The big “spring cleaning 2020”.

From the end of the lockdown we were able to see that nature took advantage of the void and that the foam invaded the left side of the SA. On the other hand, the greatest harm was due to the birds, pigeons, sparrows and crows which took the plane for a perch...

As no one would disturb them during the closing of the museum, they took the opportunity to deposit their excrement along the entire length of the fuselage, in particular along the tail fin and the HF and VHF antennas.

The very first interventions were to tackle the areas covered with dung and only afterwards the moss and deposits of dust and pollution accumulated over the past two years because in 2019 we were unable to carry out a complete cleaning due to water restrictions.

That's when Quentin and Steven joined us, forced to suspend their airline pilot training and repatriated from Spain. They continued to follow their courses by internet in the morning and came to help us in the afternoons to participate in the cleaning.

On the day of departure of the last Corsair 747 our two future pilots settled down on the scaffolding at the edge of the field to take some souvenir photos.

Apres l’arc de triomphe des pompiers de l’aéroport d’Orly le dernier « Jumbo » Français part pour son dernier vol de convoyage.

After a triumphal arch from Orly airport firefighters, the last French "Jumbo" leaves for its last ferry flight.

After the departure of the plane several young photographers who passed nearby, came to make a quick tour of the SA, our young friends offered to come back as possible to help them in this enormous cleaning of the SA.

The company "HELP" also came to their aid.

The most beautiful encounters are always those due to chance.

Mid of June, when we arrived at the museum, a technician from the HELP Company worked on the signage equipment for the crossroads in front of the museum. Passing by his vehicle we ask him if they could not help us with the cleaning of the tailfin with the nacelle they use for street lighting.

The answer will come a few minutes later directly from the person in charge of the company who spontaneously gave his agreement depending on the availability of the nacelle which will have to intervene in the district soon.

At the beginning of July the team arrives and immediately we tackle the tailfin.

Very quickly with the arrival of the young people every afternoon looked like a real hive and the work took a superb lead over the clean-ups of previous years.

Proof that they got so involved, we don't have a picture of everyone at work ... but even the passenger bridge was treated by the team.

And after the effort the reward is very appreciated the visit of the cockpit of the Mirage and of course the one of the SA.

Before returning to their lessons Quentin and Steven layed the AIR FRANCE title which was not installed on the plane during the last paintwork of the SA in 2012.

All that's missing is the tailfin decoration so that SA can regain its livery from the last flight when it arrived at Orly on May 20, 1976.

For this wonderful work a big thank you to:

To the HELP company team.

To our future pilots Quentin and Steven whom Etienne, A320 instructor, wanted to thank in his own way in the cockpit of Aero Simulation and there, their cadet outfit was of course required.

At the end of this flight, given the satisfaction of the instructor, we are convinced that Quentin and Steven will successfully complete their training and become as good pilots as leaders of men as they were during their passage to the museum, responsible and efficient.

To all their friends: Alexandre, Ali, Corentin, Dorian alias Boeing, Jérémy, Lenny, Lucas, Martin, Maxime, Matteo and Yanis, who did not spare their time for the SA youth treatment.

And finally to Aéro-Simulation and to Etienne, who spoke at length with the cadets by providing them with several tips from his experience acquired during his career.