Army Light Aviation and Helicopter Museum (ALAT) Dax, France

[Knightflyer]

Well I'm still posting from my plane-fest birthday present/holiday in June, but having just got back from the family holiday to Southern France I thought I'd start posting from the one aeronautical visit I managed to make whilst out there.

The "Musée de l'ALAT et de l'hélicoptère" is located in Dax

The first part of the museum relates to the history of French (military) Light Aviation. Few if any captions in English (my problem not theirs!) but lots of great photographs and scale models related to the history. Special attention is given to the Indochina war and the battle for independence in Algeria.

Then we get to the hanger. Lots of unusual stuff (to eyes used to a preponderance of British / US manufactured air-frames) mixed in with more familiar aircraft wearing 'different clothes' Information supplied for most of the exhibits in French, Spanish and English 


The 'gate-guard' - at a nearby traffic island!


Stampe SV4c


Hiller UH-12A


Alouette III


Bell 47G



Nord 3202


Gazelle


Max Holste 1521 Broussard


more to follow when I have the time 

[PR19_Kit]

Brilliant stuff, thanks for posting. 

It's an aircraft recognition contest thread too. 

What was that open aircraft frame hanging in the roof? It looked like a full size Kiel Kraft kit! 

[NARSES2]

Great photos.

Has the Nord 3203 got kneeling undercarriage ? Or is it just idiosyncratic ? (Nothing French could simply be described as "odd"  )

[AS.12]

Has the Nord 3203 got kneeling undercarriage ? Or is it just idiosyncratic ? (Nothing French could simply be described as "odd"  )

Just trailing-link, in expectation that les études would be prone to giving it a thumping on landing. The Fokker S-11 had a similar arrangement but was rather fragile.

[NARSES2]

Has the Nord 3203 got kneeling undercarriage ? Or is it just idiosyncratic ? (Nothing French could simply be described as "odd"  )

Just trailing-link, in expectation that les études would be prone to giving it a thumping on landing. The Fokker S-11 had a similar arrangement but was rather fragile.

Ah, thank you