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.
.
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 ThreeValleys 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.
.
how to get there from Courchevel
1850
.
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!
.
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 BellevilleValley’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.
