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Old 16th Jul 2002, 16:59
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Aerobatic Flyer
 
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FNG - Enjoy Courchevel! It's quite fun, but relatively tame by mountain standards. Nice unobstructed approach, wide runway, and you can land anywhere between the threshold and halfway up the slope.

You do need a lot of power to get to the top of the slope, though, and nobody has ever done a go-around without breaking the aeroplane unless they made an early decision. It's also embarassingly public...... several hundred skiers can watch, and the more experienced observers can probably identify the moment when the instructor grabs the controls!!

While you're there, you should definitely ask the instructor to take you to Meribel, which is 5 mins away, and harder - flatish and narrow runway between trees. Also nearby is La Rosière, which is quite difficult - short, moderate slope, but better in winter when there aren't thermals (2 weeks ago I needed full power for 20secs on final just to stay on the glideslope, followed by a good 10secs of idle as the downdraft became an updraft...).

Another really fun spot near to Courchevel is Vaugelaz. You land the plane on a steep slope, slide up to the top of a ridge, turn right through 20 degrees or so then slide down the other side of the ridge to take off! It's buttock-clenching stuff the first time, but becomes quite fun after a few "circuits"! It's not at all easy to stop the plane at the top of the ridge.... too slow, and you get stuck, too fast and you're over the top and will take off even if you turn the engine off!

Nothing beats the glaciers, though. I think Courchevel currently only has 1 plane equipped with skis, so make sure you book early.
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