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Key figures

Origin and history

The Musée de l'Aviation de Lyon-Corbas, also known as the Musée Clément-Ader, is located at the Corbas airfield, south of Lyon. Inaugurated in April 2013 after a decade of aircraft restoration by Espaces Aéro Lyon-Corbas (ELAC), it features some 30 aircraft, engines and equipment representative of the national aviation heritage. The collections, housed in 4,000 m2 of former Army Light Aviation (ALT) premises, include unique pieces such as Dassault Mirage III R No 02 prototype or a replica of the Demoiselle de Santos Dumont (1909).

Managed by a hundred volunteers, the museum funds its activities through admission fees, contributions, donations and some grants. Among its flagship pieces, Dassault Mirage IV-P No. 28, ranked as a Historic Monument in 2015, and Dassault MD 450 Ouragan No. 297, awarded in 2020, illustrate the excellence of its restorations. In 2022, he was exposed to the Invalides in Paris as part of a tribute to Marcel Dassault. The museum collaborates with the Ministry of Defence, industrialists such as Dassault or Safran, and educational institutions for educational and documentary activities.

The museum's objectives go beyond conservation: restoration of aircraft, reception of trainees (patent of aviation initiation, aeronautics professions), organization of conferences and establishment of a documentation centre open to the public. Its partnership with local associations, airports (such as those in Lyon) and town halls strengthens its territorial anchor. Despite its success, about ten more aircraft are waiting to be exposed due to lack of covered space.

Recognized by the Army Heritage Commission, the museum showcases iconic aircraft such as the Helicop-Jet Dechaux Helicopter and the 30th anniversary SEPECAT Jaguar E, while developing educational tools to transmit aviation history. Its voluntary model and commitment make it a unique player in the preservation of the air heritage in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes.

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