Issy from the other side - from the west - after the festive arrival of all eight Sabena S-58s from Brussels on 3 March 1957. Not to be outdone, the French armed forces have assembled twenty-five light helicopters - eleven Bell 47s, four Hillers, five Alouette IIs, and five Djinns! There are also two French S-55s towards the top right corner. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Brussels at war? No, this is the festive opening of Sabena's helicopter service to Paris - Issy, with the whole new S-58s fleet making the trip. In 1963, amazingly, a Breguet 941 STOL transport was allowed to land at this city heliport. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)

Grand opening for the central Brussels to Paris - Issy helicopter service with Sabena's eight S-58s all on the ground. This is a very old airfield which was closed to fixed-wing planes in 1953 although one is visible top left. Photo by: Loomis Dean / Life

On 3 March 1957 all eight S-58 helicopters just bought by Sabena flew from the Brussels heliport to Paris in formation as a publicity stunt. Famous Life photographer Loomis Dean was invited. OO-SHG and SHH are also seen. Photo by: Loomis Dean / Life

Opening of Sabena's helicopter service from central Brussels to Paris - Issy, two miles from the Eiffel Tower. Today the train is just as fast. Photo by: Loomis Dean / Life

Life photographer Loomis Dean had a day out with Sabena's new S-58 helicopters. These are fitted with 'doughnut' inflatable flotation bags made by Air Cruisers, Belmar, New Jersey. Photo by: Loomis Dean / Life