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History of the AAVA

History of the AAVA

Origins of the Association Aéronautique Verdon Alpilles

Before settling in Vinon, this club had a 35-year “wandering” period. Its origins lie in Saint-Victoret, 2 kilometers from the Marignane runway.

In 1912, a Marseille industrialist, Monsieur Jeansoulin, set up an aviation school at Pas de Lanciers “near Marseille”, a field that saw the likes of Jules Védrine and Rolland Garros.

In 1930, as in Vauville, Combegrasse, Biskra, Nice and Sens, a gliding activity modelled on that of German gliders began.

Flights lasting over 8 hours were made in Vauville, and in Biskra, the altitude of 1,000 meters was exceeded. At Pas de Lanciers, flights were made in Avia XIa and Avia XVa for the school.

In 1934, even Saint-Auban copied the Marseille winch to launch its own business. As Fernand Montleau's notebook testifies, we were released after some thirty 1-2 minute flights.

The instructors were Pieffer and Sardou. Sardou builds a Castel 30P, while Gabelier builds a mid-wing version.

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The club is called “Association Provençale de Vol à Voile”. Too close to Marignane, which was becoming an airfield and seaplane base, the Marseilles-based club migrated to Marseille, where it was to be found at the summit of the Etoile, which they cleared and stripped to make only a few departures (4).

The photo of Jacques Dengeval near an XIa (golf pants, hat) shows the site.

They will leave for Aix les Milles in 1946: this is the Aéroclub de Marseille.

Serge Cazillac, Louis Abeille in Aviasport at the Bréguet Cup. This is the former Coupe Fédérale of the 60s.

After a closure (Dauvin's accident, falling asleep after a record 54 hours of flight), the Alpilles airfield was reopened by the District. The people of Marseille flew there with the Alpilles alumni.

In 1963, the Marseilles team joined the military from Salon for a course at Vinon.

There was only the Benet hangar and a barrel hangar.

They decided to settle in Vinon, where they built a first hangar cell, then a second (a half-hangar at the beginning of the present day), to house their flying equipment. This became the Association Aéronautique Verdon Alpilles.

The president was Marcel Marcy, assisted by Maggy Marcy.

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AAVA
1, lieu dit l'Aérodrome
83560 - Vinon sur Verdon France
Tél : +33 4 92 78 82 90
Mob. : +33 6 95 55 29 78
Fax : +33 4 92 78 95 78
Email : secretariat@vinon-soaring.fr
8h30 - 12h30 // 13h30 - 16h30