Toulouse is renowned for its pink terracotta buildings, which have earned it the nickname Ville Rose, but it’s also considered the European capital of aviation due to the Airbus factory and the Aeroscopia aviation museum. As aviation enthusiasts, our motivation for travelling to Toulouse was to see the Concorde aeroplane at Aeroscopia and participate in the Airbus tour held at the local facility. Our visit was better than we expected because we discovered the cutting-edge technology shaping the future of aerospace engineering, as you can read in this article.
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Aeroscopia: What’s On at the Toulouse Aviation Museum
Visiting Aeroscopia allows you to go on a unique journey through the history of modern commercial aviation. The museum offers insights into the technological evolution of aviation and the future of the aerospace industry.
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO TOULOUSE
Discover the best of Toulouse with the Toulouse City Pass and benefit free entry to 13 museums and attractions, a 10-ride ticket for public transport, and discounted admission to the Cité de l’Espace, the Aeroscopia Museum, and Let’s Visit Airbus.
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While the exhibit primarily focuses on Airbus productions due to its proximity to the Airbus facility, it also provides valuable insights into the overall evolution of aviation.
All About Airbus
At Aeroscopia, you can see some of the most iconic Airbus aircraft models. Airbus is a European aerospace corporation involved in designing and manufacturing commercial aircraft, and it has separate divisions for defence, space, and helicopters.
The main Airbus offices are in Blagnac, near Toulouse and the Aeroscopia museum. For this reason, you can combine a visit to the museum with a tour of the factory.
Aviation Archaeology at Aeroscopia
At Aeroscopia, there is a section dedicated to aviation archaeology. You can learn about remarkable engineering achievements. I was surprised to discover that the first jet fighter equipped with an engine mounted on its fuselage was the German Heinkel 162 Salamander.
I also learned how the first commercial airlines used planes derived from bombers, like the Farman F50 Goliath. You could travel in this biplane either sitting down or lying comfortably in a bunk bed!
Modern Aircraft Production
Interactive exhibits in the museum give a lot of information about the materials and quality control processes used in modern aircraft manufacturing. For example, we learned about the stringent quality control measures in place to ensure the highest standards in aircraft production, as well as how lightweight composite materials enhance fuel efficiency and safety.
Iconic Aeroplanes You’ll Find at Aeroscopia
Aeroscopia is a fantastic aviation museum showcasing a remarkable collection of iconic aeroplanes, including airliners, cargo planes, and electric aircraft prototypes.
As Boeing is the Airbus main competitor, at Aeroscopia you will find several Airbus and no Boeing aircraft. Aeroscopia, in fact, despite presenting itself as a generic aviation museum, is very focused on Airbus production.
Among the noteworthy aircraft on display are the supersonic airliner Concorde, the Airbus A300, the world’s first twin-engine widebody airliner, and the Airbus A380, the largest passenger airliner ever built.
We also discovered oversized cargo planes like the Super Guppy. All these planes showcase Airbus’s innovative engineering, which is committed to pushing the boundaries of modern aviation technology.
A300
The first Airbus plane you’ll notice at Aeroscopia is the A300, a medium-to-long-range airliner. This aircraft reshaped commercial air travel during the 1970s, as it was the world’s first twin-engines, double-aisle (widebody) airliner.
You can board the aircraft and discover many fascinating details about the A300. Although I am too young to have travelled on this plane, I was really surprised to find out why the A300 was so important in aviation history during my visit to Aeroscopia.
By utilizing only two engines instead of four, the A300 allowed airlines to manage operating costs more effectively while accommodating a substantial number of passengers. This focus on efficiency remains a hallmark of Airbus designs to this day, as you can see with the new Neo family.
If you’re interested in technical details, another groundbreaking feature of the A300 is the use of composite materials in its construction to reduce overall weight and improve cost-effectiveness.
Other innovations included the centre-of-gravity control, achieved by transferring fuel between various locations across the aircraft, as well as electrically signalled secondary flight controls (flaps, slats, spoilers, and trim).
With over 800 units produced, the A300 became a staple in various airline fleets worldwide. It has also enjoyed success in cargo operations, where it continues to be used effectively.
