WEEK 20  

WEEK 20

After the long weekends (which are VERY French) this week is VERY European… we have pilots from Spain, Holland, England and Germany…

Gerd Weinelt (who is President of the Region Baden Würtenburg) has been coming for many years to St Auban. He had brought numerous pilots from all over Germany for training here in the southern alps. 

This year is their 20th anniversary here!

There are even some French pilots ! Here are two of our favourite " papys ", Lulu (BOUCHO), who started gliding in 1993 after his career in the army. Marcel (MANDARD) was an instructor at the SEFA here in St Auban from 1959 to 1964, and was then a pilot with Air Inter. Both much appreciate the facilities available at the CNVV, the quality of the instruction and the environment.

And never a week goes by without some feat or other being celebrated. Yesterday Nicolas TWOREK passed his PPL (private pilot licence) and everyone drank to his health yesterday evening …

It is also competition season, and this week 4 gliders are leaving the CNVV in the direction of St Florentin (EA with Benjamin NEGLAIS, ET with Laurent LEJEUNE, EL with Laurent COUTURE, CC with Olivier DARROZE and Brigitte FONTIN with her Libelle). Good luck to them all !

 

Week 19

Last weekend and this weekend being holidays in France (VERY long weekends !) our pilots have been gliding, gliding, gliding…. Not only our course pilots but also the French team, who are regulars for intensive training here, and also the women's team who are preparing for the championship in St Florent next week. Tomorrow (Thursday) the aerobatic gliding team is arriving for four days training.

Photos will follow !

The weather at the beginning of the week was mixed but glideable, here are the week's course pilots after the first Monday briefing. And their gliders before take-off.

Our group from Angers is always happy to glide in Saint-Auban !

On Tuesday a workshop was organised at the CNVV by Philippe LEGUEVAQUE (responsible for instructor training at the FFVV). The aim of the workshop was to present the new system for passing the theory exam for the French pilot licence. Twenty instructors plus FFVV representatives were present.

You can see their excellent results on:

 WEEK 18

ENGLISH A week playing hide and seek with the clouds, with a VERY interesting Monday (flying in clouds, rain, hail, sunshine, and with wave up to 3200m). Tuesday excellent, Wednesday a washout, and the weekend of 1st May forecasted hot, sunny and VERY busy !

We still have lots of pilots here …

And whatever the weather, they are always smiling - here Michel LACHAT from Châtillon, and Michael OLIVER from Stroud in the UK, preparing their gliders.

t toujours le sourire - ici Michel LACHAT (de Châtillon) et notre anglais " abonné " Michael OLIVER

The Belgian connection…

And a real Belgian tow pilot ! Stéphane CROMMELYNK is here for several months as a tow pilot. He does a lot of flying, but also takes some wonderful photos….  Thanks Stéphane !

And a third tow pilot is here to help out for the week - Sébastien CALINE (he was also here last year). If you have a few minutes, don't miss his fantastic videos of St Auban on 

http://www.youtube.com 

- check out " sebcoolweb " and enjoy " Extreme Gliding " and "A Summer in the Life "… Bravo Seb ! !

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijus7x-4LO8 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HbSN4h5Jcg 

By the way, our tow pilots are not just good at towing, but at cooking too….. everyone really enjoyed our First of May barbeque !

Now for this week - Who brought the sun with them ? Was it the good humour and the big smiles from Brittany ?

 

Or could it be the group from Beyne ? Or maybe the pilots from Lorraine ?

No, no, it must have been the Brits ! 

(Phil JONES, Steve JONES, Mike YOUNG)

But whoever it was, it's a relief to see that the weather forecast for the next ten days is promising blue skies and mistral …good news !

Saturday was the last day of the course for Competition Organisation and Scoring, organised by Philippe de Péchy. Everyone was very satisfied with their three day workshop, which included a lot of theory but also two afternoons gliding, with flight analysis and competition simulation during the two sprints organised on the Saturday.

A new pilot has come to join the CNVV team, Aurélien DURIGNEUX.

