August Bank Holiday in France (2006)
It's been quite a while since I returned from the August Bank Holiday fly out to France (over 4 months!) It was a good trip: enjoyable and challenging.
Myself and Niels left Barton and flew down to Lydd where we picked up a full tank of tax free avgas and filed our flight plan to Le Touquet where we could clear customs and immigration.
Over the French Coast: August Bank Holiday 2006
We left Le Touquet and flew down to Le Mans where we stayed for the night. The following day we dodged showers and flew into a great little airfield at Saumur St Florent before departing to land at Niort Souche about 60 miles south. Our next stop was Royan Medis out near the coast where a parachute event was in progress. We planned to spend the night in La Rochelle and flew up the coast admiring the beaches before landing at the very nice airfield and taxing into town. It was difficult to get a cheap hotel room and we ended up paying a hefty charge.
Me at Royan Medis
Sunset at La Rochelle
The next day we took a short hop of 25 miles to Fontenay-le-comte where we landed and had fun "speaking" to the French pilots who did not speak English which was interesting as we did not speak French.
We landed at Vendee Airpark, a private aviation community of pilots which consists of a runway and houses where you taxi your plane to your hanger in front of your house.. Very nice. After our tour here we were ready for lunch and thinking of getting back to England.
Vendee Air Park from 2000 ft
Our last stop was at La Baule on the coast which was a great setting for an airfield. We ate here before flying on to Dinard where we refueled and set out for Barton via Jersey, Alderney, Bath and the Low Level Route.
Right Base for La Baule
Bad weather forced a diversion to Manchester International Airport where we mixed it with the big jets before landing safely. Manchester ATC were very helpful and accomodating.
Left Base For 24R
On short final for Runway 24R at Manchester
Bad weather meant we left the plane overnight before flying back to Barton on the holiday Monday.
A great trip and one I hope to repeat this year.
Myself and Niels left Barton and flew down to Lydd where we picked up a full tank of tax free avgas and filed our flight plan to Le Touquet where we could clear customs and immigration.
Over the French Coast: August Bank Holiday 2006
We left Le Touquet and flew down to Le Mans where we stayed for the night. The following day we dodged showers and flew into a great little airfield at Saumur St Florent before departing to land at Niort Souche about 60 miles south. Our next stop was Royan Medis out near the coast where a parachute event was in progress. We planned to spend the night in La Rochelle and flew up the coast admiring the beaches before landing at the very nice airfield and taxing into town. It was difficult to get a cheap hotel room and we ended up paying a hefty charge.
Me at Royan Medis
Sunset at La Rochelle
The next day we took a short hop of 25 miles to Fontenay-le-comte where we landed and had fun "speaking" to the French pilots who did not speak English which was interesting as we did not speak French.
We landed at Vendee Airpark, a private aviation community of pilots which consists of a runway and houses where you taxi your plane to your hanger in front of your house.. Very nice. After our tour here we were ready for lunch and thinking of getting back to England.
Vendee Air Park from 2000 ft
Our last stop was at La Baule on the coast which was a great setting for an airfield. We ate here before flying on to Dinard where we refueled and set out for Barton via Jersey, Alderney, Bath and the Low Level Route.
Right Base for La Baule
Bad weather forced a diversion to Manchester International Airport where we mixed it with the big jets before landing safely. Manchester ATC were very helpful and accomodating.
Left Base For 24R
On short final for Runway 24R at Manchester
Bad weather meant we left the plane overnight before flying back to Barton on the holiday Monday.
A great trip and one I hope to repeat this year.
posted by David M at 6:17 PM
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