A380
Unlike the A300, I had the opportunity to fly on the A380, an aircraft still in service on some intercontinental routes to this day. This is one of the planes that my son dreams of flying in the long list of his favourite planes.
If the name doesn’t mean anything to you, the Airbus A380 will immediately come to your mind if I say it’s the only double-deck airliner.
Its unique design includes two full-length passenger decks, allowing significantly more seating compared to traditional aircraft. It enables airlines to transport a greater number of passengers while utilizing the same number of flights.
Despite its initial success and iconic design, the A380 faced challenges as the aviation industry evolved. As airlines began to focus on more flexible, point-to-point routes rather than the traditional hub-and-spoke model, the need for such a large aircraft diminished, and only a few airliners like Emirates, British Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Qantas have these planes still operative in their fleets.
Concorde
My son and I aim to see all the Concordes on display worldwide during our travels. This goal is achievable because only 11 museums showcase this iconic aircraft. Check for the Air and Space Museum in Paris to step inside a real Concorde. Toulouse and Aeroscopia were on our travel bucket list for that very reason!
The Concorde was the first and, to date, the only supersonic commercial airline. The collaborative effort between the British and French governments produced just 20 Concordes, six of which served as prototypes and test aircraft. The remaining 14 were divided evenly between Air France and British Airways.
Despite the exorbitant operational costs that contributed to its decline, the Concorde changed the air travel landscape from its introduction in the late 1960s until its retirement in the early 2000s. This iconic aircraft still represents the peak of engineering and design in commercial aviation.
One of the most striking aspects of the Concorde is its unique design. The delta wings allowed optimal lift at high speeds while minimizing drag, essential for supersonic flight. Additionally, the nose could be lowered during takeoff and landing, improving visibility for pilots and showcasing a thoughtful design that catered to operational needs!
Traveling Aboard the Concorde
The Concorde primarily flew transatlantic routes, connecting London to New York in approximately three hours, significantly reducing travel time compared to subsonic flights.
This speed, combined with its exorbitant ticket prices due to high maintenance costs, made it a status symbol for those who could afford the luxury of flying supersonic. A Concorde one-way ticket from London to Washington in 1976 costed £431, equivalent to around £2,500 today.
However, the Concorde didn’t provide a fancy experience for its passengers. The interior spaces were, in fact, narrower than those of a current low-cost flight, and the inflight experience was quite noisy compared to modern standards. But, of course, I would have paid that amount to fly supersonic once in my life, too!
Decline of Supersonic Commercial Aviation
Despite being a remarkable achievement in aviation history, high operating costs, fluctuating fuel prices, and increased concerns about environmental impact and noise pollution led to a gradual decline in demand for the Concorde.
Regarding operational costs, Concorde flights required about a ton of fuel per seat and necessitated up to 57 hours of maintenance for every hour in the air. This is far more than your average plane!
Additionally, the sonic boom generated by the aircraft during flight restricted its operations over land in many regions. These restrictions limited its routes primarily to over-water flights.
Ultimately, the accident of Air France Flight 4590 in 2000, when a Concord crashed shortly after takeoff, killing all 109 people on board and four on the ground, further hampered commercial supersonic flights.
The era of Concorde officially ended in 2003. Still, you’ll be happy to know that some aviation companies are working on new supersonic airlines today.
Super Guppy
The unique shape of the Super Guppy is one of the main attractions at Aeroscopia. This aircraft played a significant role in transporting oversized cargo within the aerospace industry before being replaced by the Beluga, which you can spot parked at Toulouse Airport if you’re lucky.
To be honest, before visiting Aeroscopia, I was only familiar with the Beluga and had no knowledge of its predecessor!
Introduced in the late 1960s, the Super Guppy was specifically designed to transport components of Airbus’s larger aircraft that were too big to fit within traditional cargo planes, such as the wings and fuselage sections of various Airbus models.
It mainly served this purpose by moving these large pieces between the European production sites. Additionally, the Super Guppy was utilized by NASA to transport spacecraft components and equipment.
