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A French Chateau Hoarding the World’s Largest Private Collection of Fighter Jets
Just came across this article + pictures. 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. |
record-breaking collection of World War II fighter jets 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.
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Mon Dieu! I Spy ... 3 Meteors. Here endeth the WW2 collection, je pense! |
Pas de Noblesse
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. |
That looks like a nice place to visit on a fine day and I reckon the wine will be agreeable!
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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. |
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! |
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. |
the nuclear armed jet is a Mirage 4? |
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? |
Originally Posted by Blossy
(Post 10547095)
That looks like a nice place to visit on a fine day and I reckon the wine will be agreeable!
Jack |
Originally Posted by India Four Two
(Post 10547318)
I think I can see two.
:E |
Originally Posted by Tashengurt
(Post 10547418)
...
Is that a Jag in the blue and white scheme on the grass? |
That Jaguar......isn't.
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Originally Posted by dook
(Post 10547474)
That Jaguar......isn't.
this image made me re-think, TBH. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEPECA..._Lofting-1.jpg |
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Clarity! Thanks for that! ^ |
Lightning is F1a XM178
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/C...%C3%A8s-Beaune
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....51970d3884.jpg But still no Harrier for Bonker......... |
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. |
Originally Posted by treadigraph
(Post 10547483)
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I believe this aircraft collection to be up for sale.
If any one of you is interested :p |
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 👍👍 |
At Savigny les Beaune, just off the A6, near Beaune. And their chateau wines are delicious... |
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
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Originally Posted by dead_pan
(Post 10548790)
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
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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!
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Skua, now there's a thought, when SWMBO returns from UK tomorrow. I'll tell you how long the bruises take to heal.....
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We are talking 3 or 4 large hangars. They won't get planning permission for that in the grounds of an historic chateau. |
Originally Posted by dead_pan
(Post 10550043)
No reason they should be kept in the grounds of the chateau.
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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.
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Nice to see he has got a Wessex in there as well. |
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.
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