“The flight of pioneers” goes into night mode
For a festive evening, the flight of the pioneers opens its doors at night and invites visitors to come and discover its permanent exhibition as well as its temporary exhibition on the aviator-writer: Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Devoted to the early days of aeronautics, the creation of Latécoère Airlines and Aeropostale then at the birth ofAir FranceL’Envol des Pionniers is located on the historic site from which between 1918 and 1933 for Africa and South America, airmail planes. As such, this aeronautics museum will offer many activities that will punctuate the evening, to revive this human adventure which canceled the birth of civil aviation to the point of making Toulouse the world capital of aeronautics.
>> READ ALSO: The European Night of Museums returns to Toulouse
An invitation to explore
On the program for the evening, l’Envol des Pionniers notably offers its visitors the opportunity to discover thehuman and industrial epic airmail pioneers through anecdotes, original encounters, mediations and immersive experiences. Young and old go to meet committed women and men who do not then realize the feat they were in the process of accomplishing. All were dedicated to a mission: to transport the mail on time, whatever the conditions, to allow people to be connected to each other, beyond deserts, oceans and mountains.
To meet these pioneers, discover their profession and their daily life, L’Envol des Pionniers offers an immersive and lively experience with the intervention, throughout the visit, of characters in period dress. Thus, by addressing the public at the bend of an exhibition hall and telling the stories of the incredible adventure of airmail, the presenters plunge visitors into the daily atmosphere of the workshops of Toulouse-Montaudran. This reconstitution is all the stronger as the scene takes place on the historic site of the Aéropostale.
>> READ ALSO: Toulouse: L’Envol des Pionniers remains open and extends its exhibition on Saint-Exupéry
Meet Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
If there is a dream to offer to aviation enthusiasts, it is undoubtedly an encounter with the aviator-author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Despite his disappearance on the Marseille coast, the July 31, 1944, l’Envol des Pionniers invites visitors to bring the author of the famous Little Prince back to life.
Inside the temporary exhibition Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, A Little Prince among Men, sound and visual installations, unpublished documents and evocations of legendary planes invite the curious to discover another facet of the author’s creator: that of the daring aviator. Indeed, it is here, on the historic lands of the Aéropostale, that Antoine de Saint-Exupéry flew for the first time as an Aéropostale pilot. The exhibition traces the life of this flying pioneer from his little boy’s winged bicycle to his tragic death aboard the mythical Lockheed F-5 Lightning. This unique context, in a place full of stories, allows us to understand how much Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s passion for aviation fueled his creativity and gave life to his most famous novels: from Land of mento the Little Prince.
And many other discoveries…
If however the discovery of the hidden face of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry or the historical exploration of the Aéropostale take-off site would not be enough, many other new activities are planned for this exceptional night as part of the European Night of Museums.
First of all, theatrical conferences excerpts from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s greatest masterpieces will give rise to 3 timeless listening sessions. During 35 minutess and taking place at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. and 10 p.m., a costumed actor will bring to life the words of the famous aviator-writer such as those of his novel Vol de Nuit or his famous tale The Little Prince. This will be followed by the streaming of the short film “Between sky and sea – the Adventure of a historical crossing”.
Thus, visitors will be able to exclusively discover this film produced by theFrench Embassy in Brazil returning 90 years later to the feat of one of Aéropostale’s emblematic pilots, Jean Mermoz, first aviator to successfully cross the Atlantic commercially by plane. The free and free entrance, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., of this exceptional museum will undoubtedly allow Toulouse residents and visitors to discover aviation in a new light. Something to pay homage to birds like no other.
>> READ ALSO: Toulouse: a mythical plane will be reborn at the Envol des Pionniers