Aviation Tour - Maps on www.bankleft.com: Air Tour of France

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Air Tour of France - Troyes and Bar sur Seine

The Robin can carry 4 people and so has a long range and can carry our bikes and camping gear.

Helen's bike was made by Chas Roberts in Croydon and separates into two pieces that fit in a Cordura bag that she made the week before we left. Mine is designed by a guy near Cambridge that we went to see earlier in the year. It can fold but still rides well on good surfaces.

First night was Troyes, SE of Paris after a 3 hr flight. We checked into a hotel near the airport and spent day 2 cycling around the well preserved medieval town.

Helen wanted to hop half an hour south to Bar sur Seine, a small airfield that she had identified as being close to some particular Champagne producers. We flew over Epernay and all around the valley to check out the geography;

What we found upon arrival was a picturesque grass airstrip atop an escarpment ridge with vinyards down each valley on either side. The flying club there is just fantastic - a true ground roots DIY aviator's club. When we asked if we could camp, they invited us to stay in the club house inside a hanger that they built a few years ago - complete with bar, shower, office and several workshops! Very comfortable.

Note the trophy cabinet wall made from Champagne bottles (illuminated of course) and the lamp shades made from old aviation charts.

70's glider converted to a pusher flying wing... why not?

The club had several 'Gazail' microlights under construction from plans - these are to be fitted with a Citroen 1.4l diesals that they buy reconditioned for £1K. It burns only 6 litres per hour at 75% power at which the plane achieves 120kt. Wonderful club, lovely people. We can't wait to return to visit.

This is an aerobatic plane that they had similarly built themselves from plans;

The 10% slope up through the vinyard to the airfield made itself felt with a few cases of Champagne on the bikes. At the start of the trip we suffered a little from being out of shape. Not for long though.