Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (MAE) du Bourget, founded in 1919 on the initiative of Albert Caquot, is the oldest and one of the largest aviation museums in the world. His collections, originally gathered in a hangar in Issy-les-Moulineaux, were inaugurated in 1921 in Chalais-Meudon, then transferred in 1936 to the 15th arrondissement of Paris. Closed during the Second World War, the museum reopened after the war in Chalais-Meudon before settling permanently from 1973 on the site of the Bourget airport, under the impulse of General Pierre Lissarrague. The Art Deco terminal, built by Georges Labro for the 1937 Universal Exhibition, became the heart of the museum, complemented by dedicated halls such as the Grande Galerie (1987) and Hall Concorde (1994).

The museum preserves more than 40,000 objects, including 150 aircraft exhibited, covering the history of aeronautics from pioneers (montgolfières, 19th century gliders) to the space age (Arianian rockets, Soyuz capsules). Its collections include legendary aircraft such as the Concorde 001, Air France's Boeing 747, and Georges Guynemer's SPAD VII, as well as a media library with 500,000 photographs and 28,000 books since the 16th century. The site, distributed between Le Bourget and Dugny, also houses reserves and restoration workshops. It has been a public administrative institution since 1994 and is a member of the French Ministry of the Army.

The museum's history is marked by successive moves and major extensions, such as the opening of the Grande Galerie in 1987 in the abandoned terminal, or the renovation of the Salle des Eight Columns in 2019 for its centennial. Recent projects, such as the Astreos hall (2027) dedicated to post-1945 civil aviation or the expanded planetarium, aim to modernise the museum offer. The museum, which welcomed 315 787 visitors in 2019, is also preparing the arrival of the Grand Paris Express (line 17) to reach 500,000 annual admissions. Its role includes preserving the memory of the Bourget site, a witness to the beginnings of commercial aviation and the transatlantic exploits of Nungesser, Coli, and Lindbergh.

The collections reflect both technical evolution (from Blériot XI from 1909 to Rafale A) and historical issues, such as World War I with aircraft such as SPAD VII or Fokker D.VII. The Space Hall features Diamant rockets, satellite models, and space equipment, while the reserves, partially accessible during Heritage Days, retain rare pieces such as the White Bird landing gear. The museum is also a research centre, with a media library of 738 m2 and a partially digitized catalogue, including archives since the 16th century.

The architecture of the site is a heritage in its own right: the Labro terminal, classified as a historical monument, combines Art Deco style and functionality, with its horizontal bar of 220 meters and its glass windows. The exhibition halls, such as the Roofing Veil or the Concorde Hall, complete this museum landscape. The museum, led since 2018 by Anne-Catherine Robert, pursues its mission of preserving and valuing aviation heritage, while adapting to contemporary challenges, such as digitizing archives or increasing accessibility via public transport.

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