Exhibition: “Ailes contre Elles: Women in Aviation”
Through September 20, 2026, the European Museum of Fighter Aviation in Montélimar-Ancône (Drôme department) is presenting an exhibition highlighting the women who have contributed to the development of aviation.
An exhibition designed to highlight the women who have contributed to the dream of Icarus, “Ailes contre Elles: Women in Aviation” traces the journeys of some twenty women who have shaped—and continue to shape—the field of aeronautics. Their names include Claudie Haigneré, Thérèse Peltier, Maryse Hilsz, Valentina Terechkova, and, more recently, Anne-Laure Michel, Claire Mérouze, and Sophie Adenot… Vintage and contemporary photos, various archival materials, and all kinds of documentation (such as videos and biographies) pay a heartfelt tribute to them through September 20, 2026, at the Museum of Fighter Aviation in Montélimar-Ancône.
The venue’s goal on this occasion is to remind us that “the history of aviation is also, at its core, a history of women’s daring,” especially when judged by the significance of the remarkable feats of pioneers such as Adrienne Bolland, Amelia Earhart, and many others. They were (and still are) adventurers, but also scholars, technicians, and innovators… Their journeys have been, and remain, an example for everyone. This exhibition is also an opportunity to inspire future careers through the dreams that these exceptional women and their achievements continue to inspire in younger generations—and future ones, of course.
Exhibition: “Ailes contre Elles: Women in Aviation,” through September 20, 2026. European Museum of Fighter Aviation in Montélimar-Ancône, Chemin de l’Entrée de l’Aérodrome, 26 200 Montélimar.
