Port-Aviation

Port-Aviation was an airfield in the commune of Viry-Châtillon in Seine-et-Oise (now in Essonne), France. It operated as a popular air racing and aviation exhibition venue and hosted civilian flight schools from its opening in 1909 until the start of World War I in 1914, then as a training center for military pilots during the war. Situated on land prone to flooding, it closed in 1918. In its earliest years it was an internationally important aviation center. Although designed as an aviation event venue rather than as a true airport or aerodrome, Viry-Châtillon claims for it the title of "world's first organized aerodrome."

Although Port-Aviation was located entirely within Viry-Châtillon rather than on the territory of either Juvisy-sur-Orge or Savigny-sur-Orge, the press and post card publishers habitually — to the consternation of the civic leaders of Viry-Châtillon — referred to it as Juvisy Airfield (or variations such as Juvisy Aerodrome or simply Juvisy) or sometimes as Savigny Airfield because the Juvisy and Savigny-sur-Orge railroad stations served it; in fact, a sign at Juvisy station referred to Port-Aviation as "Juvisy Airfield.". As a result, the airfield often is referred to as "Juvisy Airfield" by historians and the general public.

Port-Aviation was the site or origin of many record-breaking or otherwise historic flights and aerobatic feats, and a number of aviation firsts took place there, such as the first air race, the first flight with two passengers, and the first inverted airplane flight, as well as only the second aerobatic loop in history. The first airplane with a tubular fuselage, the first flying boat, and early parachutes were tested at Port-Aviation. Tragic firsts also occurred there: The first death of a pilot in a crash while at the controls of an airplane and the first death of a person on the ground killed by a falling airplane both took place at Port-Aviation.

After Port-Aviation closed, its land became a housing development. The housing district constructed on the site of the former airfield also is called Port-Aviation.