1980: First Aeronautical Event: the "Grand Air Show" July 26 and 27, 1980, with the following program: Rally of mountain pilots
Jean Salis's Caudron G3 presented by Pierre Dague.
Reenactment of Durafour's landing on Mont Blanc and Adrienne Bolland's crossing of the Andes.
Tribute to Hermann Geiger and Henri Giraud
Presentation of "Adémaï the Aviator" by Didier Tabur in his Piper 90 hp
Presentation by Bernard Chabbert
1981: 1st Aviation Festival (to be completed – not yet located)
1982: 2nd Aviation Festival, July 19-25, 1982 Méribel Golden Propellers (Cinema – Literature)
Lecture Series
Air Show
With the participation of Patrick Baudry, Alan Bean (Apollo 12), Claude Nicollier, Jean-Loup Chrétien, Ryuji Nagatzuka (former Kamikaze pilot), and Bernard Chauvreau
The two Golden Propellers for literature were awarded to Marc Lissy for "Chasseurs mes frères" (Hunters, My Brothers) and to Bernard Chabbert for "L'homme fusée" (The Rocket Man).
1983: 3rd Méribel Festival, July 18-24, 1983 A memorable moment was this poem by Neil Armstrong, the first astronaut to walk on the Moon:
"How to Keep Children?"
Ingredients: 6 children, 3 dogs (at least), a large, grassy field, lots of flowers, a small stream with pebbles, a vast blue sky, and plenty of sunshine.
Mix the children and dogs together and pour the mixture into the field with the flowers.
Gently pour the stream over the pebbles. Then cover with the
vast blue sky and leave to bake in the very hot sun.
When the children are well tanned, take them out.
They are just ready to be put in the bathtub to cool.
Cinema: "Space Opera" Series
Air Show Themes: Vintage Aviation, Sport Aviation, Mountain Rescue and Operations, Aerobatic Competition, Light Aviation.
1984: 4th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 16-22, 1984 Participation of American and European astronauts to mark the fifteenth anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing on July 20, 1984. Jim Irwin (Apollo 15) and Ed Mitchell (Apollo 14) were present, as well as Patrick Baudry, Jean-Loup Chrétien, Claude Nicollier, and Michel Bignier (ESA). Also in attendance were Eric Müller, Catherine Maunoury, Jean Salis, Bernard Chauvreau, and Albert Ducrocq.
1985: 5th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 15-21, 1985 Theme: "The Grand Circus 85"
In the presence of Hubert Curien, Minister of Research and Technology.
The myth of the fighter pilot with General Adolph Galland, Stanford Tuck "the Immortal," Pierre Clostermann, and General Capillon, Chief of Staff of the French Air Force.
Also present were Claude Nicollier, Patrick Baudry, and Michel Bignier.
Performance by the Patrouille de France (French Air Force Aerobatic Team).
1986: 6th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 8-14, 1986 Theme: "Destination Mars" and space programs with Jean-Loup Chrétien, Claude Nicollier, and Michel Bignier (Ariane project manager)
1987: 7th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 12-19, 1987 Theme: "Flight 087" and the Line
In attendance: Edmond Petit, Jean Macaigne (a colleague of Mermoz and Saint-Exupéry), and Robert Roux.
Space enthusiasts represented: Claude Nicollier, John Blaha (US astronaut), and Jean-Loup Chrétien.
The Patrouille de France aerobatic team, Yves Duval, the Martini aerobatic team, and Louis Pena.
1988: 8th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 10-17, 1988 Theme: "Rotary-Wing Aircraft"
In attendance: Jean Boulet, Jean Moine, André Onde
Mountain Rescue Demonstration
1989: 9th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 12-16, 1989 Theme: "The Sky, Land of Adventures"
In attendance: Catherine Maunoury, Nicolas Hulot, Jean-Loup Chrétien, Michel Tognini, Gérard Feldzer, Bertrand Piccard
Numerous workshops, rockets, literary prizes, hot air balloons, parachute jumps, helicopter workshop
Robert Roux comments here on his 500th air show.
1990: 10th Aviation and Astronautics Festival, July 10-15, 1990 Theme: "The Stuff of Heroes and Test Pilots"
In attendance: Guy Mitaux Maurouard (Dassault), Claude Nicollier (NASA astronaut), Jean-Pierre Haigneré, and Jean-Marc Saget.
50th Anniversary of the Battle of France with General Hugo (2/7), Hubert Boitelet, and François Warnier (Fighter Group I/5)
Model building workshops, rockets, boomerangs, literary prizes, film screenings, golf
In attendance: Catherine Maunoury, Jean Salis, Bertrand Piccard, Jacques Bothelin, and Bernard Chabbert.