Urbex: Aircraft Graveyard, France – September 2015

There is a specific kind of silence found in an aircraft graveyard. It isn’t just the absence of noise; it’s the heavy, metallic stillness of machines designed for speed and power now surrendered to the elements. During my trip through France in September 2015, I came across a small but fascinating collection of retired airframes. While not the sprawling “boneyards” of the American desert, this trio of aircraft offered a concentrated dose of French aviation history, ranging from post-war transport to Cold War interceptors.

The three aircraft resting here are icons of the Armée de l’Air (French Air Force), each representing a different era of flight.

1. The Workhorse: Dassault MD 312 Flamant

The most prominent twin-engine aircraft in the collection is the Dassault MD 312 Flamant.

Developed immediately after World War II, the Flamant was a cornerstone of the rebuilt French Air Force. It was one of the first successful designs by Marcel Dassault after he returned from the Buchenwald concentration camp.

The Details: This specific model, the MD 312, was primarily used as a pilot trainer and light transport. It is powered by two Renault 12S radial engines, which give it that classic, rounded nose.

The Decay: Seeing the Flamant in this state is bittersweet. Once used to train the next generation of French fighter pilots, its cockpit is now a skeletal remains of analog dials and stripped wiring. The “Flamant” (Flamingo) name seems fitting as it sits perched on its landing gear, seemingly waiting for a flight that will never come.

2. The Bush Plane: Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard

Sitting nearby with its distinctive high-wing profile and twin tail fins is the Max Holste MH.1521 Broussard.

If the Flamant was the trainer, the Broussard was the “jeep” of the skies. It is a rugged, six-seat utility aircraft designed for “STOL” (Short Take-Off and Landing), making it perfect for the rough, unpaved strips of the French colonies during the 1950s and 60s.

The Details: It is often compared to the de Havilland Canada Beaver. It uses a massive Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engine. You can identify it by its “triple-tail” look and the way the wings are braced high above the cabin.

The History: The Broussard saw heavy action during the Algerian War as a reconnaissance and medical evacuation plane. In this graveyard, the corrugated metal of its airframe has begun to oxidize, but its sturdy build is still evident.

3. The Cold War Icon: Dassault Mirage III (or 5)

Resting further back, identifiable by its sleek, needle-like nose and delta-wing silhouette, is the legendary Dassault Mirage.

The Mirage III was the first European combat aircraft to exceed Mach 2 in level flight. It became a symbol of French military tech and was exported all over the world.

The Details: While it’s hard to tell the exact variant without a serial number, these airframes were the backbone of French air defense for decades. The delta wing (triangular wing) design allowed for high-speed performance but made landings notoriously “hot” and fast.

The State of Play: Seeing a supersonic interceptor, a machine built to pierce the sky at twice the speed of sound, sitting motionless in the long grass is the ultimate “Urbex” juxtaposition. The cockpit canopy, once the interface between a pilot and the stratosphere, is now clouded and cracked.

Reflection

Walking between these titans of aluminum and rivets, you realize that an aircraft graveyard isn’t just a scrapyard; it’s a museum with no curators. There are no plaques here, just the wind whistling through empty jet intakes and the smell of old hydraulic fluid and sun-baked earth.

While I’m still hunting for that massive, endless field of planes, this “handful” in France provided a rare, intimate look at the machines that once defined the French skies.

 

Aircraft	Role	First Flight	Key Feature
Dassault MD 312	Pilot Trainer / Transport	1947	Twin Renault radial engines
MH.1521 Broussard	Utility / Bush Plane	1952	Twin tail fins, high wing
Dassault Mirage III	Supersonic Interceptor	1956	Delta wing, Mach 2 capable

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