"Enjoying the sunshine on this beautiful spring evening, our dad took his last flight." It is with this message that Baptiste Salis formalized the death of his father, Jean Salis, on June 2, at the age of 86. This disappearance arouses a wave of emotions in the world of aeronautics, which believes to have lost "one of its giants", and far beyond. His funeral will take place this Friday, June 9 at 14 p.m. in the church of Cerny.
Born in 1937, Jean Edmond Salis is "a legend" who has communicated his passion for vintage aircraft to a wide audience. This is evidenced by the 40,000 spectators at the 50th edition, on May 27 and 28, of the Cerny La Ferté-Alais air show, which has become "The Mecca of vintage aviation in France", and of which it is at the origin.
"On June 2, 2023, during the day, Jean Salis left, for his last trip, his last flight, moves the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis, which preserves and maintains in flying condition vintage aircraft, while promoting the aeronautical heritage at the aerodrome of Cerny La Ferté-Alais. Jeannot will forever remain the founder and soul of our association. Beyond our deep sadness, all our thoughts are with his family. »
For the Salis, aviation has been a family affair for three generations, and the 4th, Jean's grandchildren, are already contaminated. Jean-Baptiste Salis, Jean Salis' father, was a figure in aeronautics. In 1936, the latter built an airfield on the site of an old sawmill located between Cerny and La Ferté-Alais. This will be the playground of Jean and his sister Irene. And the site will quickly become one of the most active gliding hubs in France.
He has collaborated on 150 films including L'As des as with Belmondo.
In 1955, Jean-Baptiste Salis opened a workshop for the restoration of old cuckoos in Cerny. After his death in 1967, his son Jean, helped by his sister Irène, took up the torch and went in search of the planes that marked their father's career. This is how the collection starts. Jean Salis became an expert for cinema, coordinated aerial battles and collaborated on 150 films such as "The Longest Day" "The Ace of Aces" with Jean-Paul Belmondo or "Indiana Jones".
In the 1970s, he created a flying museum with dozens of models of mythical aircraft, such as the Blériot XI, Stearman PT17 (biplanes from before the Second World War) or a Morane-Saulnier Type H, and several are classified as historical monuments. They also have the particularity of all being able to fly, not content to be admired on the ground.
See alsoHeritage in Essonne: legendary planes at the flying museum of Cerny
In the process, the first aeronautical festival was born with the Amicale aéronautique de Cerny―La Ferté-Alais, which later took the name of the Amicale Jean-Baptiste Salis and of which Jean Salis was the first president.
He fought to lift a law banning old planes from flying.
"I have lost a very close friend," laments Marie-Claire Chambaret, the mayor (without label) of Cerny, whose wedding he witnessed. He worked hard for the commune, where he was elected for 20 years. He contributed greatly to the economic development of the Ardennay plateau, which was only a farm before. He lived in the aura of his father, he spent his whole life buying, assembling and dismantling planes. »
Marie-Claire Chambaret remembers that in 1965, when gliding had to move to Buno-Bonneveaux for lack of space in Cerny and because it was too close to Orly airport, "it was difficult". "He then compensated by buying planes all over the world. I remember one time when he warned me that he was going to look for one in Thailand, says the elected official. He was passionate and he passed on his passion. To his loved ones, but also to the general public. In the 1970s, every Sunday he offered free first flights to the children of the town. It was exceptional. »
The mayor of Cerny remembers Jean Salis as a "pugnacious" man. "At one time, a law prohibited old planes from flying," she rewinds. He has put a lot of effort into getting this measure lifted. It took him 11 years of effort. At its creation, the meeting was called the Aéro folklorique. From the first editions, there were miles of traffic jams around. John wanted his work to continue to evolve and to be perpetuated. It will be by his sons and grandchildren, and his wife Brigitte. His passion will live on through them. »
