Home | About Us | Courses | Accommodation | Travel | Activities | Local Info | Prices | Gallery | Links | Site Map | Contact Us

Alpine Vol

by Richard Llewellyn

I made my mind up. I'd been flying a flexwing for 6 years but it was becoming increasingly apparent to me that my enjoyment was being constrained because of a lack of confidence. I needed to do something about it or simply stay a non-adventurous microlighter.

I saw the advert for AlpineVol in MF and decided to go for it. Five days in the South of France had its own appeal and to combine it with the opportunity to improve my flying skills seemed a fairly safe bet.

My wife and I flew with easyjet from Gatwick to Marseilles and then caught the train to Gap. We arrived at Gap at around 10pm on Sunday evening and before we left the platform someone approached us and introduced himself as Simon. Simon was to be my flying instructor for the week and his immediate friendliness promised an enjoyable week.

Simon drove us the 10kms from Gap to Tallard and we checked into our hotel, the Residen'Ciel, for five nights. We had chosen a two bed studio and found it spotlessly clean. Next morning we met up with Simon at breakfast, who was also staying in the Hotel, and walked the 75 metres over to the hangar.

This was to be the first of five days of flying fun. I had told Simon where I was with my flying and what I wanted out of the week. We set off on our first flight and Simon soon put me through what should have been simple tests. I had not performed a sixty degree banked turn since my GFT two and a half years ago and it was no surprise that I struggled to maintain level flight. We flew on and I was in awe of the scenery - we were flying between mountains and with a bit of help from Simon we landed on a small strip precariously perched on the top of a hill. I was doing things that I would never have ventured near without someone to give me the confidence to do it.

After two hours of flying and experiencing more challenges in that period than my previous 20 flying solo we returned to Tallard Aerodrome. I walked back to the Hotel with a beaming smile and found my wife capturing the panoramic view on watercolour. We walked into the local village, found the natives friendly, and bought our provisions.

The next two days were just as exciting and the scenery from the Quantum just got better. The fourth day, Simon helped me climb up to around 7,000ft AMSL, a record for me, as we flew over the flat top mountain Ceuse. The last day, I hired the Quantum and took my wife for an unforgettable flight to a similar height where we were able to see the snow peaked mountains from a new perspective.

Tallard is a quiet and unassuming but interesting village and we ate out for two nights there in two very different but equally delightful small restaurants. The Wednesday evening Simon fired up the barbecue in the hotel garden.

The weather was flyable everyday and Thursday had provided enough wind to force me to improve my powered landings. The whole week was a great experience and my flying skills improved considerably. Simon (and his Grandad) were good company for the week and could not have been more helpful.

The Aerodrome is a feast of airsports with skydiving and GA aircraft tuition with two tarmac and two grass runways (and a commendable terrace restaurant overlooking the airfield). The place is simply a combination of breathtaking scenery, good weather, and great flying. Simon was willing to accommodate whatever I wanted and I have returned a much improved pilot. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience. Thanks Simon.

RL Oxon