Aurélien was chief pilot in Corbas (LYON) for four years before coming here. Prior to that he was a gliding instructor in Fayence, pretty good for his 27 years ! Since he was young he has always loved everything that flies - hang-gliding, a bit of parachuting, he is also a tow pilot. We wish him all the best !

And finally, four pilots have just started their " PTV " (Preparatory Instructor course) - Maxime BONNISSENT, Jean-Hervé POLARD, Frédéric LOUETTE, et Christian SCHMIT are here for their two week course.

They were welcomed by a huge storm on Monday morning, but the Mistral blew all the black clouds away to leave a pure blue sky and excellent gliding conditions (4800m on Tuesday)

Roland STUCK is here with his Finnish colleage Visa-Matti LEINIKKI, who is the Finnish delegate at the IGC. It's a small world in the gliding community, since Visa-Matti bumped into a long-standing friend also here this week, Alessandro BRUTTINI ! Alessandro, who is chief pilot at the National Centre in Rieti was invited to St Auban by the FFVV, since he is going to be briefing the French teams participating in the World Championships in Rieti later this year (on security, knowledge of the local area etc)

This week the young " espoirs " are here for training, with several members of the French team, under the supervision of Eric NAPOLEON, Benjamin NEGLAIS and Daniel BADAROUX.

At the end of the week the course " Competition Organisation and Scoring ", organised by the Federal Sporting Commission and led by Philippe de Péchy. Philippe arrived on Monday with his charming family…

In 2004 and 2005 this course took place in Bailleau. This year, and for the first time in St Auban, there are six participants. The aim is to work on the theory and understanding of competition software in the morning, and to glide in the afternoon. They will simulate a competition and analyse the flights in the evening. They benefit from the CNVV infrastructure, with Roger supervising the flights. Thus the CNVV extends its capacity of training instructors and moutain glider pilots to the accompaniment of competition judges - 3 of the 4 volontaries organising the French Championships this year are participating.

The group Willi GUGGEMOS is here, they have been coming for over 20 years and much enjoy the CNVV. They all bring their own gliders and use the facilities available here.

Although we have pilots who have been coming for years there are always those who are here for the first time ! Alex CHARTIER, from Orléans, has 2500 gliding hours to his credit. He is participating with three other pilots (Céline MONTORIO, Gautier DESCATOIRE, Romaric COURAGEOT) in the training organised for top level glider pilots by Eric Napoléon, the national coach. For his first visit here, he is delighted to be able to glide with excellent instructors on top class gliders, and to discover the techniques required for mountain gliding.

Another pilot here for the first time is Pascal ALLIER (seen here with Pierre GOUIN, his instructor), on a course organised by the SECURITE CIVILE (the National French Fire Fighting Squad).

As Pierrot says, these courses enable pilots (who are more used to flying in fire-fighting tracker planes or helicopters) to develop even further their aeronautical techniques. They learn to improve their piloting close to mountains, and to better understand gliding in strong winds. See the Sécurité Civile website for more information on their activities. www.tracker-France.com/sitejoomla Due to a lack of " fresh " photographs you can enjoy here some of the fabulous ones taken last week by Jean Paul LAUGA.

And also some taken by our Dutch pilots Ruud HOLSWILDER, who (in passing !) was awarded third prize in the photographic competition organised by the FFVV last year. Thank you Ruud !

Two groups come from Holland every year to glide…they have been coming for over ten years ! (Here the group HORST on the left, the group LEEMAN on the right).

Hans LEEMAN came for his first course here in Saint Auban in 1989, invited by Jacques ABOULIN. Since then he has been coming if not once, then twice a year, often accompanied by his charming family (he has two adorable little daughters). Back in Holland, when he is not gliding, he works as an aeronautical doctor.