The aircraft features a distinctive front opening and a system optimized for heavy lift operations. Its fuselage design is crucial for ensuring stability during flight, allowing it to navigate diverse weather conditions while carrying its oversized cargo.
If you are interested in this topic, during the Airbus factory tour, you can also see its successor, the Beluga, and learn more about Airbus’s oversized cargo planes.
Aeroscopia Guided Tours and Activities
Aeroscopia offers guided tours and activities on various themes and subjects. Some tours are free, while others require an additional fee.
For example, guided tours on specific topics held daily and announced in the museum are free, but only in French. Private guided tours in English or other languages are subject to a fee.
During my visit to the museum, I participated in a free guided tour in French focused on electronic aviation, which provided deep insights into this cutting-edge field. The guide explained all the challenges and problems related to the development of this technology. At Aeroscopia, you can see some prototypes of electric aeroplanes and understand why they are not competitive yet.
Let’s Visit Airbus Factory Tour
On the official website you can see three different tours: the ‘AIRBUS A321’ tour, the ‘AIRBUS A350’ tour and the ‘AIRBUS KIDS’ tour. However, when I booked, the kids’ tour wasn’t available, and there was only a general Airbus factory tour. Also, booking could be complicated.
I’ll tell you right away that the website crashed during my booking. I had to speak on the phone, in English and French, to be sure to make my reservation. You also must send a copy of all the participants’ documents for a check for security reasons, as it is a sensitive site.
Despite these complications, visiting the Airbus factory is worth every effort. OK, we are particularly interested in aviation, but it is a one-of-a-kind visit. How many times have you ever entered a real aerospace factory?
The Airbus Factory Tour Experience
The tour may vary depending on which aircraft are in production during your visit. When I attended with my son, they were producing the A350 and A320neo.
Tours last about an hour and are primarily conducted by bus, with only one stop inside the Airbus factory. There, you can watch a part of the assembly line, where different aircraft components come together. Airbus employees do not work on Saturdays and Sundays, so you won’t see any jobs in action during those days.
However, we enjoyed learning about Airbus’s history and technology. The tour guide provides informative commentary about the innovative technologies used in the manufacturing process, answering questions and sharing interesting facts along the way.
In particular, we discovered that the tail of any aeroplane is painted as soon as the aircraft fuselage is assembled, allowing customers to follow all the production phases.
During the tour, you can also spot some Beluga aircraft parked at the nearby Toulouse airport. Their role is to transport large Airbus aircraft parts, such as wings and fuselages, from other plants in Europe to the main factory for assembly.
Overall, the tour provides a unique insight into the aviation industry and the complexities of aircraft production. We absolutely loved it, and visiting the Airbus factory for us was another must-do in Toulouse!
Plan Your Visit to Aeroscopia with the Airbus Tour in Toulouse
The official Aeroscopia website doesn’t provide much information, so I wrote below some additional details to help you plan your visit.
I recommend setting aside an afternoon to explore the site. The Aeroscopia museum is not very big, but if you speak French you can join the interesting free tours during the day.
For families, there are children’s areas inside the Aeroscopia museum to keep the kids entertained with engaging activities. There, you and your kids can learn more about composite materials and their weight, as well as how to paint an aircraft.
Where to Eat at Aeroscopia
There’s a restaurant in a separate building that looks nice, but we didn’t try it, and no menu was displayed. If you prefer to bring your own lunch, there’s a picnic area outside, near a huge Airbus military plane.
Souvenir Shop
Aeroscopia has a small but well-stocked souvenir shop that offers a variety of aircraft models and accessories for aviation lovers. Prices are really honest.
I wanted an ATR model, but eventually, I bought an Airbus A380 model for my son, who loves this iconic two-story plane. If I hadn’t had the weight and size limit of the suitcase for my return flight, though, I would probably have taken a large model!
Opening Hours
Aeroscopia aviation museum is open every day from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, public holidays included, except for the 1st of January, 14th of July, and 25th of December.
On some school holidays, the museum is open every day from 9.30 am to 7:00 pm. During the second week of January, usually, Aeroscopia closes for maintenance. If you plan to visit around these dates, I recommend checking the opening time on the Aeroscopia website.
