WELCOME TO THE CLIN D’AILES MUSEUM
MUSÉE DE L’AVIATION MILITAIRE PAYERNE

N’oubliez pas notre exposition temporaire

ARISS link with the ISS – OR4ISS – HB9SPACE
saturday, october 5th, 2024

Clin d’Ailes Museum PAYERNE SWITZERLAND

voici la vidéo de cette liaison

Thank you to everyone who made this contact with the ISS possible.

It was a magical moment!

The Musée Clin d’Ailes celebrated Claude Nicollier’s 80th birthday.

Credit : Claude Nicollier, NASA, ESA

On 2 September 2024, the first Swiss astronaut and former military pilot Claude Nicollier turned 80. This date marks a turning point in the life of a remarkable and extraordinary personality. His space missions have undoubtedly contributed to the popularisation of space in Switzerland and are a source of inspiration for many people.

It was important for us to celebrate this event in the right way and to honour the person that Claude Nicollier is.

This celebration took place at the Payerne Military Aviation Museum ‘Clin d’Ailes’ as part of Payerne Space Days 2024 on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October 2024.

Claude Nicollier was joined by his family, friends and leading figures from the world of science and politics.

A live ARISS (Amateur Radio on the International Space Station) contact with NASA astronaut Mike Barratt on board the ISS took place at 16:44 Swiss time (14:44 UTC) on Saturday 5 October. Claude Nicollier was able to greet the astronauts on board the space station before the students from Payerne Air Force Base could ask their questions to Mike Barratt.

Mike Barrat, NASA astronaut (Credit NASA)

Sunday 6 Ocotber 2024

Many thanks to the large audience who came to pay tribute to Claude Nicollier. A standing ovation at the end of his talk was the reward for his account of his journey to become the first Swiss astronaut.

Our thanks also go to the Gruyère Space Program team.

Thank you to the team for agreeing to show Colibri to the public. Colibri, the world’s first student-built rocket hopper! The public really appreciated your presence and the opportunity you gave them to follow an excellent conference.

Gruyère Space Program ->

The Clin d’Ailes Museum invites you to come and share your passion for flying

3 modern flight simulators are at your disposal

(subject to technical failure or affluence)

THE PC-7 SIMULATOR

Free and no reservation needed, wednesday and saturday afternoon 13:30 – 15:00

A basic introduction to piloting a school plane from our air force of the 80s…
The best way to start your training at the Clin d’Ailes museum.

THE F/A-18 HORNET SIMULATOR

CHF 20.- / 30 minutes – booking needed
+ CHF 10.- museum entrance fee per person

With a little experience in simulator flight (if necessary, you can get this for free on our PC-7 simulator), we suggest you sit down in the cockpit of a McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 Hornet. You will be accompanied by an experienced moderator. If you take control of this aircraft, which is currently operated by the Swiss Air Force, you will quickly appreciate its excellent capabilities.
You will have the possibility to intercept other civil or military aircraft or to accompany the formation of the virtual “Patrouille Suisse”. For the more experienced, an aircraft carrier is awaiting you in the Mediterranean Sea to catapult you from 0 to 250 km / h at less than 100 m. The hardest part is yet to come. The landing, slowed down by one of the 4 cables stretched on the aircraft carrier…Make your choice !

FLIGHT SIMULATOR CENTER (FSC)

CHF 20.- / session – booking needed
+ CHF 10.- museum entrance fee per person

The “SwissMilSim” team develops former Swiss Air Force aircraft and puts them back in their period context,
On airfields modeled as they once were.The Flight Simulator Center (FSC) association, whose primary vocation is to provide visitors to the Payerne Aviation Museum with a rich range of virtual flight initiations, presents and brings these aircraft from another age back to life, the time of a demonstration or an initiation.

