Le Temps des Hélices — Cerny Air Meeting

Le Temps des Hélices: The Historic Aviation Festival in Essonne

Every year at Pentecost, the Cerny-La Ferté-Alais airfield transforms into a magnificent living museum of aviation. Le Temps des Hélices, organized by the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis, has become over the decades one of the most renowned historic air meetings in Europe, attracting tens of thousands of spectators to admire the most beautiful flying machines in aviation history.

A Tribute to Aviation History

The event pays homage to the immense collection of historic aircraft assembled by Jean-Baptiste Salis and his successors. On the Cerny runway, aircraft from all eras come back to life: from World War I biplanes to World War II fighters, and 1950s and 1960s airliners. Each aircraft tells a page of aviation and world history.

A Spectacular Two-Day Program

Le Temps des Hélices offers an exceptional program:

• Static exhibition every morning: opportunity to get close to the aircraft, meet pilots and mechanics, and discover the behind-the-scenes restoration of the aircraft
• Air show in the afternoon: aerobatic demonstrations, introductory flights, formation flypasts, and reenactments of historic aerial combat
• Ground parade of vintage motorcycles and cars in line with the edition's theme
• Historical reenactment with enthusiast groups in period uniforms
• Pyrotechnic show at the end of the day, recreating aerial battle scenes
• Youth activities: model workshops, flight simulators, meetings with pilots

A Different Theme Each Year

Each year, Le Temps des Hélices chooses a central theme that gives the edition a unique identity. Themes such as cinema, World War I, the Battle of Britain, or legendary pilots have guided past programs, allowing the event to renew itself each year while retaining its identity.

The Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis and Aviation Heritage

The Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis is the organizing association of the meeting. It manages one of the largest collections of airworthy vintage aircraft in the world. The Cerny-La Ferté-Alais airfield, the base for this collection, is a major site of French aeronautical heritage. The Amicale carries out remarkable work in restoring and preserving these historic aircraft.

Cerny and La Ferté-Alais in Essonne

Cerny is a rural commune in Essonne, near La Ferté-Alais, on the edge of the Forest of Fontainebleau. The airfield, located on an agricultural plateau, benefits from a clear horizon that allows for optimal show conditions. The region is accessible by RER D (La Ferté-Alais station).