MULM 2024: a really great edition!

Federation news18 September 20246 min read

More than 8300 visitors over three days, more than 500 machines flown in from France and Europe, but beyond the figures, exhibitors, regulars and ordinary visitors widely felt that this edition of the MULM was particularly rich and successful. Several factors can explain this.

The first, and the most unpredictable, is the weather: over the three days, despite a cold and steady crosswind, and with some regions of France (notably the South-East) facing more difficult conditions for flying in, conditions nevertheless allowed the demonstration flights, the arrivals and departures, the competition and the air show to go ahead.

The second factor is the choice of date (dictated by the end of the Paralympic Games), which proved a wise one. The Blois show traditionally took place on the last weekend before the start of the school year, with the constraints that imposes on everyone and especially on the public, who are largely in a back-from-holiday frame of mind. The date is, however, perhaps a little too close to the Coupe Icare for paramotor exhibitors. A more “intermediate” date will certainly need to be chosen for next year.

The third factor is the number of new features in this edition. Starting with the federal raffle in aid of the clubs, whose main prize was a Savannah microlight donated by ICP, the sponsor of this edition. With more than 1700 participants and many prizes worth 500 euros each, the raffle was a great success. The club that won the microlight is known nationwide for its commitment to getting middle-school pupils through the BIA: a very happy coincidence! The draw and the rules were overseen by a court bailiff, Maître SELARL BAYSSE, with whom the rules had been deposited.

The other big novelty was the final (on Saturday) of the national STOL competition. This activity, which always delights the public and shows off the incredible performances of the pilots and machines, has now found its place in the aeronautical sporting landscape, pending recognition by the FAI. A superb event, the winner is Éric GRARE.

In addition, this year the paramotor village set up a paramotor film festival, which was a great success. The award-winning films are linked below. This year the federation had invited the Model Aircraft Federation, whose demonstration of “big” models, more lifelike than life, delighted visitors. The formation demonstration by an Aermacchi jet in the colours of Italy, the unreal feats of aerobatic champion Maxime Schmidt, the Red Bull glider, the night displays with fireworks, the “competition” between the STOL and a “big” Piper Cub all left their mark, in an atmosphere of sharing our common passions. Among the new features we should also mention the inauguration of a new class 5 balloon adapted for disabled people, with the superb Audace Handi Évasion team, part of the federation’s Handi division. On the “retro microlight” side, alongside other renowned amateur builders, we should mention the presentation of the PIAF (Programme d’Initiation Aéronautique Club) and of a half-Guépard from the company Aéroservice, with a “half Rotax” producing 40 hp. Still under the banner of Italy, the Piloti di Classe association was present with about twenty machines from Italy.

There was therefore no shortage of new features alongside the familiar attractions:

- more than 15 talks over the three days.

- a great many activities on every stand, including the federal reception offered on Friday evening by Aerogligli, a partner of the federation.

- a revamped and particularly detailed printed programme.

- a photo competition on the theme “Our pilots have other talents”.

- the local display team Yakoteam.

And, a novelty linked to the post-start-of-school-year calendar, the presence of 250 middle-school pupils invited by the département, notably around a village of trades and local aviation players, in the presence of the new Rector of the Academy. An initiative to repeat! Please forgive any omissions, the weekend was packed! It is worth noting, though, that electric machines are increasingly present at this show.

But the main and final factor explaining the success of this edition is the maturity of the MULM after four years. The federation took over the Blois microlight show with the aim of making the MULM a showcase for all microlight activities, while also making it a festive place for meetings and exchanges. Everything can of course be improved, and criticism is legitimate when it helps things move forward, but the fact is that, in a difficult economic, regulatory and social context for aviation, this edition of the MULM was a great success. It rests on the strength of an incredibly motivated team of volunteers, on the quality of the flying demonstrations and the coexistence of the activities, thanks to a rigorous and open flight direction. Thanks to the whole flight direction team.

But the MULM would not be possible without the strong partnership with the Loir-et-Cher département, which has supported the federation from the start. This partnership is quite unique and remarkable. Here too, things have moved in the right direction thanks, among others, to its president Philippe Gouet and its vice-president Catherine Lhéritier, who is also president of the SEMOP that runs the aerodrome with the other private shareholder, Joseph Sabeh, president of ARMYS SAS. We must also highlight the constant support of the DGAC for this project, from its Director General Damien Cazé and from the MALGH (Mission Aviation Légère Générale et Hélicoptère), now led by Gilbert Guicheney.

Looking ahead, we will always need to keep an eye on novelty and entertainment, but it is certain that the MULM is one of the events that best fulfils the federation’s mission: to defend and promote microlighting!

STOL competition results:

Three-axis ranking:

1. Eric GRARE
2. Michel GAIGNARD
3. Laurent PLASSARD

Weight-shift ranking:

1. Michel DURAND

Paramotor Festival results:

Ailes et Aventures: Philippe Couvreux - Vol et montgolfières
Ailes en Fêtes: Clément Fortin - 3600
Ailes sans Frontières: Vincent Bois - La Réunion
Ailes en Délire: FlyingOhm - Père Noël
Ailes d’Experts: ITV Wings - USA 2024
Jury Prize: Les fous du vol lent (Julien Tonnellier & Thibaut Charbonnier) - Andalucía
Audience Prize: Benjamin Jobard - Viva España

Raffle (partners - prize & donor):

Savannah SR kit - ICP
2 x Mountain Flying Course with accommodation - PNVM
2 x stay in an aero-lodge, 1 parachute jump, 1 ride in an exceptional car, 2 restaurant meals - Base de Chambley
Seaplane Course with accommodation - Pôle Hydro
€100 Avirex voucher
200 L drum of AKI93 - Warter
Pilot and Passenger Liability and Personal Accident insurance 2025 - Air Courtage
Flight in a Tetras - Zach Aviation
Karting - GP Kart Concept
Gyroplane flight + night in a lodge - La Maugerie
€500 Avirex voucher
Caruso sunglasses - Caruso
€500 voucher - Loravia
€600 voucher towards the purchase of a parachute - Two2Fly
Hot-air balloon flight in the Centre-Val de Loire - Au grès des vents
Class 5 flight - Audace Handi Evasion
Radio headset - La Boutique du Pilote