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Spectacles

The Skies Come Alive Over Menton this August

IARLA BYRNE16 August, 20263 Mins read179

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Ville de Menton guarantees a high-flying end to summer with French Flyair, an airshow that promises to captivate and delight.

French Flyair returns to Menton at the end of August, bringing three days of aviation-themed activities to the seafront and culminating in a major aerial display above the Mediterranean.

Running from 28 to 30 August 2026, the event is organised by the tourist office of the Ville de Menton and Bleuciel Airshow, the company behind French Flyair events around France. The concept combines military and civilian aviation displays with a public aeronautical village, giving visitors the opportunity to discover more about aviation both on the ground and in the air.

Menton joined the French Flyair calendar in 2025, when the Patrouille de France appeared over the town for the first time. This year’s programme expands on that format, with some of the leading display teams of the French Air and Space Force scheduled to take part.

^{Photo © Ville de Menton}

Aeronautical Village

The Aeronautical Village will be open from Friday, 28 to Sunday, 30 August, on and around the Esplanade Francis Palmero and the Menton seafront.

Designed to bring visitors closer to the world of aviation, the village will feature a flight simulator, an ejection seat and aviation-related exhibits and stands. Visitors will also be able to engage with members of the Patrouille de France and professionnels from the Armée de l’air et de l’Espace.

The village forms an important part of the French Flyair concept, extending the event beyond Sunday’s flying displays and providing activities for aviation enthusiasts and families throughout the weekend.

The Village will be open to the public from 2 pm to 9 pm each day, with free admission.

Programme for the Airshow

The main aerial display takes place on Sunday, 30 August, when the skies above Menton’s Baie du Soleil become the stage for a series of civilian and military demonstrations.

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^{Courtesy villedementon on Instagram}

Heading the programme will be the Patrouille de France, the official aerobatic team of the French Air and Space Force and one of the best-known formation display teams in the world.

Flying its distinctive Alpha Jets, the team is renowned for its precision formations, high-speed crossings and signature displays accompanied by trails of blue, white and red smoke.

Also scheduled to appear is the Équipe de Voltige de l’Armée de l’Air, representing France at the highest level of individual aerobatic competition and display flying.

Another highlight will be the A400M Tactical Display, demonstrating the performance and manoeuvrability of Airbus’s four-engine military transport aircraft. Despite its considerable size, the A400M is capable of an impressive flying display designed to demonstrate capabilities far removed from those normally associated with a transport aircraft.

The civilian Epsilon Team is also listed among the participants, adding another style of formation aerobatics to the programme.

^{Photo © Ville de Menton}

Exhibition and Demonstrations

French Flyair is intended to showcase aviation beyond the headline display by the Patrouille de France.

The combination of military aircraft, aerobatic teams, aviation exhibits and demonstrations gives visitors an opportunity to see very different aspects of flying, from precision formation aerobatics to the capabilities of a modern military transport aircraft.

The setting should also make the Menton event particularly distinctive. The flying displays take place above the Mediterranean, allowing spectators to watch from the seafront with the mountains and the Franco-Italian border providing the backdrop.

For Sunday’s main event, the Promenade du Soleil will be pedestrianised, creating an extensive viewing area along the waterfront.

^{Courtesy French Flyair Menton}

There will also be an exhibition of models of iconic aircraft from the Armée de l’air et de l’Espace, taking place on the second floor of the Palais de l’Europe. This will accompanied by photographs from spotters. The exhibition is open from 1 pm to 7 pm on the Friday and Saturday, and 1 pm to 6 pm on Sunday.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

French Flyair Menton: 28 – 30 August 2026
Aeronautical Village: 2 – 9 pm daily
Main airshow: Sunday, 30 August
Where: Promenade du Soleil & Esplanade Francis Palmero
Admission: Free admission

Getting there: With Menton’s railway station around 200 metres from the heart of the event, organisers are strongly recommending the use of public transport. Regional ZOU! trains are expected to operate approximately every 15 minutes, while bus services will also connect Menton with Monaco and Nice.