The Group Kriebel has been coming to St Auban every year for 14 years. The organiser, Jürgen KRIEBEL was for several years the President the Association of Aeronautical Doctors in Germany (and is also a professor of neurology and neurophysiology at the University of Ulm) spends a lot of time and energy in organising this two-week course, the pilots are all aeronautical doctors, and come from all over Germany (22 pilots this year of varying disciplines - ENT, opthamology, dentistry, heart specialists etc.).

The French team training continues with the team preparing for the Championships in Lüsse from July 26th to August 17th. Here they are preparing for the afternoon's activity… !

EQUIPE DE France LUSSE

Plus some magnificent photos taken by Christophe DELORT this week during their flights. 
PHOTOS DELORT 

But the snow melted rapidly, and the 60 pilots at the centre took off for an excellent day of gliding, if a bit turbulent.

Two regional groups - from Orléans and Aquitaine - are here, they have been coming for years and much appreciate the weather conditions at this time of year.

After a full weekend of gliding, the French Team leaving for RIETI in June are here all week for intensive training These magnificent photos were taken by Benjamin Neglais during the weekend.

 

To keep up with the French Teams, you can consult their new website on " glidingteamfrance.free.fr ".

Karl Rabeder brings a group of young and enthusiastic glider pilots for team training every year around Easter. They appear to be enjoying themselves !

This makes for a great deal of activity, and we are happy to have Olivier ROUXEL to help out in the tower. Not to mention Jean-Luc LAVESQUE , one of our tow pilots, here at the controls of his tow plane.  

The CNVV is seething this week, with 60 pilots from five different countries, following various types of course (aerobatics, competition training, group and advanced gliding courses).  The weather looks pretty good, promising wave, thermals and dynamic gliding.

Question :  What is a PEC course ?  

Eric Napoleon’s reply :  The PEC course is organised for pilots wishing to prepare and train for competitions (Préparation Entraînement Compétition). We discuss flight preparation methods, optimisation of arrivals and departures, criteria for success, choice of speed, and choice of type of flight.  A circuit is defined for the day, with a regatta start, which is called a « sprint » (see « sports section » for results).

Here are some reactions from those on the course.  Alain CHACQUENEAU enjoys the competitive spirit with fixed objectives.  Optimisation of weather conditions, the glider, and the pilot’s technique.  Emmanuel LANTELME enjoys trying to achieve certain objectives that on his own he would never have chosen.  

Benjamin Neglais is here to help this week.  He is a young sports teacher at the Ministry of Sports, and also one of the pilots in the French team going to Rieti later this year ;  He was second in the World Championships in Vinon in 2006.

LAST MINUTE SPORTS NEWS  

Yesterday (Tuesday) was the first sprint of the week, won by Emmanuel LANTELME.  When asked how he managed to win, he explained that his only objective was NOT to land out in Vinon !

   We are always pleased to welcome our friends from the region of Bordeaux – a group of 5 pîlots, under the supervision of Daniel Martin who has been coming to St Auban for over 25 years.  They are always pleased to explain the origins of gliding in their region in the West of France on the Dune de Pila (100m ! !) where in 1930 the first gliders were winch launched.  Quite a contrast with the Mont Blanc and her 4810m ! 

The group much appreciates the CNVV set-up, the good weather and the possibility of gliding in the Alps under the supervision of CNVV instructors.

Our first big group of German pilots has arrived from Nord Rhein Westfalen with Eckhard STOI who has been coming to St Auban with a group of instructors and young pilots for 13 years now.  We much appreciate his excellent organisational qualities, and his gliding experience is second to none.  Eckhard himself was a national champion during the 1980’s, and has 4450 gliding hours to his credit. His main aim coming here is to introduce his young pilots to mountain gliding techniques.  

Seven pilots doing aerobatics this week, led by Daniel SERRES and Yannick GENDRON.  Always very popular, these courses fill up very quickly, but you can still register for the autumn ones.

 This week is also the week of training for the French Women’s Team members.  

A few portraits :

Nathalie HURLIN, who was first in the French Nationals in Bailleau last year, started gliding at the age of 14 in Tarbes.  Today she glides in Bailleau, and is a student at the ESTP (University College for Public Works).  

