areas:
93, Dassault Falcon 20C, Stored, F-RAED, French Air Force (93)
131, Dassault Falcon 20SNA, Stored, French Air Force (131)
422, Dassault Falcon 20F, Stored, F-RAEH, French Air Force (422)
403, Dassault Mirage IIIE, Stored, French Air Force (403)
502, Dassault Mirage IIIE, Stored, French Air Force (502)
547, Dassault Mirage IIIE, Stored, French Air Force (547)
316, Dassault Mirage IIIR, Stored, French Air Force (316)
7, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (7)
14/AM, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (14)
19/AR, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (19)
21/AT, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (21)
24/AW, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (24)
27/AZ, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (27)
34/BG, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (34)
46/BS, Dassault Mirage IVA, Stored, French Air Force (46)
55/CB, Dassault Mirage IVP, Stored, French Air Force (55)
5, Dassault Mirage F.1C, Stored, French Air Force (5)
31, Dassault Mirage F.1C, Stored, French Air Force (31)
38/12-ZC, Dassault Mirage F.1C, Stored, French Air Force (38)
52, Dassault Mirage F.1C, Stored, French Air Force (52)
224/33-FY, Dassault Mirage F.1C-200, Stored, French Air Force (224)
17, Dassault Mirage 2000C, Stored, French Air Force (30)
18, Dassault Mirage 2000C, Stored, French Air Force (33)
20, Dassault Mirage 2000C, Stored, French Air Force (57)
330, Dassault Mirage 2000N, Stored, French Air Force (245)
339, Dassault Mirage 2000N, Stored, French Air Force (275)
345, Dassault Mirage 2000N, Stored, French Air Force (345)
506, Dassault Mirage 2000B, Stored, French Air Force (unknown)
508, Dassault Mirage 2000B, Stored, French Air Force (51)
E5, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E5)
E9/102-LF, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E9)
E36/314-UF, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E36)
E69, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E69)
E91/102-RL, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E91)
E97, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Stored, French Air Force (E97)
484, Fouga CM.170R Magister, Stored, French Air Force (484)
52, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (52)
53, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (53)
69, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (69)
75, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (75)
79, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (79)
100, Nord N.262E Fregate, Stored, French Navy (100)
R3, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (3)
R42, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (42)
R52, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (52)
R54/61-MZ, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (54)
R86, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (85)
R157/61-ZW, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (157)
R215/64-GO, Trans Alliance C-160NG (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (218)
RA02/61-MI, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (A02)
RA06/61-ZB, Trans Alliance C-160R (fuselage), Stored, French Air Force (A06)
Fire Section:
(H01), Trans Alliance C-160H, Fire Section, French Air Force (222)
(H02), Trans Alliance C-160H, Fire Section, French Air Force (223)
(H03), Trans Alliance C-160H, Fire Section, French Air Force (231)
(H04), Trans Alliance C-160H, Fire Section, French Air Force (232)
(534), Dassault Mirage IIIE, Fire Section, French Air Force (534)
Preserved near hangars:
171, Nord N.2501SNA Noratlas, On Display, French Air Force(171)
615/92-AK, Sud-Ouest SO.4050 Vautour IIB, On Display, French Air Force (78)
Preserved near flightline:
49/30-MQ, Dassault Mirage F.1C, On Display, French Air Force(49)
Preserved near tower:
10/12-ZD, Dassault Mirage F.1C, On Display, French Air Force(10)
Hangar: Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes
5318/UF, Aerospatiale AS.355F1 Ecureuil, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (5318)
2029/67-CE, Aerospatiale SA.3160 Alouette III, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (2029)
54/315-VZ, Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilon, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (54)
118/VB, Avions Mudry CAP.10B, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (118)
182/339-JA, Dassault Falcon 20SP, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (182)
(191), Dassault Flament, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (191)
15/132-BA, Dassault Mirage 5F, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (15)
206/2-FM, Dassault Mirage IIIB, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (206)
247/DQ, Dassault Mirage IIIC, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (247)
7/2-FD, Dassault Mirage IIIC, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (7)
549/4-BF, Dassault Mirage IIIE, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (549)
360/33-TI, Dassault Mirage IIIRD, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (360)
1/AP, Dassault Mirage IVA, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (1)
278/8-MB, Dassault Mystere IVA, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (278)
41/30-FG, Dassault Mirage F.1C, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (41)
225/30-SQ, Dassault Mirage F.1CT, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (225)
518/5-OM, Dassault Mirage 2000B, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (218)
(80)/103-LI, Dassault Mirage 2000C, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (322)
231/2-SC, Dassault Ouragan, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (231)
E66, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (E66)
E106/8-NA, Dassault-Breguet/Dornier Alpha Jet E, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (E106)
790/CW, de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 300, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (790)
498/312-UQ, EMBRAER EMB-312F Tucano, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (312498)
486, Fouga CM.170R Magister, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (486)
538, Fouga CM.170R Magister, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (538)
(16524)/18658/314-YG, Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (580-5856)
285/43-BO, Max Holste MH.1521M Broussard, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (341)
26, Morane-Saulnier MS.760 Paris, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (26)
89/AZ, Nord N.262D Fregate, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (89)
161/DJ, Pilatus B4-PCII, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (161)
(29061)/29117/1-EQ, Republic F-84F Thunderstreak, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (unknown)
A87, SEPECAT Jaguar A, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (A87)
A91/11-YG, SEPECAT Jaguar A, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (A91)
A120/7-HL, SEPECAT Jaguar A, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (A120)
E12/339-WI, SEPECAT Jaguar E, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (E12)
E22/7-HB, SEPECAT Jaguar E, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (E22)
308/30-MC, Sud-Ouest SO.4050 Vautour IIN, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, French (18)
F-CGVN, Wassmer WA.30 Bijave, Conservatoire d’Aeronefs non Operationnels Preserves et Exposes, (206)
Now it was time to start heading back to Paris and Toussus-le-Noble. All these seen from outside in the interests of time although having said that, last time I was here and for the first time, I was refused permission to walk around. Not a new thing here I hope…….
