Introduction to airplane piloting in Colmar

An initiation to airplane piloting in Alsace, I’ve been dreaming about it for a long time! The asphalt is still wet from an autumn rain when I take the road towards Colmar this October morning. As the voice on the phone told me the day before, the clouds have lifted and finally the light atmosphere is rather soft and pleasant.
Arrived at theColmar Houssen airfield, I met Yves again, the voice of yesterday and especially the pilot who will have the heavy task to initiate me to piloting on this flight!

The briefing before the initiation to piloting

Yves is a passionate person, you can feel it right away and there is nothing more pleasant than to talk to someone who is passionate about his passion. He quickly presents me the context: the Colmar airfield, the runways and their functioning. Let’s go to the aircraft: he shows me his plane, the superb Savage Club, explains its flight characteristics (light and easy to handle, ideal for flying over the Alsatian vineyards or the Vosges mountains) and then its controls. I am a bit impressed when Yves tells me that I am the one who will operate them during the coming flight: I take the famous stick for the first time and operate it “in the air”… In a few minutes when I do the same thing, the plane will change direction by splitting the air.

Immediate take-off

Shortly after, Yves puts us in the plane and asks me to start the engine. At this moment I realize that I am really going to fly this plane. After a few adjustments we are “ready to take off” as he says on the radio. We are heading towards the runway. The plane takes off and we leave the ground: the serious things begin even if, I reassure you, it is Yves who makes the plane take off. Quite quickly, he encourages us to take the controls. The advantage of dual controls is that I can let go of them from time to time to take pictures. Despite theadrenaline of flying the plane, I couldn’t help but take a few shots.

Is there a pilot in the plane?

A little impressed, I hardly dare to move the handle for fear of shaking the device. Little by little I manage to gauge the force at which to move the control to turn as I wish. After a few timid movements, Yves encourages me to do a little turnaround. I launch the turn by actuating the stick more seriously: what an incredible feeling ! Yves reminds me that we also have to think about straightening the aircraft because we are losing altitude (there is no trim on these aircraft to see if the plane is heading down or up). I pull the stick and we go up until the altimeter stops its variations. The physical sensations linked to the movements of the plane and the excitement of piloting are mixed with adrenaline: we feel free and happy!

The most beautiful landscapes in Alsace

I couldn’t not tell you about this. How can we remain insensitive to the autumnal beauty of the landscapes we have crossed? Alsace is a beautiful region, especially in this period. We fly over the most beautiful villages of the Wine Route: Katzenthal, Kaysersberg, Riquewihr, Ribeauvillé, the three castles… The climax is reached at the arrival near the Haut Koenigsbourg. Perched on its rock, it stands proudly above the vines which are adorned with gold in this season. A superb experience orchestrated with a master hand by Yves who distils comments, anecdotes and bends over backwards to offer you the best viewpoints!

Images and memories full of head we land already. “Flying an airplane over Alsace with its autumn colors“, it is in a way a dream come true. I am still a bit dizzy from this experience and the beauty of the landscapes but Yves has to leave me, his next “pupil” is already here.

My pictures of my initiation to airplane piloting