2012-08: Sion & Courchevel
weather looks great and almost ready for departure
taxi for rwy 17
Zuienkerke looks great!
great flying on top of the clouds !
overflying the city of Dijon
airport of Dijon
beautiful Lake Geneva
after crossing the lake, we fly into the Rhone valley to Sion
overhead reporting point W (village of Martigny)
airport of Sion in sight
after a very close downwind, turning base and final in one turn
final rwy 25 overhead the city of Sion
short final rwy 25 and having difficulties finding the papi's
first landing at Sion almost a fact
we made it ! Non stop Zuienkerke-Sion in 3h 54min motortime
not the most busy airport we've been to
enjoying the amazing scenery around the airport
filing a new flightplan
climbing overhead the airport to 10.000 feet
higher and higher at 500ft/min not to exceed the water- & oiltemperatures
serious terrain..
the Mont Blanc !
first glacier
flying just next to the Mont Blanc
glacier du Tour
glacier d'Argentière
trying to keep the plane level while convective turbulence is playing with us..
Annecy in sight
LFLP - Annecy
flying the C172 with Jean-Baptiste (JB) , instructor for Courchevel
almost overhead Albertville
courchevel in sight
concentration..
unusual view on final
back at Annecy, now we'll try it ourself
the ski-lift arrival : flying next to the mast, setting 7450ft on the altimeter to get the right QNH
overhead Courchevel altiport, turning downwind
turning base. You have to turn quite close to the ridge in front to have a proper final
first solo final rwy 22. A go-around is not an option due to terrain and lower performances at this altitude !
LFLJ - Courchevel
short final and a little bit low, increasing power to land ! On touchdown, you have to set full power to drive uphill !
take-off rwy 04 in Courchevel = driving down a mountain with full power to pick enough speed. The runway is 537m
another view on base
turning final after the second circuit
much better, nicely on profile. Levelling off to land at 12,5%. The slope goes up to 18,66% in the second part !
a nice view on the slope
enjoying the area on foot
LFLJ - Courchevel
the 00-G38 at one of the world's most famous airports
landed safely at Reims. Only airplane on the parking that night