Conservatoire de l’Air et de l’Espace d’Aquitaine

The museum

Founded in 1987 by regional aviation specialists, the Aquitaine conservatory preserves types built, tested or used in southwestern France. Its Nord transport aircraft, French naval fighters, Dassault prototypes and helicopters make it especially valuable for interpreting Bordeaux-Mérignac’s aviation industry and flight-test history.

Founded in 1987 by regional aviation specialists, the Aquitaine conservatory preserves types built, tested or used in southwestern France. Its Nord transport aircraft, French naval fighters, Dassault prototypes and helicopters make it especially valuable for interpreting Bordeaux-Mérignac’s aviation industry and flight-test history.

Collections: Dassault development aircraft, military transports, French naval aircraft, helicopters and long-running restorations.

Visitor planning: The primary hangar is inside Bordeaux-Mérignac Air Base 106 and admits visitors only by prior arrangement. Aircraft are also maintained or flown from Marcheprime and Saucats; do not assume every named aircraft can be inspected on a single visit. The institution reports 62 aircraft overall, while this entry indexes only types explicitly named in the official category catalogs.

Listed exhibits reflect the cited catalogue or historical evidence, not guaranteed current access. The roster distinguishes full aircraft from replicas, restoration work, and cockpit sections. Research-only institutions will not be published until operating access is established.