Toulouse’s Aeroscopia museum readies for its 2014 opening with Airbus support

Construction is continuing apace for the Airbus-supported Aeroscopia museum in Toulouse, France, which will put the spotlight on European aviation's past, present and future following its public opening in early 2014.

7 FEBRUARY 2013 FEATURE STORY

Aeroscopia will be located at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport – which also is home to Airbus headquarters – where it will display the "Heritage" collection of historical aircraft and play a role in protecting these, and other, vintage planes.

After its opening, Aeroscopia visitors will be able to board and visit three milestone aircraft: a flight test Concorde supersonic jet, an open Super Guppy transporter and an A300 – which is the world's first twin-engine widebody, and the cornerstone in Airbus' commercial jetliner family.  

Over the past six years, Airbus has contributed 3.5 million of Aeroscopia's total 15.5-million-euro budget, and sees the museum as being complementary to its own heritage department.  The already-successful Airbus tours in Toulouse also will move to Aeroscopia, and the museum team is hopeful they can equal the annual tally of 150,000 visitors.

Jean Pinet, founding member of the "Terre d'Envol" association that played a key role in championing Aeroscopia, said the museum's progress hasn't always been smooth and that support of the air transport sector and local politicians has proved crucial.

"I'm happy that the project happened at all after such a complicated and lengthy gestation," he added. "Toulouse deserves a museum that is worthy of its contribution to aviation's past, present and future. It's served as a reminder that one should never give up the fight for a worthy cause."