Club of the month: Base de Beaulieu, to discover the pleasures of water and air!
News item of 16 February 2023. Last updated on 7 March 2023: some information may have changed. Latest news
Claudette and Alain Feuillette, former world champions and canoe and kayak makers based in the Paris region, decided to embark on the great adventure of microlight flying. They sold their factory and returned to Bonny-sur-Loire, 150 km south of Paris, the town where Alain spent his childhood and where all his family lives.
In 1990, Claudette and Alain created the Beaulieu-sur-Loire microlight airfield, which a few years later became the leisure base offering introductory flights, microlight training and canoe hire. For 30 years, Claudette and Alain Feuillette ran this base, which lies alongside the Loire and offers training and introductory flights in 3-axis, weight-shift, paramotor and gyroplane, until 2020, when the Feuillettes decided to ease off and offered us the chance to take over the activities and premises.
We are regulars at the microlight base, as Michel has been instructing part-time on weight-shift and paramotor since the base was created at Beaulieu. We are also former microlight competitors, and Michel was notably the first French paramotor champion.
Paramotor training
The microlight airfield alongside the Loire has exceptional facilities: a runway of more than 600 m, a terrace overlooking the Loire, a very friendly reception area and a hangar housing microlights of all kinds. The Beaulieu-sur-Loire base, close to the Belleville power station and the Briare airfield, right in the centre of France, sees plenty of aircraft pass through, and a warm welcome is always the rule. There is no preference for any class here: all microlights are welcome.
Microlight introductory flights let you fly over unique places: the Loire, the Briare canal bridge, the châteaux of Courcelles-le-Roi and Boussu close to the airfield, Sully, the port of Châtillon, the Sancerre and Pouilly vineyards and the old town of Gien. A feast for the eyes.
For the moments back on the ground, there are cellar visits and tastings of local produce, including Chavignol goat's cheese.
The Beaulieu-sur-Loire base is waiting for you to enjoy some great times!
At Beaulieu-sur-Loire, you can fly every class of microlight ...
... and paddle a canoe or kayak!
Marie and Michel Touitou
Managers of the 04509 club - Base de Beaulieu
© Text and photos - Base ULM de Beaulieu
