The history of Andernos Air club

Everything began in September, 1958 when Etienne LEFORT who was President of the ACSO to Léognan, sought from Arès's city hall the granting of a strip of ground to create an aerodrome there. Several places were proposed but grounds were too small and offered no possibility of expansion, Arès's choice was abandoned, his Mayor M. DARTIGUELONGUE was not anyway favorable to it. One thought then of Lanton.

In this time two friends met rather often, perched each on a bar stool. They chatted of aviation and the other thing as well.

Paul BORDURON talked in connoisseur, he was experimental, he flew from Léognan. Marcel BACHE listened him. Why not suggest to Etienne fitting out his ground to Andernos rather than to Lanton? As soon as said, right after fact, Etienne Lefort dashes in search of a ground. Marcel is going to find the Mayor, then M. DESPAGNE. Paul contacts Etienne. Each turns charges and eventually convinces.

On November 5, 1958, a meeting takes place to Andernos in the ''grand café'' to inform the population and the press of the creation of this aerodrome and an air club. The Mayor of Andernos gives a favorable agreement which should be confirmed by its City Council.

January 11, 1959, City Council of the city of Andernos gave an opinion favorable to the creation of this projet.

On January 26, 1959, some friends meet in the ''grand café' (becoming the head office) and base then the A.C.C.A (Aéro Club de la Côte d'Argent) and its first staff which composes the first statutes.
President Paul BORDURON
Vice-Presidents Marcel BACHE and Etienne LEFORT
Secretary René GUERREAU
Treasurer Robert GOUBET

The Official Newspaper of February 11, 1959 mentions the creation of the association under N° 6654.

On June 12, 1959, the Director of the airport of Bordeaux Mérignac write in the aéro club to inform hit that his services call no objection to the realization of the project in the foreseen place. Everything is in place on the paper, now: forward!!! In the work!!! One adorns fire to comb so that there is no wooden twig, the shaping, excavation of the attics for the seed of hay, the manuring of natural fertilizer (of the most natural), ditches, road of loose stones there etc...

Everything is done, without blowing, by the members of the Club who are real fanatics.

They are encouraged and helped, it is necessary to say it, at first by the friendly understanding of the Municipality and as well by the body of the Sappers Fire brigades. These fanatics what are they or rather whom were they?

There is besides staff: Jean Pierre SEVERAIN, papa GOUBET, Bernard SCHUTRUMPH, Claude DIGNEAU (coco for all), Jean FARRIEU, Jean PARIES, René LACAZE, Georges LANNEAU, Paul ALBERT (more technician than manual worker)), etc.... Paul DEGRAVE, a little later, for the reaping.

Everything arrives all the same; we adorn fire takes shape and in July, 1961, for the first time, an aircraft lands on Andernos's airfield.

On August 14, 1961, organization of the 1st meeting.

At the beginning of 1962, we have our small first one, it is Jodel D112 F BKJZ, his price at the time of flight is fixed to 38 NF (the annual subscription to 25 NF), it sleeps wisely to Léognan, but in August we can accommodate it in our first hangar.

In 1964, new purchase: the 3rd device is a JODEL D120S, the F-BMIX which will not get up of an a little bit rough landing in one adorn nearby fire. One replaced it by the F-BLNC.

In 1967, construction of the club house.

In 1968, installation of fuel pumps.

In February, 1969, an anonymous person donates in the airclub a Jodel D112.

In 1970, the Papa GOUBET pleases to offer to the club, a magnificent PIPER J3, the F-BDTS (the pleasure is shared)

This year there, the club is for the first time at the head of air clubs of the region Aquitaine with 9 aircraft, 143 members, 4 instructors and 2014 hours of flight.

Then some planes are replaced and arrive then:
- in 1973 the Dauphin (DR 221), the Petit Prince and another JODEL 112, the F-BBKS.
- in 1975 the DR 253 Regent F-BPOY