Hi Everyone,
New to the website and also new to flying in Europe! Looking to do a week or so flying around France this summer (from UK) and would really appreciate your help coming up with some airfields that:
Thanks in advance for sharing!
Dave
1 more vote for La Rochelle. If you speak french, you can also contact the aeroclub that is really friendly.
Thanks for the feedback so far :)
I’d also really like to visit the Champagne region and notice that there’s quite a few airfields to choose from. Any views on the best? I was considering Epernay (LFSW) but notice it only has a “dirt” runway according to FF. Has anyone been there?
It is fine grass. Foreflight is a US (where they only know dirt vs. asphalt) product which is rather unsuitable for European use (see threads here). You‘ll need a car though to move around Champagne and this is always difficult in rural France.
If you have a week‘s time, you can indeed venture beyond the usual UK traffic (read: customs airfield) watering holes. Do you speak some French?
I will add a few nice places: Quiberon and Belle Ile in Bretagne. Ile d‘Oleron. Loire valley (Cosnes). Chartres. Avranches. Besancon.
Some touristic places in France obviously get very overcrowded in „summer“. June and September are the best months.
LFRD Dinard is handy for Mont St Michel if you need a hard runway, LFGA Colmar for the Alsace region, LFQB royes for the Champagne region ( avoid the andouillettes ), La Rochelle for the sea food – also LFRV Vannes.
+1 for Troyes, the town is lovely.
+1 for Quiberon, one of my favourites.
Oh wow, these tips are great. Thank you, this really is a big help.
Yes, speak a bit of French which should help. Flying a Rockwell Commander 114a hence the worry about runway conditions. Will definitely read up on customs procedures from other posts in the forum.
For UK places I’ve been meaning to visit on the way in/out I was thinking of Jersey/Guernsey one way and probably Sandown the other. Can’t see any obvious reason why this is a bad idea! Thoughts to the contrary very welcome… :)
Once in France you can go anywhere. It all depends which region you prefer to go to
If your French air phraseology is okay the world is your oyster. If you want I think I can post a French phraseology booklet for you.
Most airfields are within a short folding bike ride of nice places, or at some you can hire them. I will stick to hard runways in th West of France.
La Rochelle is a good port of entry but I would visit Les Sables D’Olonne LFOO, (outside of July and August) isle d’Yeu LFEY beautiful beaches and super fish restaurants, Bordeaux Leognan Saucat LFCS, Bordeaux Libourne LFDI (many restaurants and hotels in the area will come and pick you up and deliver you back.Good for St Emilion wind producers.Sarlat LFDS the club will usually help you.getna taxi to the beautiful town of Domme, with great scenery and super restaurants, try the tarte au noix (walnut tart) speciality of the area. I think I will stop there until I know more about what your interests are and e part of France you prefer to visit. Don’t forget to pop into the clubhouse to say hello, maybe sign the visitors book.
Gallois this is perfect – thank you so much. If you can share the phraseology booklet that would be a big help… the vocabulary is quite specific and my rusty French never extended to specialist aviation terms :)
