L’ULM : « On dirait une mobylette dans le ciel ! »
This week, I end my adventures with the ULM at the aerodrome ofAmbert with Jean-Michel Serre.
“Have you ever flown? Well that has nothing to do with it”. It is on these good words that I meet Jean-Michel Serre, French champion of single-seater pendular ULM. Departing from theAmbert aerodrome, it is with him that I will fly away for half an hour. So far I have never practiced an activity in flight, but I have always dreamed of it…
A flight at an altitude of 1.900 meters
The 30-minute flight is a good compromise to discover many viewpoints
Finally I feel a little less like a bird when Jean-Michel explains the potential dangers to me. After listing the security measures, the pilot shows me how to get into an ultralight. A motor vehicle with a propeller and a sail that still allows you to fly with complete peace of mind. In the end, it has nothing to do with hang gliding or paragliding.
I put on my helmet which allows us to communicate during the flight.
In addition to the engine, the propeller and the sail, the ULM is equipped with a reserve parachute
“It looks like a moped in the sky, describes Jean-Michel, but the engine makes a lot more noise. Indeed, he was not wrong. Once installed, the pilot takes advantage of the track to make the last small checks. And let's go for take-off!
The trouser pockets must be empty to avoid any projectiles in the propeller
After a few meters traveled, the sail stretches aft and little by little the craft moves away from the ground. My heart beats faster and faster and I clutch my hands on Jean-Michel's shoulders. The feeling is terrifying since it is absolutely not natural to be in the sky. A good adrenaline rush that does not prevent me from turning my head in all directions.
A breathtaking landscape
The view is breathtaking. Everything seems so small, so much so that I confuse cows with sheep. Of course, I laugh stupidly when Jean-Michel takes me back.
When the weather offers clear and clear weather, you can see the city of Roanne
When you pass the town of Ambert, you reach the Rocher de la Volpie and you begin to gain more and more height. This is where it gets really interesting. While it is 42 degrees on the ground, the cold wind cools my legs and we gain more and more altitude, until we reach 1.900 meters. And there, of course, you say to yourself: “Ah yes, anyway! »
After passing Ambert and arriving above the Volpie rock, the ULM reaches 1.900 meters
It is true that it is not nothing, but it is better not to think about the height at the moment. We are sometimes shaken by the turbulence, which is ultimately less violent than I imagined. Then, passing by Mont Chouvé and the Fossat Cross, I discover every corner of Puy-de-Dôme. At the end of the flight, Jean-Michel cut the engine. At this precise moment, we completely forget the machine, the only audible noise is that of the wind. Flight conditions are dictated by the weather and you need to be a real expert to know how to fly properly. Unfortunately, the time has come for us to land. A word of advice: don't forget to chew during the landing and your ears will thank you.
Lucile Brière for La Gazette de Thiers and d'Ambert
