Le Mans 2009
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Le Mans 2009
I am thinking about flying down to Le Manns 24 hours this summer, with some friends, in a JetRanger.
It will be a VFR flight.
Does anyone know about landing sites and flying around as there will be a lot of people about.
I've never flown from the UK to Europe before so can someone offer some help or point me in the right direction.
Peter
It will be a VFR flight.
Does anyone know about landing sites and flying around as there will be a lot of people about.
I've never flown from the UK to Europe before so can someone offer some help or point me in the right direction.
Peter
Join Date: Sep 2006
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You might want to most on the specialist Le Mans forum to be found on sites such as Pistonheads, and ClubArnage.
I know there have been threads on flying to Le Mans ion one of those forum in the past, although usually flying airplanes rather than helicopters.
I know there have been threads on flying to Le Mans ion one of those forum in the past, although usually flying airplanes rather than helicopters.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Peter - flown many times to le man in my fixed wing and I would suggest first call would be directly to them to check parking / fees / fuel, none of which I would expect to be a problem even in this period.
Secondly the cross channel aspect is no big deal but if your first time would be adviseable to have a thorough briefing from an knowledgeable person in terms of route across the channel, carry life jeackets, flight plan, frequency's etc.
What range do you have taking into account passengers etc ?
Secondly the cross channel aspect is no big deal but if your first time would be adviseable to have a thorough briefing from an knowledgeable person in terms of route across the channel, carry life jeackets, flight plan, frequency's etc.
What range do you have taking into account passengers etc ?
Le Mans
Great idea and v straight-forward - with simpler comms etc and surprisingly hassle-free.
Good time to start planning but strongly suggest you take the shorter sea crossing if flying single-engine.
There are websites run by puddle-jumpers which give good flight planning advice.
Edited to mention that we won GT2 class in 2006!
Good time to start planning but strongly suggest you take the shorter sea crossing if flying single-engine.
There are websites run by puddle-jumpers which give good flight planning advice.
Edited to mention that we won GT2 class in 2006!
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Flight to Le Mans
I went year before last, both Heli and Fixed wing is straight forward.
you need a landing slot, but most importantly a departure slot.
you can camp at the airport, there is a mini bus service to the track (10 euro ?), though its only a short walk. Take a small tent and roll up mattress, grass is hard !
there is little opportunity to feed on the airport side, most facilities in the track (expensive) or in the town (busy), again a short walk from the track.
I flew heli, home, Lydd, LFAT, Deauville, Le Mans - Jet fuel at Dueaville MUST be pre-booked, else the airport manager gets VERY eggy !, has refused to supply !
You can get fuel at Le Mans but a long wait, best to plan a fuel stop before and after. Its normally a scramble to leave, so either plan to depart just before the race ends, or expect to wait a while.
Night flying in France (night VFR) is not possible (may have changed), the race finishes at 3pm so if you can't get an early departure slot, plan another night under canvas.
There is a lot of 'sight seeing' and 'news' helicopters active during daylight hours, I recall there is a Temporary Restricted Area around the Track so I don't think you can move during the race, I am sure you can't fly the track (shame).
I have been several times, each time by air, its a good trip, all worked well, landing & parking fees were OK, camping is fee for visiting aircraft, the night racing is worth seeing, the atmosphere excellent, rain can spoil things a little.
I would avoid Deauville, plan an alternative. The route is simple enough avoid the ZIT around the power stations on the north coast, there is some tight space near Le Havre and there is a Nuclear power station(beware the franch are rumored to get very nasty if you drift near one) . Flight to France is simple enough, file flight plans for both legs, prob best to fly the short route, Le Mans can be a customers airport (I think Customs are there during the race) but check they will be, else you may need to land elsewhere in France (LFAT) to clear customs on both legs. when you plan your route you will find many routes in France appear to be blocked by restricted airspace, generally these are only active a few hours per day (close at lunch time, its france after all !), most are inactive at weekends, most can be crossed with crossing clearance, worth a detailed check as some are fast jet paths (they are Fast !). you will need life jackets for the sea crossing and check about ELT's that's a moving target !, most french aircraft carry them, I don't know if they mandate them for visiting G reg.
The can get route carts from Transair that will ensure you have the correct and upto date carts and plates - prob worth it, also take a printed intercept rules document - I recall this is mandatory.
hope this is of some help, check the above for your self.
Ian
you need a landing slot, but most importantly a departure slot.
you can camp at the airport, there is a mini bus service to the track (10 euro ?), though its only a short walk. Take a small tent and roll up mattress, grass is hard !
there is little opportunity to feed on the airport side, most facilities in the track (expensive) or in the town (busy), again a short walk from the track.
I flew heli, home, Lydd, LFAT, Deauville, Le Mans - Jet fuel at Dueaville MUST be pre-booked, else the airport manager gets VERY eggy !, has refused to supply !
You can get fuel at Le Mans but a long wait, best to plan a fuel stop before and after. Its normally a scramble to leave, so either plan to depart just before the race ends, or expect to wait a while.
Night flying in France (night VFR) is not possible (may have changed), the race finishes at 3pm so if you can't get an early departure slot, plan another night under canvas.
There is a lot of 'sight seeing' and 'news' helicopters active during daylight hours, I recall there is a Temporary Restricted Area around the Track so I don't think you can move during the race, I am sure you can't fly the track (shame).
I have been several times, each time by air, its a good trip, all worked well, landing & parking fees were OK, camping is fee for visiting aircraft, the night racing is worth seeing, the atmosphere excellent, rain can spoil things a little.
I would avoid Deauville, plan an alternative. The route is simple enough avoid the ZIT around the power stations on the north coast, there is some tight space near Le Havre and there is a Nuclear power station(beware the franch are rumored to get very nasty if you drift near one) . Flight to France is simple enough, file flight plans for both legs, prob best to fly the short route, Le Mans can be a customers airport (I think Customs are there during the race) but check they will be, else you may need to land elsewhere in France (LFAT) to clear customs on both legs. when you plan your route you will find many routes in France appear to be blocked by restricted airspace, generally these are only active a few hours per day (close at lunch time, its france after all !), most are inactive at weekends, most can be crossed with crossing clearance, worth a detailed check as some are fast jet paths (they are Fast !). you will need life jackets for the sea crossing and check about ELT's that's a moving target !, most french aircraft carry them, I don't know if they mandate them for visiting G reg.
The can get route carts from Transair that will ensure you have the correct and upto date carts and plates - prob worth it, also take a printed intercept rules document - I recall this is mandatory.
hope this is of some help, check the above for your self.
Ian
It is worth getting an off airfield licence too . At the moment you are ONLY allowed to land at airfields so if there was a sudden plan to pick up some beauty from a hotel ( or take her to one ..) you would not be allowed to do it . When flying through france it is a shame not to take advantage of the odd 3 star restaurant when you have the chance .
