Les Amis du Musée | Musée de l'Hydraviation

Les Amis du Musée de l’Hydraviation

The seaplane base in Biscarrosse impacted history. After starting out as a seaplane assemblage and flight-test base working with manufacture workshops in Toulouse, it became the starting point of many air routes between France, Spain, South America and Africa in the early 20th century.

In 1980, when historian Marie-Paule Vié-Klaze highlighted the important role Biscarrosse and its seaplane base had on history, she was supported by a committee that went on to document much of the history of seaplanes in the Landes region.

The commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the Latécoère base was the first step in the creation of the present-day Musée de l’Hydraviation and the birth of Les Amis du Musée (Friends of the Museum).

Seaplane restorations and memories of the seaplanes' capital

The Musée de l’Hydraviation was founded in 1982, next to the Latécoère seaplane base. And the association Les Amis du Musée was already involved, from the museum’s staffing to its finances. It handed over the museum’s management to the Biscarrosse City Council in 1999, after which the association focused on expanding the museum’s heritage collection and restoring seaplanes and mechanical parts.

HISTORY OF THE MUSEUM

The museum team is assisted by Les Amis du Musée, whose members are much more than mere enthusiasts of that grand era. They are essential to the museum’s existence and help the team and the museum’s patrons with fundraising actions and with the collection of historical items to broaden our current exhibitions.

Every other year, Les Amis du Musée help with the organisation of the International Seaplane Meeting, hosted by the City of Biscarrosse with the help of the museum’s team. It is a great opportunity to discover or rediscover some of the biggest flying boats of the day!