TO THE FLIGHT SIMULATORS PAGE - DETAILS + BOOKINGS

MUSEUM OPENING HOURS

We look forward to welcoming you according to the opening times below

APRIL – JUNE

TUESDAY TO SUNDAY 13H30-17H00 The museum is closed friday 06 june

JULY – AUGUST

TUESDAY TO SATURDAY 13H30-17H00

SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER

TUESDAY TO SUNDAY 13H30-17H00

NOVEMBER – MARCH

WEDNESDAY + SATURDAY

13H30 – 17H00

EXCEPTIONAL CLOSINGS

Every monday · Easter sunday · Ascension · Mother’s Day · Pentecost sunday · National day

Social networks

THE FACEBOOK PAGE

Events

EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

TEMPORARY EXHIBIT

HONOURING ASTRONAUT CLAUDE NICOLLIER

The temporary exhibition 2024 is dedicated to Claude Nicollier, the first Swiss astronaut, a founding member of the Musée Clin d’Ailes and Chairman of the Foundation Board from 1999 to 2021

On exhibit at the museum starting saturday march 23rd, 2024

You wish to organise a private event at the Museum ?
Clin d’Ailes offers a broad range of possibilities. More details at the bottom of our Events page.

THE EVENTS PAGE

THE CLIN D’AILES MUSEUM

A new hall, a maintenance workshop, more aircrafts, equipment and numerous surprises await visitors of the Clin d’Ailes Museum

To date, more than 150’000 visitors have stepped through the doors of this swiss aeronautical den located on the ourskirts of the Payerne Air Base (VD), nevertheless located on the fribourgeoise commune of Estavayer, since the fusion of Morens with this new large commune since january 1st 2017.

At the inauguration of the expansion, in 2015, the president of the museum foundation council, the astronaut Claude Nicollier, has reminded the objectives that enlivens the museum officials, namely «share and preserve». Preserve the aeronautical heritage of the Air Forces and also share this passion. This can be done by visiting the museum, meeting former pilots and mecanics, but also in the air, with Espace Passion’s flight operation crew.

EXHIBITIONS

Inaugurated in 2003 the Museum allows you to discover a unique collection of swiss aircrafts from post-war to the present day

TO THE EXHIBITIONS

THE EVENTS

You are looking for your business, your association or your family a unique and original place to organise a seminar, an evening a general assembly ?

TO THE EVENTS

THE ESPACE PASSION ASSOCIATION

An organisation that works for the rally and conservation of the swiss military aeronautical heritage

TO ESPACE PASSION

THE MUSEUM EXHIBITS

A unique collection of the swiss aeronautical heritage

DE HAVILLAND DH-100

VISIT THE PAGE

DE HAVILLAND DH-115

VISIT THE PAGE

DE HAVILLAND DH-112

VISIT THE PAGE

PILATUS AIRCRAFT

VISIT THE PAGE

HAWKER MK.58

VISIT THE PAGE

HAWKER TMK.68

VISIT THE PAGE

SUD-AVIATION SE 3130

VISIT THE PAGE

SUD-AVIATION SE 3160

VISIT THE PAGE

DASSAULT AVIATION

VISIT THE PAGE

DASSAULT AVIATION

VISIT THE PAGE

DASSAULT AVIATION

VISIT THE PAGE

NORTHROP F-5

VISIT THE PAGE

As well as the latest aircraft added to the museum collection :

BRITISH AEROSPACE

VISIT THE PAGE

Espace Passion

NEWS FROM THE ASSOCIATION

Ordinary general meeting of the association

Friday May, 23 2025 at 17h30

in Corcelles-près-Payerne

THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

Important information about Mirage flights

After an excellent 2022 flying season, the sky started to darken when we received a letter from the FOCA (Federal Office of Civil Aviation) on October 10. The federal authority informed us that they wanted to withdraw the Mirage’s flight authorization on 31.12.2022. Indeed, the aging of certain parts and components of the engine is the cause. We then initiated several actions, including risk analyses, discussions with specialists in this type of engine and close collaboration with the successor manufacturer of this engine. Nothing helped, and our flight authorization will definitely not be renewed, meaning a premature end to the flights of our Mirage.
Despite everything, the FOCA, authorizes us a last day of flight, the date of May 25 was chosen to carry out two flights in order to end this adventure with dignity.

MORE ABOUT THE FLIGHT OPERATIONS

GUESTBOOK OF THE MIRAGE FLIGHTS

Acknowledgements