Sue's Diary—Tired but happy

This has been a busy but satisfying week for me, despite extremes of weather and the temporary closure of Limoges Airport owing to the Ryanair incident (see report elsewhere).

I am now getting lots of questions about flying in France though some of these are beyond my knowledge and have been referred to the CAA or DGAC. These organisations are not best-known for their speedy replies but we should get answers to every question in the fullness of time.

At the beginning of the week, we had excellent visibility, blue skies and few clouds. However, a strong wind, gusting at around 25 knots, was coming from the NE.

Matt had some free time from school and I used this opportunity to give him a Navigation practice to some of the excellent small airfields north of Limoges.

The first day, I chose a route to Le Blanc/Argenton/Gueret/Limoges. We headed North to our first airfield La Blanc and the wind was virtually down the runway which made the landing much easier.

I wanted Matt to have experience of flying into short runways. We have such a long runway at Limoges that we can forget what 'ordinary' runways are like.

The area around Le Blanc is very beautiful, a 'mini Lake District'.

The airfield is well maintained. In fact, it is pristine.

After a Touch and Go, we headed East to Argenton which is not too difficult to find, being adjacent to a tall radio mast.

Another excellent landing was performed and then we continued SE to Gueret over higher ground and spectacular countryside.

Gueret was a little more tricky with a strong crosswind which required some accurate flying. We turned for home with a feeling of intense satisfaction.

Excellent countryside, interesting flying and a job well done.

The three airfields which I had chosen were all uncontrolled so my French R/T was essential.

In fact, we had the skies to ourselves and did not see another aircraft during the 2-hour flight.

The following day, we chose the route from Limoges/Angouleme/Riberac/Bergerac to do our navigation exercise.

It all went well and the added bonus was the Touch and Go on the grass strip at Riberac, deep in the Dordogne countryside.

I awoke on Thursday with great trepidation and 'butterflies' in my stomach (which I have not experienced since my racing days).

The reason for such nervousness was that I had been invited as Guest Speaker at an English ladies luncheon party, to address the topic of "Why did I become a Pilot/Instructor".

Mavis collected me from my home, en-route to the Aero club. We flew to Angouleme and were then ferried deep into the Charente countryside to our final destination.

My audience ranged in age from 27—87 and included one gentleman who had begged to attend.

They proved to be highly-interested in my story and bombarded me with a lot of questions following my 'speech'.

I have been invited again in the summer, to either Angouleme or Riberac, where husbands and friends are invited and there will be trial flights on offer!!

We flew back to Limoges in near perfect weather, still as a mill pond, and I felt a great satisfaction that the day had gone really well.

My peace was short-lived as, upon returning home, I realised that "Blanchette" was in the first stages of labour and had decided that my bed was her chosen 'nest'.

Eventually, she agreed to compromise and chose the corner of my bedroom to have her litter.

Eventually, after a long night and an even longer day, she finished producing a litter of seven healthy pups.

I am still trying to make up for the loss of one nights sleep, which never bothered me as a teenager but has certainly taken it's toll now.

Best wishes

Sue

I am always happy to receive your questions and comments, as follows:

Questions for publication on francoflyers.org: questions@francoflyers.org
General queries not for publication: sue@francoflyers.org
Questions related to existing articles are best published as comments to those articles

Comments

[James Carrie]

Sue,

Many congratulations on your web site which I read of in March 2008 "Pilot."

I lived as an ex-pat outside Paris for six years; learned the lingo, fell in love with the country etc.

Had to return home to Blighty to restore some sense of English cultural identity for my family, but expect my wife and I will one day return to the land of milk and honey (well good wine and decent bread).

I have just packed in an IT career and start as an FI(R) on Monday. Felt there was a need for a decent english language site for english aviators in France for some time - but now I wont have to write it myself I can concentrate on remembering Lookout-attitude-Instruments and Select-Hold-trim.

Hope the site really takes off and maybe when I am established in my new job I will be able to bring a party to visit you.

Best wishes

James

[Sue Virr]

Hi James

Thank you for a very nice letter regarding the francoflyers web site.

I am pleased that you like the site. It is still in it's infancy at present and we hope to keep improving it as time goes by.

You are being very brave to give up an established career in IT to fulfil your dream.

I admire that quality very much. I wish you luck and lots of good flying weather.

Where did you do your FI training?

Your words took me back to when I was training with Chris Caine at Halfpenny Green where "Look out-attitude-instruments" was written in indelible pen on my brain during my training.

Keep up the postings and I hope that you will come with your students to visit the Limoges area in the future.

Best wishes

Sue

[James Carrie]

Hello Sue,

Thank you for your reply.

I did my FI course with Dorothy Pooley who is based at Shoreham.

Dorothy is married to Robert, and Robert's company produce the guides advertised using the slogan - "dont take off without your Pooleys."

They are also Pooley-Delage in France I believe.

It was an excellent course and Dorothy has been very supportive of me since I finished, offering me little bits of work until I could find a proper job.

With Dorothy's encouragement, I have written an article for the first edition of a magazine called "Instructor".

It is to be published by Pooleys and circulated to every flying instructor and flying club in the UK.

There will be a limited number of copies of the first run but I will try and get one for you.

If you like it, I am sure there would be opportunities for you to write about Flying in France.

Please let me know if this idea appeals.

Best wishes

James

[Sue Virr]

Hi James

Thanks for your reply.

I know Dorothy Pooley slightly as we are both members of the BWPA .

You will have had an excellent start to your Aviation career with Dorothy's teaching.

Please send her my regards.

I will, of course, be delighted to write for the new magazine if the opportunity arises.

Best wishes

Sue

[Eric Monnet]

Hello,

I am a French pilot flying at the Aéroclub de Limoges.

I wanted to fly using the radio in English (even in France, anyway we shall to do soon, I think) and for this I ask Sue.

We are fortunate at Aéroclub de Limoges, we have Sue, planes not too expensive, an international airport, beautiful landscapes, beautiful redhead cows (Limousines) and sometimes a little sun for flying!

I already had two flights with Sue, she said radio calls in English and I try to repeat it all with a horrible French accent, but the (French) controller understands ...

I thank Sue for her patience. I often ask her to repeat because I did not understand correctly.

I have some difficulties speaking English on the ground, but when I'm flying, I will need a lot of practice to be really at ease.

I am not available to fly very regularly in English with Sue which is a pity.

My next good resolution for the new year?

EM