Martine LESAGE participated in the French Nationals in 2005 and 2007, coming second last year.  She also flew three times in the local championship in Bailleau, and this year plans to add St Florent to her programme.  She is a computer scientist and mother of a 25 year-old son.  

Monique RAYNAUD was already here in St Auban for the women’s course in February, and will be back in April with the CVA from Romorantin, because she is in the French Air Force.  She is a gliding instructor, with 3400 gliding hours to her credit !

The week ended with a barbecue for everyone.  Many thanks to Jérôme and his hard-working team – François, Jean-Luc, Cédric …. Without forgetting Laurent and his talents as a magician !

The weekend was fabulous, with wonderful weather and excellent flights.  

The French team participating in the Championship in Rieti this year came for three days training (Laurent LEJEUNE, Didier HAUSS, Benjamin NEGLAIS, Laurent COUTURE, Killian WALBROU, Gilles NAVAS, Marc SERETTI).   

Thank you Killian !

The Cirrus with winglets have received their airworthiness certificate and all pilots can now fly on them.  

On Saturday the CNVV was very busy with the team, the end of the weeks courses and also a group of well-known pilots from Germany ,  (Reinhard SCHRAMME, Armin BEHRENDT, Marcus FRANCK, Bernd WEBER) who are here for the week.

Monday was a day of rain

But today (Tuesday) the sun is back shining on the agenda…

 Well the Spring didn’t last long here in St Auban because at the beginning of the week it was already summer – 24° in the sun at midday.  Which means all of our 31 pilots were very happy… excellent flights on Monday and Tuesday, with almost everyone finding wave at the end of the day.

This weeks sees the return of Jacky Clairbaux with a group of three pilots from his club in Cambrai.

The four pilots on the ITP training course were very enthusiastic after their day of training on the winch launch in La Motte.  They were welcomed by Jacques Noël and considered it had been a valuable and enriching experience.    

Alain Berjonval (who is on his 6^th mountain gliding course in St Auban) was literally on « cloud nine » after his first flight in an ASH 25 with Alain Poulet – starting at 700m over Les Mées and achieving 4500m 

Spring is on its way in St Auban

 
The beginning of the week was a bit dreary, not much gliding.  But yesterday (Wednesday) things were looking up…

  And the pilots were rewarded for their patience yesterday, enjoying flights of up to 5 hours, with good thermals (1800m) and wave (at Blayeul and the Pic de Bure).

 Look at the photos !

There are four tow planes to get the pilots in the air

And an aerobatics course with Yannick Gendron.

Tonight we are going to toast the week with a barbecue… !

 Many thanks to Clémence and Romain for the photos.

 Endless blue, cloudless sky for the beginning of the season.  It’s technically very hard work for the pilots, who have to find the thermals as early as possible to get to … something like 1500m… but they manage !

Here are some of the pilots here this week (the English on the left, French on the right….)

Last minute!
Yesterday several pilots found wave (3200m) in the Jabron valley....

Here are the course participants for this week …

Our new tow pilot Jérôme Goharel has arrived for the beginning of the season.  He is filling a gap in between a year in England to improve his English and leaving for Canada to start a professional pilot training in April.  Good luck to him !  

Nicolas Véron uses the company car to transport parachutes … !

 

 Some photos of mountain flights this week

thank you Baptiste !

 

Our first pilot for the season 2008 travelled all the way from Canada to glide here!
Take a look at some of the fabulous views our instructors had yesterday...

On Tuesday they worked on PCMET with Michel Carpentier and Norbert Siacchitano, including discussions on weather briefings. This workship will be continued tomorrow.

In the afternoon everyone swept, brushed, and dusted the huge hangars in a relaxed 'beginning of the season' atmosphere!

The CNVV is updating its fleet of gliders, and we are delighted to say that this year we have two new ones :
NEW        1 ASG 29 (15 – 18m)
NEW        1 DUO XL Turbo equipped for handicapped pilots

Plus the other gliders which Michel and his team are busy preparing…..