Paris–Le Bourget Airport

Paris–Le Bourget Airport
Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget
Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) A-54

Aerial view of the airport
IATA: LBG – ICAO: LFPB
Summary
Airport type Public
Operator Aéroports de Paris
Location Le Bourget
Elevation AMSL 220 ft / 67 m
Coordinates 48°58′10″N 002°26′29″E / 48.96944°N 2.44139°ECoordinates: 48°58′10″N 002°26′29″E / 48.96944°N 2.44139°E
Map
LBG

Location of Paris–Le Bourget Airport

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
03/21 2,665 8,743 Bituminous concrete
07/25 3,000 9,843 Bituminous concrete
09/27 1,845 6,053 Bituminous concrete
Source: French AIP[1]
French AIP at EUROCONTROL[2]

Paris–Le Bourget Airport (French: Aéroport de Paris-Le Bourget) (IATA: LBG, ICAO: LFPB) is an airport located within portions of the communes of Le Bourget, Bonneuil-en-France, Dugny and Gonesse, 6 NM (11 km; 6.9 mi) north-northeast[2] (NNE) of Paris, France. It is now used only for general aviation (business aviation) and air shows, most notably the Paris Air Show.

History

The airport started commercial operations in 1919 and was Paris's only airport until the construction of Orly Airport in 1932. It is famous as the landing site for Charles Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic crossing in 1927 and as the departure point two weeks earlier for the French biplane The White Bird (L'Oiseau Blanc), which took off in its own attempt at a transatlantic flight but then mysteriously disappeared.

On 25 June 1940, Adolf Hitler began his first and only tour of Paris, with Albert Speer and an entourage, from Le Bourget Airport.[3]

On 16 June 1961, the Soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev defected at Le Bourget Airport.

In 1977, Le Bourget was closed to international traffic and in 1980 to regional traffic, leaving only business aviation.

Since 1975, Le Bourget Airport has hosted the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, France's main state-owned aviation museum. Following the discontinuation of regular commercial traffic in 1977, space available to house museum collections and displays has progressively increased[4][5]

In odd-numbered years, the Paris Air Show, the world's oldest, takes place at Le Bourget Airport.

The airport hosts a statue commemorating Frenchwoman Raymonde de Laroche who was the first woman to earn a pilot's licence. There is also a monument honouring Lindbergh, Nungesser, and Coli.

Accidents and incidents

Facilities

The Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile (BEA) is headquartered in Building 153 on the grounds of Le Bourget Airport and in Le Bourget.[8][9] Le Bourget Airport hosts the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, which is also located in the commune of Le Bourget.[10]

Media appearances

Le Bourget Airport is the base for the "Paris Airshow Demonstration Flight" mission supplied with Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ LFPB – PARIS LE BOURGET (PDF). AIP from French Service d'information aéronautique, effective 2 Apr 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 EAD Basic
  3. ↑ "Hitler Tours Paris, 1940". Eyewitnesstohistory.com. Retrieved 21 May 2012.
  4. ↑ fr:Musée de l'air et de l'espace
  5. ↑ "Présentation". Musée Air et Espace. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "F-BATB Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "F-BATO Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 27 February 2014.
  8. ↑ "Plan d’accès au BEA." Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile. Retrieved on 17 June 2010.
  9. ↑ "header_logo_et_coord.gif." Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation Civile. Retrieved on 17 June 2010.
  10. ↑ "Address and Directions." Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace. Retrieved on 9 September 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Le Bourget Airport.