Musée aéronautique et spatial Safran
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aviation museum |
| Founded | May 1989 |
| Headquarters | Melun , France |
| Owner | Safran group |
| Website | www |
The Safran Aerospace and Aviation Museum () is a privately owned French aviation museum situated in Melun, within the Seine-et-Marne department. Founded in May 1989, it features an extensive array of both vintage and contemporary aircraft engines crafted by French manufacturers such as Gnome et Rhône and Snecma, companies now incorporated into the Safran group, which operates and oversees the museum.
Among the prominent displays are piston engines, turbojets, and rocket engines employed in various aircraft and spacecraft, all originating from firms that have become part of Safran.
History
Back in 1985, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace, located at Le Bourget, housed over a thousand historic aero engines. Snecma committed to restoring and preserving these engines with the help of volunteer staff. By 1987, Snecma had created a specialized museum on its Villaroche premises in Melun, repurposing a 4,000 m2 former seaplane hangar. The museum officially opened its doors on 31 May 1989 and is currently run by the 'Association of Friends of the Museum Safran'. In 2013, the collection was broadened to incorporate exhibits related to space propulsion.
Collections
The museum documents the evolution of aviation and space exploration through its assortment of aircraft, piston engines, gas turbines, rocket motors, and associated aerospace artifacts.
Piston engines
- Radial and rotary models from Gnome and Gnome et Rhône
- Inline engines manufactured by Hispano-Suiza
- Inline powerplants from Renault
Gas turbines
- CFM International CFM56
- Replica of the General Electric GE36
- Rolls-Royce/Snecma Olympus 593
- Snecma Atar
- Snecma M88
- Turbomeca Astazou
Rocket engines
- Stages used in Intercontinental ballistic missiles
- Rocket motors for Satellite launch vehicles
- The Viking engine
- The Vulcain engine
Aircraft
Additional exhibits
Items produced by Safran’s predecessor firms beyond aviation are also on display, including motorcycles from Gnome et Rhône, as well as missiles, submarines, and tractors.
Visitor information
The museum is situated in Réau, near Melun in southern Seine-et-Marne. It welcomes visitors every Wednesday and on the last Saturday monthly. For groups numbering ten or more, visits can be scheduled on other days by prior arrangement. Entry is free of charge.