At the legendary site of L'Envol des Pionniers in Toulouse-Montaudran, on the Piste des Géants, the enduring romance between Toulouse and aviation was born. From 1918 to 1933, aircraft from 'La Ligne' embarked on their journeys from this very location to Africa and South America. A century ago, Pierre Georges Latécoère declared, "I've redone all the calculations, the project is unfeasible; there's only one thing left for us to do: make it happen!" And indeed, they made it happen.
A hundred years after its inaugural flight, you can rediscover the remarkable saga of the Aéropostale within its historic buildings. The Aéropostale was a daring endeavour that united hundreds of men and women in an extraordinary adventure, with figures such as Mermoz, Guillaumet, and St Exupery at the helm. The mail had to be delivered, and these individuals had to exceed their own limits.
L'Envol des Pionniers is where it all started and where the story continues. You will be transported back to the heart of the 1920s by a team of animators dressed in period costumes. Experience the early days of airmail transport and meet the pioneers of aeronautics in Toulouse through characters from the era: pilots, mechanics, passengers, and fabric workers.
The new exhibition is 'Air France, une histoire d’élégance', an invitation to journey into the heart of France national airline's history, rediscovering the strong ties that have always bound it to Toulouse.
