Discover the
magnificent Belleville, Enccombres, Meribel and Courchevel valleys
in a two-seater motorbike of the sky by Capturing the spirit
of the early pioneers of aviation.
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Started in the late 1970s
the sport of Microlighting developed through the introduction of
power units for hang gliders. With the Microlights of this time it
was an achievement to fly such aircraft just a few miles. Today,
the average microlight bears little in common with its ancestors
with Microlights able to fly great distances without stopping. In as little as three hours a Microlight can fly from
London to Paris. Microlighting is true freedom.
Flights available daily - weather permitting and if the
conditions allow
1000hrs - 1600hrs
.
Microlighting is a daytime mountain activity this means it
can only operate when the weather conditions are right for
flying and during ski lift opening and closing times. The
first flight is around 1000hrs allowing time to catch the
first lift in order to get to the departure site on time.
With the last flight around 1600hrs allowing enough time to
get back to Meribel after the flight has finished
Microlight is not a Courchevel based activity; in the Three
Valleys there is only one company that operates
Microlighting. The takeoff site is a snow covered slope
situated next to the bottom of the Allemand red ski run
based just above Les Menuires in the Valley de Belleville.
To get to the Microlight activity you will need to ski
there.
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how to get there from Courchevel 1850
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Ski
From
Courchevel 1850's main lift area you will need to catch
Verdons cable car (bubble lift). At the top you will need to
collect your skis and walk across the snow to the Vizelle
bubble car which will be directly in front of you. At the
top of the Vizelle bubble you will need to put your skis on,
turn right and ski straight forward as if you were skiing to
Meribel - this will take you along a relatively flat path (a
cat track) bringing you out in front of a large rock. From
here you will need to ski across the top of the Creux (a red
run) which takes you back into Courchevel and head straight
across the slope as if you where skiing to Mottaret (Meribel-Mottaret).
Keep skiing until you reach the main lift area of
Meribel-Mottaret.
.
Once in main lift area of Meribel-Mottaret you will need to
catch the
Platiéres
bubble lift (the lift that takes you further up
the Meribel valley). When on the lift you will need to
travel all the way to the top station, the Platiéres lift is the
only lift to have two mid stations - the top station will be
the third station that you come too!
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When you reach the third station you will make your way down
the walk way. Before you put your skis or board on head
forwards and to the right towards the restaurant and in the
direction of Les Menuires. At the restaurant put your skis
or board on and then head straight on and left to the
Allemand red ski run. From here ski the Allemand run until
it splits and levels off – this is the Moutiere Plateau
where you will meet the Microlight and the Microlighting
pilot.
Hire a Whitetracks Host to ski with you for ½ or a full day;
they will meet you at a pre-prescribed meeting point at the
time requested. They will ski with you taking you to some of
the best snow and ski runs in the Meribel and Belleville
Valley’s and will make sure that you get to the activity on
time.
Whitetracks Host
After a detailed briefing - how to enter the aircraft and the
pre-flight checks required, you will take to the skies, taking
off from its base on the Moutiere plateau altitude
2500m. Powered by simple two stroke engine that provides high
power at low weight and cost. You will be cruising at speeds
around 50-65 mph as the instructor shows you how to manoeuvre,
change speed, climb and descend.
After a detailed briefing
- how to enter the the aircraft and the pre-flight checks
required, you will take to the skies, taking off from its base on
the Moutiere plateau altitude 2500m and climbing up to ??
feet above ground level - Powered
by simple two stroke engines providing high power at low weight
and cost. - Whilst cruising
at
speeds
around
50 to 65 mph 50 to 65 mph
the
instructor will show you how to maneuver, change speed, climb and
descend the microlight
The Microlight is only able to carry one passenger at a
time. Unfortunately, there is only one available pilot /
instructor in the three valleys. If there is a small group
of you wishing to take part in the activity at the same time
it is impossible. For a small group to take part we would
need you to go one after the other.
Safety in a Microlight is at its greatest during the winter.
Should motor failure occur, a microlight simply becomes a
precise and manoeuvrable two-seater handglider. The snow and
stable air mass are a Microlight's natural allies.
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Where national organisations maintain high design,
construction and maintenance standards, Microlights have an
excellent safety record. Microlights are simple enough that
all maintenance may be carried out by pilots themselves.
A
Microlight is a simple, light-weight aeroplane which can carry a
maximum of two people, take off and land in a very short space
(usually less than 100m), is cheap to maintain and operate, and,
most important of all, enormous fun to fly.
.
There
are several basic types:
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Trikes
- are controlled by 'weight shift' in a
similar way to a hang glider.
Three axis - have controls akin to
conventional aircraft.
Powered parachutes - have wheels or
alternatively the foot launched variety. The latter are called
powered paragliders these are a relatively new branch of the
sport.
.
Each
type has its own particular merits. Trikes, where the pilot and
passenger are exposed to the wind (and rain!) like a motorbike,
are often considered to be more 'fun' and are quickly and easily
rigged and derigged. By contrast, though, three axis types are
generally more complicated, are physically more effortless to fly
and, being mostly enclosed, more comfortable in flight. Powered
parachutes tend to be limited to favourable weather conditions but
are extremely easy to fly and often very compact.
.
In
spite of their low weight and cost, microlights are extremely
capable aircraft. As well as being excellent for local flying, in
competition even standard machines frequently fly 1,000km a day,
stay aloft for 8 hours without refueling and land in a 50m strip.