30, Fouga CM.170R Magister, F-WDHG, French (30)
115/ABQ, SOCATA TBM-700A, EAAT, French Army (115)
F-BNBT, Morane-Saulnier Rallye MS.892A Commodore 150 (10557)
F-BTUB, Cessna 150 (0858)
F-BUGP, Morane-Saulnier Rallye MS.893E 180GT Gaillard (12266)
F-BVUK, Piper PA-28 Cherokee 140 Cherokee F (28-7425262)
F-GEPO, Beech Baron 58 (TH-112)
F-GGCV, Cessna 172 (172RG1111)
F-GGCZ, Cessna 172 (172RG0708)
F-GIYP, Robinson R22 Beta (1399)
F-GJVH, Cessna 150 (0356)
F-GNTS, Diamond Aircraft DA42 Twin Star DA42 (42.153)
F-GUFB, Eurocopter EC135 T1 (0087)
F-HASG, Cirrus SR22 GTS G3 (3083)
F-HBME, Cirrus SR22 G3 GTS (2962)
F-HCSD, Robinson R44 Raven II (10255)
F-HCSV, Diamond Aircraft DA42 Twin Star DA42 (42.371)
F-HEEL, Cessna 172 (172S10497)
F-HFAR, Cessna 172 (1079)
F-HFMC, SOCATA TBM (658)
F-HFPH, Cessna 172 (172S10703)
F-HIVE, Cirrus SR22 GTS (3962)
F-HLEX, Cessna 172 (172S10499)
F-HMYL, Aerospatiale Squirrel / Fennec AS.350 B2 (3581)
F-HOCD, Cirrus SR22 GTS G3 (2709)
F-HUFG, Eurocopter EC225 / EC725 LP (2932)
F-HZLL, Cessna 172 (172S11059)
F-OKCP, Robinson R44 Clipper II (12030)
LX-JFI, Pilatus PC-XII 45 (574)
N210BV, Cessna 210 (21061114)
N2165N, Mooney M.20 Eagle (30-0007)
N26PY, Beech 90 F90 (LA-141)
N26VV, Cessna Corvalis / Lancair / Columbia LC40-550FG (40055)
N340ZS, Cessna 340 (340A0944)
N443LT, Cessna 310 (310R0627)
N501MX, Cessna Citation C500 (500-0361)
N625PG, Cessna Citation CJ1 (525-0282)
N66PL, Beech Duke B60 (P-532)
N702BD, Cessna Citation CJ2 (525A0438)
N70VB, Ted Smith / Piper Aerostar 600 (60-0446-150)
N71YL, Beech Bonanza V35B (D-9468)
N7977Y, Piper PA-30 Twin Comanche 160 Twin Comanche B (30-1076)
N7S, Piper PA-28R Arrow 201T Turbo Arrow III (28R-7703050)
A couple of miles away from Toussus-le-Noble is Buc and this Mirage is on display by the main road.
306, Dassault Mirage IIIR, On Display, French (306)
A new location for me in Taverny and this Mirage was to be seen on display inside the barracks here.
(64), Dassault Mirage IIIC, On Display, French (64)
A nice couple of days away was to be finished up with a few bits seen at Paris/Charles de Gaulle whilst we waited for our flight back to Luton.
5R-EAA, Airbus A340 313X, Air Madagascar (319)
A6-EOZ, Airbus A380 861, Emirates Airline (210)
EI-RDL, Embraer EMB-175 STD, Alitalia (17000345)
ET-AVB, Airbus A350 941, Ethiopian Airlines (180)
F-HRBE, Boeing 787 9, Air France (38772)
G-UZAA, Airbus A319-111, easyJet Airline (2677)
HL7771, Airbus A350 941, Asiana Airlines (198)
JA742J, Boeing 777 346ER, Japan Airlines (36129)
LN-LNR, Boeing 787 9, Norwegian Long Haul (38784)
N128AM, Boeing 787 9, AeroMexico (65313)
OE-ICI, Airbus A320 214SL, easyJet Europe Airline (6918)
OK-TST, Boeing 737 NG 86N/W, CSA Czech Airlines (37884)
PR-XTI, Airbus A350 941, LATAM Brasil (250)
VP-BFF, Airbus A321 211SL, Aeroflot Russian Airlines (7645)
YL-AAP, Airbus A220 300, Air Baltic (55051)
Best regards,
Grant Robinson
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