At 11 kilometres north-northeast of the capital, Paris-Le Bourget Airport is exclusively dedicated to general aviation, though it’s not private jets that entice visitors through its gates. Every year, the airport hosts the illustrious Paris Air Show. Organised by the French Aerospace Industries Association, it’s lighting fast flyovers attract global media coverage. For a year round glimpse at French aviation, a visit to the Air and Space Museums is a great alternative.
In addition to planes, the Le Bourget offers visitors a surprising splash of culture. The commune is home to the Gagosian Gallery, one of 16 contemporary spaces owned by Armenian American art dealer, Larry Gagosian.
From Paris, Le Bourget Airport is a 20-minute drive. Alternatively, visitors can drive 5-minutes to Le Bourget town centre, and catch the Paris RER line B direct to the City of Light.
While today Paris-Le Bourget is outshone by Charles de Gaulle, when it opened in 1919 it was the capital’s only airport. In 1927 it shot to fame as the landing site of Charles Lindbergh's historic solo transatlantic crossing, as well as the take-off point for French biplane, L'Oiseau Blanc. Though unlike Lindbergh, its pilots never made it to the other side of the Atlantic, and the plane mysteriously disappeared on route to New York.