Club of the month: Club ULM des Cigognes d'Epfig

The Club ULM des Cigognes d’Epfig as it exists today was born from the split of the activities of the Delta Club des Cigognes. Since its creation in 1975, the DCC was a pioneer in free flight in Alsace. Founded by enthusiasts, some members moved on to paragliding, and others later added engines. Formerly an important paragliding winch-launch site, the club saw microlights find their feet and today has 2 runways: one reserved for paramotors, and a strip reserved for the other classes, well positioned for the prevailing winds in Alsace. The club has been affiliated to the FFPLUM since 2010, the official year of creation of the club as it is today.

The playground of the Cigognes d'Epfig

The club currently has around fifty members, all paramotor pilots, making it one of the biggest paramotor clubs in the Grand Est, run by volunteers rather than by professionals in the field. It may be a detail for some, but paramotor pilots know it very well: at many sites they will not necessarily be accepted unless they have a machine sold by the professional running the site, or by the nearest professional with special ties to the club. The statutes are clear, moreover: they prohibit any microlight professional from taking a seat on the Committee.

At Epfig, every paramotor pilot is welcome, whatever equipment they fly, as long as they follow the rules.

From the international competitor to the retiree who has just earned his licence, the club is an essential meeting place for every Alsatian pilot (and even Lorrainers 😉). In the air, you may come across Julien Meyer, of the French team, training, or a few pilots off on a cross-country flight.

The site is ideally located, just south of the Strasbourg-Entzheim CTR; we have a ceiling beneath the TMA at 6 000 ft and very comfortable clearance to the west and south for the altitudes at which we fly.

As a result, flights from Epfig are varied, but we have a multitude of old castles within very quick reach, the Alsace wine route, which is beautiful especially in autumn, and no obstacles towards the German border, from where we can follow a corridor up to Strasbourg.

Flying over castles by paramotor, what a thrill!

From mountain to plain, these landscapes are highly prized. Every year we receive clubs or individual pilots, from France or abroad, who come on holiday or just for a weekend to fly over our region with its climate well suited to our activities. Alsace is indeed a region with little wind, sheltered by the Vosges and by the Black Forest across the Rhine.

Members not only have access to a short-grass take-off and landing area, they also have a fenced living area where pilots and their families can enjoy a shaded terrace, a barbecue, a trampoline, a flammekueche oven (naturally), a boules pitch, essential facilities (dry toilets) and a hanging frame for adjusting harnesses. This lets members combine family life and paramotoring. It is in this area that many pitch their tents, caravans or motorhomes throughout the year.

The club organises first-aid sessions for its members, focused on the risks associated with microlight flying, reserve parachute repacking sessions, seasonal parties, days for maintaining the sites and their access routes, and so on.

Recent years have been marked by 2^th place in the team event at the CFDM in 2018 by 3 club members, 3^th place in the team event at the 2021 French Championship, the selections of Julien Meyer for the world championships in 2015 and 2022 and the title of French Espoir champion 2022 for Mathieu Albertus.

Fellow pilots, do not hesitate any longer: if you want to come and discover Alsace with your paramotor, contact us. We will be delighted to welcome you at our magnificent site to fly over mountains, castles, vineyards and fortified villages…

Julien MEYER

President of the Club ULM des Cigognes d'Epfig

© Photos Julien Meyer

© Jean-Jacques Curci