My cousin has just sent me a load of pictures of an extraordinary collection of aircraft, Abarth cars, model aircraft, motorcycles and cycles held at a chateau in Burgundy. He had them from a friend, who is no longer with us, so information is sketchy but there are about 90 aircraft, some in a very poor state, 2,500 models, and several hundred cars and bikes. Is any member familiar with this collection? Apparently the owner used to race the cars, winning a stack of trophies.
By: Sky High - 18th September 2010 at 11:51
There can’t be many, if any, collections with as many aircraft, can there? Even if the state of repair is poor in many cases. Amongst the pictures there are clearly numbers of rotting fuselages and miscellaneous aircraft parts.
By: Phantom Phil - 18th September 2010 at 11:48
I’d love to see the ex-Leuchars TFF(23Sqn) Lightning F1A refirbished as she is looking a tad pooly!
Is she as bad as she looks??
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th September 2010 at 11:23
That’s it wwrsimon – thank you. A quite unusual place in its breadth of material displayed. As far as the aircraft are concerned predominantly French, as you say although there are a few Russian Fitters or similar amongst the photos. Do you just know of it or have you visited it? If I am ever that way I will certainly make a point of going.
Yes, I visited there about 4 years ago. Like you said, it’s mostly French stuff, Mirages of various sorts, but there are a few MiGs and Sukhois.
It was about 100ºF in the shade, and there were only a couple of other visitors. The planes are on a sort of two-level gravelled area. There was a gardener/handyman using a strimmer to keep down the grass and weeds around the planes, and all you could hear was the strimmer and sound of gravel pinging off airframes…not good! At least I guess the climate down there is pretty good for aircraft kept outdoors though.
The Abarth collection is impressive and well kept, and the bike collection is good too – loads of them, in various states of (dis)repair.
Worth a visit though, and as Avion Ancien said, the wine’s not too bad either…hic!
Simon
By: Sky High - 18th September 2010 at 10:19
:D:D:D
By: avion ancien - 17th September 2010 at 20:06
………..and the wine of the area is even better than the aeroplanes, motor cars and motor cycles!
By: pagen01 - 17th September 2010 at 20:02
Looks like a fascinating place, thanks for posting the info.
By: Sky High - 17th September 2010 at 19:44
That’s it wwrsimon – thank you. A quite unusual place in its breadth of material displayed. As far as the aircraft are concerned predominantly French, as you say although there are a few Russian Fitters or similar amongst the photos. Do you just know of it or have you visited it? If I am ever that way I will certainly make a point of going.
By: Peter - 17th September 2010 at 15:37
Interesting collection of aircraft! Some of them look like they have been repainted recently.
By: Arabella-Cox - 17th September 2010 at 15:30
Hmm that was odd, went to reply and it deleted my post!
Anyway, as I said before it’s at the Chateau de Savigny les Beaune:
http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/France/Savigny-les-Beaune/Chateau-de-Savigny.htm
Some images here:
http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/World/Europe/France/Savigny-les-Beaune/gallery.htm
Official website here (in French):
http://reception-aviation.chateau-savigny.com/musee.htm
And as Sky High posted, they’re a mixed bunch. Some interesting ones – most are French aircraft naturally enough, but some Soviet machines there too.
Simon
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September 17, 2010 at 2:32 pm