Admission Fee
Tickets for Aeroscopia aviation museum costs €15 for adults, while teens and kids under 18 pay the reduced fare of €12. Children aged 6 and under are admitted free of charge.
If you have the Toulouse City Pass, you can buy a discounted ticket for Aeroscopia directly at the ticket office on the day of your visit or online on the official website.
and Get a Discount on Aeroscopia Tickets
Booking the Airbus Tours
If you want to visit the Airbus factory, you must book in advance. You can do it online on the Manatour website, the official partner of Aeroscopia and Let’s Visit Airbus.
Usually, with the Toulouse City Pass you can have a discount also for the tours Let’s Visit Airbus. Still, there is no info on the official website at the time of writing. However, if you already have the Toulouse City Pass, you can ask how to book a discounted tour by email.
Tours are usually available in French and English, scheduled at different times. Some tours are also available in Spanish.
Once your reservation is confirmed by email, arrive at the Aeroscopia museum reception desk 30 minutes before your tour starts to complete the formalities. In other words, you must present your ID or passport for an additional check.
Cameras are not allowed on the Airbus site, and you cannot take pictures even with your mobile phone. If you get caught taking pictures, as one of my tour participants did, the guide will kindly ask you to delete the photos. I’m not sure what happens if you don’t delete your pics, but the factory is full of security guards!
How to Reach Aeroscopia
Reaching Aeroscopia isn’t very easy with public transport. Despite being close to the airport, reaching the museum from the airport is even more difficult than from the centre of Toulouse!
By Car
I recommend you get to Aeroscopia by car; there is free parking near the museum. If you’re arriving in Toulouse by plane, you can rent a car or book a taxi at the airport. Check Discover Cars for rental and Kiwi Taxi for NCC for the best price from/to the Toulouse airport.
By Public Transport
You can also reach Aeroscopia by public transport, but honestly, it’s something I won’t do again. The same journey would take you 20 minutes by car from the centre of Toulouse. By bus or tram, it would take more than an hour.
From Toulouse, you can get the bus 70 or the tram T1 (connected to the city centre underground), in direction Aéroconstellation. In this Toulouse/Blagnac area, there are all the aeronautical companies. As a reference, the bus stop is Aéroconstellation, while the tram stop is Beauzelle-Aeroscopia. I advise you to use Google Maps.
Once you arrive at Aéroconstellation comes the difficulty. Despite what’s written on the Aeroscopia website, there is a long walk that is poorly signposted to reach the museum.
You’ll basically walk alone in an isolated pedestrian street between fields and roads that you can’t cross. Getting there by bike might be nice, but not on foot. More than anything, it didn’t seem safe, considering the long walk in the middle of nowhere.
I usually advocate public transport. However in this case, I would rent a car and reach the museum in the safest way.
Aeroscopia
Allée André Turcat, 31700 Blagnac
Let’s Visit Airbus (Airbus tours)
Meeting point at Aeroscopia, reservations must be made online in advance
Where to Stay in Toulouse
Toulouse offers a variety of accommodation options to suit different travel styles and budgets. For a boutique experience, Boutique Hotel SOCLO is a great choice, featuring a seasonal outdoor pool, a garden, a shared lounge, and a terrace, along with an on-site restaurant for a refined stay.
If you’re traveling with family, an aparthotel can be a convenient option, allowing you to prepare your own meals. The Aparthotel Adagio Original Toulouse Centre La Grave is ideal for those arriving by car, thanks to its on-site parking.
For a budget-friendly stay without sacrificing comfort, Odalys City Toulouse Centre Compans Caffarelli offers a garden and all essential amenities. We particularly loved its proximity to the city center and the free airport shuttle service, making it a practical and well-connected option.
In conclusion, visiting the Aeroscopia museum and getting a tour of the Airbus factory in Toulouse is the best way to dive into modern European aviation history and innovation. I’m pretty sure you’ll enjoy seeing iconic aircraft, like the Concorde or the A380, and learning more about the latest technologies. Feel free to leave a comment and let me know what you loved most about the Aeroscopia and the Airbus tour!
