View Full Version : A French Chateau Hoarding the World’s Largest Private Collection of Fighter Jets
Lyneham Lad
16th Aug 2019, 17:34
Just came across this article + pictures. (https://www.messynessychic.com/2019/08/16/a-french-chateau-hoarding-the-worlds-largest-private-collection-of-fighter-jets/)Something to challenge spotters?
On MessyNessyChic.com website.
At no other chateau in all of France will you find a Soviet helicopter parked on the back lawn. Or a 1970s hovercraft. Or a record-breaking collection of World War II fighter jets for that matter. Not to mention a warehouse full of vintage firetrucks, 200 antiques motorbikes, 36 racing cars – and the list goes on – all sitting comfortably in retirement amongst the vineyards of Burgundy.
pasta
16th Aug 2019, 18:08
record-breaking collection of World War II fighter jets
I'm not saying it doesn't have a record-breaking collection of World War II fighter jets, but it can't be very large!
Edit: For the avoidance of doubt, I'm not suggesting the OP's endorsement of the above wording!
There appear to be 72 in the picture - I can believe that's a record-holding collection.
MPN11
16th Aug 2019, 18:25
Mon Dieu!
I Spy ... 3 Meteors. Here endeth the WW2 collection, je pense!
ex-fast-jets
16th Aug 2019, 19:25
The Duc or Marquis or Baron or whatever he or she is has no taste....................
A Lightning and several other runway-bound jets, but not a Harrier to be seen.
Clearly someone who does not understand what is important in life.
Blossy
16th Aug 2019, 20:43
That looks like a nice place to visit on a fine day and I reckon the wine will be agreeable!
aerolearner
16th Aug 2019, 21:37
Been there, great place to see many interesting aircraft within touching distance. It was a fine April day, not a soul around.
The only negative comment is that some of the exhibits look somewhat derelict, but it is fully understandable as this is a private collection without a proper museum institution.
On Glide
16th Aug 2019, 22:17
It’s well worth a visit, not just for the vintage jets but also the massive motorcycle and Abarth vehicle collections. The local wine’s not bad either!
tartare
16th Aug 2019, 23:10
Wow that is impressive - I had a look on his website but couldn't see a list of the full collection.
I assume from the commentary above that the nuclear armed jet is a Mirage 4?
Even an F-16 there.
Wonder how much that cost him - and how he got export permission - quite a feat.
India Four Two
17th Aug 2019, 06:32
the nuclear armed jet is a Mirage 4?
I think I can see two.
Tashengurt
17th Aug 2019, 09:21
I counted two Mirage V's too. Big beasts aren't they?
Is that a Jag in the blue and white scheme on the grass?
Union Jack
17th Aug 2019, 09:44
That looks like a nice place to visit on a fine day and I reckon the wine will be agreeable!
Well worth a visit indeed and the Hôtel-Restaurant L'Ouvrée just down the road is an inexpensive but very pleasant family favourite for breaking the journey from the Channel to the south of France and the Costa Brava. Aloxe-Corton and Pommard very close too and, if you want a real treat, Olivier Leflaive is not far away at Puligny-Montrachet.
Jack
ShyTorque
17th Aug 2019, 10:09
I think I can see two.
The second one might just be a mirage....
:E
MPN11
17th Aug 2019, 10:34
...
Is that a Jag in the blue and white scheme on the grass?Nose looks a bit long, even for a T-bird. But I agree there are some similarities in the planform. Pixellation of the image presents further analysis! :)
MPN11
17th Aug 2019, 10:46
That Jaguar......isn't.
So it's a <insert type here> ? ;)
this image made me re-think, TBH.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPECAT_Jaguar#/media/File:RAF_Sepecat_Jaguar_T2A_Lofting-1.jpg
treadigraph
17th Aug 2019, 10:49
Just a Jag but mounted a bit nose up...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/2015_12_03_0005_a178acc01a4a67864d34b9b08e4f10ab480ee59a.jpg
MPN11
17th Aug 2019, 13:27
Clarity! Thanks for that! ^
Minnie Burner
17th Aug 2019, 15:19
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mus%C3%A9e_de_l%27aviation_de_Savigny-l%C3%A8s-Beaune
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/700x454/xm178_b426c935fc605c093623e06c4e07b251970d3884.jpg
But still no Harrier for Bonker.........
Icare9
17th Aug 2019, 20:53
On Google Maps you can zoom in, I count 72 in the main park, plus 3 on the frontage as well as the hovercraft.
On Google Maps, that doesn't look to be a 3rd Meteor, and the jet at the far end past the Mirage V seems to have gone.
An astounding collection, plus motorcycles and fast cars....
Now wondering how to visit when we travel down to/from Spain.
Lima Juliet
17th Aug 2019, 23:17
Just a Jag but mounted a bit nose up...
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x575/2015_12_03_0005_a178acc01a4a67864d34b9b08e4f10ab480ee59a.jpg
Looks like max AOA for a Jag...:E
ehwatezedoing
18th Aug 2019, 08:29
I believe this aircraft collection to be up for sale.
If any one of you is interested :p
Pegasus107
18th Aug 2019, 16:01
Visited there a couple of years ago, and was a great day out. A broad collection of memorabilia, from aircraft to any thing car related.
a cracking area, wine and food isn’t bad either 👍👍
IFPS man
18th Aug 2019, 22:08
At Savigny les Beaune, just off the A6, near Beaune. And their chateau wines are delicious...
dead_pan
19th Aug 2019, 01:51
With all that money one would have thought the owner could have hangared them. They're just going to slowly rot outside which will be a crying shame
Vendee
19th Aug 2019, 07:12
With all that money one would have thought the owner could have hangared them. They're just going to slowly rot outside which will be a crying shame
We are talking 3 or 4 large hangars. They won't get planning permission for that in the grounds of an historic chateau.
Duchess_Driver
19th Aug 2019, 11:49
On the imagery I am checking there are actually 3 single seat Jags - the one at the back in the blue and white scheme and two in the main park in “operational” schemes.
Demobbed (no “last updated date”) suggests these here are not ex RAF.... it also confirms at one stage three meteors - one NF11 and 2 TT20s.
The lightning, as already indicated is XM178 and the only other U.K. “bird” is a Harvard IIa ex EX580.
The owner is doing a noble job for husbands around the world. Next time your wife tells you are a hoarder (or worse, chucks some of your vital memorabilia out), just show her this man's collection!
Wander00
19th Aug 2019, 15:57
Skua, now there's a thought, when SWMBO returns from UK tomorrow. I'll tell you how long the bruises take to heal.....
dead_pan
20th Aug 2019, 17:57
We are talking 3 or 4 large hangars. They won't get planning permission for that in the grounds of an historic chateau.
No reason they should be kept in the grounds of the chateau.
Blossy
20th Aug 2019, 21:59
No reason they should be kept in the grounds of the chateau.
Depending on one's finances and preferences....
Asturias56
21st Aug 2019, 08:33
Maybe PPrune could organise a crowd-funded buy out?
Of the Chateau I mean - not all that old aluminium................... ;)
Nice to see he has got a Wessex in there as well.
Thud_and_Blunder
21st Aug 2019, 13:00
Nice to see he has got a Wessex in there as well.
Did you perchance mean the H34? Looks like one that the Armee de l'Aire operated in the late 50s and 60s.
You might be right T and B - it's not obvious from the photo, it's just Wessex shaped but you can't see the nose.