With the grand backdrop of the Château de
Savigny, just outside Beaune, owner Michel Pont displays his collections
and passions.
Set to one side of the Château are some 80 fighter planes including
Mirages, a Jaguar, Mystères, Fouga, a Sikorsky Helicopter. Then there
are the motorbikes, a collection of about 300 manufactured between 1902
and 1960 including Harley and Terrot, Blériot and Honda. So many in fact
that they are vying for space in the galleries. The model planes on the
second floor of the castle number nearly 2,300 showing the complete
history of aviation. Red racing cars occupy another building. Monsieur
Pont used to race some of the Abarth cars himself; the rest he has
collected, amounting to about 30 in all.
The château is surrounded by its own famous vineyards and you can enjoy a
wine tasting and lunch in the restaurant. This is the place with something
for all tastes.
The aircraft are parked in lines on the ground of this fourteenth
century chateau. The village of Savigny is joined with Escadron 3/2. In
1986 the first aircraft arrived at the chateau being MIR 3 R no,323. |
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In the first years France was scoured for suitable aircraft, and with the
support of the military a varied collection of aircraft that served with the
France air force was rapidly build up. In the same period several aircraft
where collected from Belgium |
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At the moment several duplicate aircraft are in store and being use as
trading object to Aguirre new aircraft from different locations around
Europe including the former east block countries. maintenance on the air
craft is don on the site of the museum it self. Resulting in that most
aircraft getting a fresh paint job.
In resent year getting accurate notes here
has become difficult the owner decided to remove the serial numbers of
several of the former French air force aircraft and tail swapping has
also taking place. With a exchange project in place with the museum in
Zruc and several newly arrival from the French air force and navy this
interesting collection is still growing and well worth a visit |
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The latest arrival is Mirage 5 BA08 witch was
delivered to the Belgian Air Force in January 1971. During his career
the plane best known for its colours in 1990, the plane was painted in
full blue and white scheme to underline the 20 years of service in the
Belgian Air Force. After his Belgian Air Force career, the plane was
stored at Weelde. In 2000 the French company SAGEM decided to buy a
batch of Belgian Mirage’s to be used for spare parts or export. But this
operation was not a success and the planes remained during years in
France. Some month’s ago, SAGEM decided to dispose of the aircraft via
sale and the BA08 was acquired by the museum
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