Jaca, viva España!
Wednesday 26 July, evening
Each Tour has its favourite stage, the one that gives it its personality, Germany or England for example. Without question, Spain was the goal of this edition and we reached it in ideal and unexpected conditions, as the weather in the preceding days had been hard going…
Conditions for crossing the Pyrenees were perfect. We left Aire-sur-l’Adour at about 9am with relatively little wind and a thin layer of cloud as far as Pau, and then pure cloudless bliss with extraordinary visibility and very little turbulence. We had to climb to about 3000 metres and, after Oloron-Sainte-Marie, follow a due south course towards the Somport pass, with the Pic du Midi d’Ossau and the Pic d’Anie at 2500 metres all around. Then, beyond, a gentle, serene descent towards Spain and the town of Jaca. You are immediately struck by the aridity of the landscape on this side of the Pyrenees. The approach to Santa Cilia de Jaca aerodrome was calm. We were accompanied by a few vultures, which are impressive and potentially dangerous, even though most of the time they dive when they hear the machines.
The local clubs, the national aeroclub, the Spanish Microlight Federation and the elected officials of Jaca had taken particular care over our arrival, and despite the day's delay we could feel that this visit was important for the Tour but also for the Spanish aviation enthusiasts, impressed by the diversity of our machines and by the regulatory framework that leaves us so much freedom.
Shuttles to the superb old town were arranged and we were received very formally at the Town Hall. As far as anyone can remember, the Tour ULM has never been invited in this way. It is a stage that will stay in people's memories, and it is very rare to experience mountain flying in such conditions.
A strong local west wind got up in the afternoon, and it dropped this evening. We will leave early tomorrow morning to take advantage of the best conditions for what promises to be a magnificent flight to Rion-des-Landes, following the whole coast after crossing the mountains. Paella tonight!
Sébastien Perrot
The sky on departure from Aire-sur-l'Adoure
The city of Pau
Still the city of Pau
We fly above the cloud layer near Oloron Sainte Marie
The Aspe valley
The Somport-Candanchú ski resort
Spain
8700 feet altitude
The town of Jaca
Check-in on arrival
Vulture above the runways
The reception given by the mayor of Jaca
The Church of Jaca
