We thought we had seen it all when it comes to unusual places in Hauts-de-France. Then we stumbled upon Aero Delahaye, a quirky little hamlet nestled in Verchocq, in the Haut Pays d’Opale. Here, homes come with airplane hangars instead of garages, and neighbors take off for a spin… in ultra-light planes.
A unique aviator village in Europe
Nicknamed the “aviators’ village,” this completely unique place brings together about thirty aviation enthusiasts from all over Europe. The concept is simple yet truly fascinating: each resident can park their airplane right at home and access the landing strips set up in the middle of the fields. It’s the kind of detail that completely transforms daily life. In Aero Delahaye, roads cross runways, hangars take the place of traditional garages, and takeoffs are almost part of the scenery.
A project born from a farmer's passion
Behind this rather crazy project is Jean-Louis Delahaye, a farmer with a passion for aviation who dreamed up this aeronautical residential park in the 2010s. His idea was to create a place where enthusiasts could fully embrace their hobby without having to choose between a country house and an airfield. The result: a totally unique location in Europe, nestled between land and sea, in a super calm environment where residents come to both fly and unwind.
Two real landing strips in the middle of the fields
And hold on, we're not talking about just a makeshift patch in a corner of a meadow. Aero Delahaye boasts two genuine parallel runways: one is 250 meters dedicated to microlights, and the other is 630 meters for larger aircraft. It’s a place where dreams can really take flight!
It has also been recognized as a private airfield. That means we are a far cry from just your typical residential development.
Pool, sauna… and a night in an “Air Villa”
The most surprising thing is that this place isn't just for pilots. Aero Delahaye also focuses on a peaceful, nature-inspired lifestyle, complete with a pool, sauna, tennis, and large green spaces! And for the curious ones, you can even spend the night by renting an “Air Villa.” It’s definitely the perfect spot for an unusual weekend not far from Lille. With little planes taxiing between the houses and the almost American vibe of the place, you sometimes feel like you’re in a movie set.
Address: 6 Rue De L'aérodrome, Ham. du Val du Fresne, 62560 Verchocq, France