Aéro-Club de France

{{Multiple issues|

{{Expand French|Aéro-Club de France|date=February 2021}}

{{More citations needed|date=March 2009}}

}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}

File:Bordeaux exposition-maritime 1907 rallye-ballon-de-l'aero-club-bordelais.jpg.]]

The Aéro-Club de France ({{IPA|fr|a.e.ʁɔ.klyb də fʁɑ̃s|lang}}) is one of the oldest French aviators' associations still active. It was founded as the Aéro-Club on 20 October 1898 as a society 'to encourage aerial locomotion' by Ernest Archdeacon, Léon Serpollet, Henri de la Valette, Jules Verne and his wife, André Michelin, Albert de Dion, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Henri Deutsch de la Meurthe, and Henry de La Vaulx.{{cite web|url=http://www.aeroclub.com/100-ans-histoire/aecf-de-1898-a-nos-jours/historique |first=Max |last=Armanet |title=Historique |language=fr |access-date=17 April 2014 |website=Aéro-Club de France |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140420043651/http://www.aeroclub.com/100-ans-histoire/aecf-de-1898-a-nos-jours/historique |archive-date=20 April 2014}} On 20 April 1909, its name was changed to Aéro-Club de France.{{cite web|url=http://www.aviation-francaise.com/100%20ans%20ACF.htm |title=Centenaire de l'Aero-Club de France |website=Aviation-francaise.com |year=1998 |access-date=7 August 2012 |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203162714/http://www.aviation-francaise.com/100%20ans%20ACF.htm |archive-date=3 February 2015 }}

The Aéro-Club de France originally set many of the regulations that controlled aviation in France. From its formation it also set the rules that have marked some of the 'firsts' in aviation, such as the first closed-circuit flight of over 1 km and the first helicopter flight, and has organised competitions including:

• the Prix Deutsch de la Meurthe, a challenge for dirigibles from 1901
• the Gordon Bennett Cup for fixed-wing aircraft in 1909

The club published the journal L'Aérophile from 1898 to 1947,{{cite web |url=http://www.aeroclub.com/santos_dumont_14bis_14bis_2.htm |title=Les vols du 14bis décrits par les membres del'Aéro- Club de France dans les Aérophiles de 1906 |work=Aéro-Club de France |language=fr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707092457/http://www.aeroclub.com/santos_dumont_14bis_14bis_2.htm |archive-date=7 July 2011}} and since 1997 publishes the magazine Aérofrance.

The Aéro-Club de France was a founding member of the International Aeronautical Federation (FAI) in 1905, a joint effort with other national associations.

After 1945, some of the Aéro-Club's regulatory roles were taken by other bodies. It now focusses on the promotion of aviation and certification.

File:Brevet de pilote aéronaute 1904.jpg|Balloon pilot's licence issued by the Aéro-Club de France to Mr. Tissandier in 1904.

File:Btv1b84386347-p005.jpg|Aero Club festivities, air and automobile rally, June 16, 1904.

File:Btv1b84386347-p006.jpg

File:Btv1b84386347-p007.jpg

File:Btv1b84386347-p008.jpg

File:Btv1b84386347-p009.jpg

File:Carte postale - Saint-Cloud - Parc de l'aéroclub de France à St-Cloud - Un départ de ballons - 9FI-SCL 903.jpg|St. Cloud, 1910