Welcome to the Statue Musée de l’Air et de l’Espace hommage Nungesser Coli et Lindbergh, a tribute to the legendary aviators who forever changed the course of aviation history. Located at the Paris Air and Space Museum in Le Bourget, this site is a testament to the courage and pioneering spirit of early 20th-century air pioneers. The Paris Air and Space Museum, one of the world’s foremost aviation museums, houses an impressive collection of 175 historic airplanes, with a particular focus on French aviation and its pivotal figures.
The museum’s location at Le Bourget Airport is historically significant as it was the site of the first Paris Air Show and is now a major hub for aviation history enthusiasts. It’s here that the museum pays homage to Charles Nungesser and François Coli, two French aviators who attempted the first transatlantic flight from Paris to New York in 1927, just weeks before Charles Lindbergh successfully completed the journey in the opposite direction. Their aircraft, the ‘L’Oiseau Blanc’ or ‘The White Bird’, disappeared over the Atlantic, but their daring attempt remains a crucial chapter in the annals of aviation.
Meanwhile, Charles Lindbergh’s successful solo flight from New York to Paris in his ‘Spirit of St. Louis’ captured the world’s imagination and solidified his place as an aviation icon. This museum offers visitors an opportunity to explore these stories and more, amidst a backdrop of aviation marvels, from the earliest flying machines to the Concorde and the Boeing 747.
As you walk through the museum, you’ll trace the evolution of flight, from the 1879 Massia-Biot glider to the iconic Blériot XI, which was the first aircraft to cross the English Channel in 1909. The museum’s exhibits not only celebrate these milestones but also highlight the cultural and technological shifts that they inspired.
So, as you explore the Paris Air and Space Museum, take a moment to reflect on the bravery and ingenuity of those who dared to conquer the skies. Their stories continue to inspire new generations of aviators and dreamers around the world.
