BIG SIZES
FLIGHTS IN ULM OVER OCCITANIE REGION
The diversity of sporting activities offered in the different regions of France is also a way of discovering them from a different angle , particularly by air and what more
attractive than discovering the departments of Lot, Aveyron and Lozère located in the OCCITANIE region as part of microlight flights which will be for you the opportunity
to admire their radiant landscapes embellished with culture and history.
Active and great sport , microlight flying is a practice which consists of flying on board an ultra-light motorized aircraft
more frequently called ULM which is an ultralight aircraft equipped with an engine integrating conditions of special
navigations compared to a light aircraft in addition to simplified pilot licenses.The first ULM flight tests date back to the
1919 to 1924 in the State of Ohio in United States but it was only much later that the principe of free flight associated
with the ULM concept took off,notably with the creation of the first hang glider invented i n 1936 by the American Francis Rogallo followed by the idea of a handful of free flight pilots to add a chainsaw engine to the Delta wings before
the discovery in 1974 of a ULM consisting of a Danis wing equipped with a motorized tricycle including
The first flight
was effective in 1974,completed by its presentation at the Paris Air Show in 1975.The first ULM were certified as they
called " Pendular " category still existing today but ULM devices were mainly developed in France during the 80s with
the creation in 1981 of the French federation of ultra-light motorized gliders which, in addition to managing the ULM
activities , is also approved by the Ministry of the City, Youth and Sports in parallel with its certification to the Civil
Aviation Code with its practical navigation and flight procedures validated by the DSAC (Civil Aviation Safety Council ). Directorate). There are mainly
6 certified ULM aircraft models what are
1
: The Paramotor which is a single-engine
aircraft completed with a flexible or paraglider-type wing adapted for a person with limited range 2 : The Pedulum
having similar technical characteristics as model 1 with a semi-rigid wing completed with a motorized trolley
3
The third
lis so called "Multi-Axis " ULM which is considered like an aircraft integrating different control surfaces which provide it
with several flight control axes which differentiates it from other ULM models in parallel with its common name which is
" Plane
ultralight
" Or "
ULM plane
"
4
: the ultra-light autogyro model as in
5 the ultralight dirigible aerostat and finally in
6
the ultralight helicopter which, like the ULM aircraft, can be mixed in its reception capacities in single-seater or two-seater mode, depending on the corresponding loads and masses.
A Pleasant Adrenaline Rush
Located mainly in flying clubs or in airports with suitable annexed premises and warehouses for this type of aircraft also
allowing the immobilization of devices in parallel with thir necessary maintenances which certify their flight capabilities like those found in particular
at the ULM club of
Quercy at the Figeac Livernon aerodrome in the Lot as well as at that of Rouergue in Villefranche De Rouergue in Aveyron or even in Lozère at Brenoux located near the town of Mende,ULM
clubs and the practice of flights meet a great success based on average flight times ranging from 30 to 40 minutes and
beyond on a 60 minutes basis and more, depending on local circuits and routes, available and operational aircraft
models and formulas chosen whether in single-seater or two-seater mode accompanied by an instructor or experienced pilot, the whole completed with standard clothing equipment such as sportswear accompanied by sunglasses in parallel with the suits, helmets and gloves provided by the clubs which are necessary for the flights. Once boarding the aircraft
and once you have reached altitude comes the moment when you feel
a pleasant adrenaline rush often sought after by
pilots and fans of this type of sport and taking into account the diversity of places and landscapes of the departments concerned in the OCCITANIE region, the views in the air in good weather are great as it is above ROCAMADOUR or
along the Célé Valley in the Lot or flying over the Aveyron gorges or the village of Pampelonne in Aveyron and the top of the majestic peaks such as that of Finiels
which peaks at 1699 meters above sea level above Mont Lozère
are radiant and unforgettable with sensations of total freedom giving the somewhat optical illusion of dominating the landscapes that unfold before you and
contemplate the region
OCCITANIA by airconstitutes an original way to discover it including both the beauty of its landscapes like the richness of its heritage and this type of outings by air which goes off the
beaten track and which never eases to developing is also a great asset for discovering our shimmering territories from
a different and a great angle.
Report: Gabriel PAGE
Photos Credit: Gabriel PAGE / Getty Images