Landivisiau-Saintes, July 19th

Today, we woke up at 6:00 AM. We had a quick breakfast to attend the briefing at 7:30 AM. From Landivisiau, we will travel to Saintes in one leg. This is a flight of nearly three hours.

The weather forecast predicts thunderstorms for the day, so it’s best to take off as early as possible. To ensure this leg, I decided to take a passenger, Philippe, who was my instructor (FI) during the first handling flight in Chartres.

A three-hour flight isn’t just three one-hour flights; fatigue increases exponentially, especially with the bright sunlight, and since we’re flying south, I’ll be particularly exposed to solar radiation. It’s better to have two people for this navigation.

Besides feeling more secure, we can chat, and the time passes more quickly.

Engine start at 9:50 AM and takeoff at 10:09 AM. We cross Brittany, flying over the Monts d’Arrée, and pass by Redon, which I know well, having flown there during my youth!

I’m playing the role of tour guide for Philippe, pointing out the places by name, which is quite surprising for him, since I hadn’t told him that Redon and La Baule are my favorite “airfields.”

We even managed to see, in the distance, the last cruise ship under construction at the Saint-Nazaire shipyards. We crossed the Loire River, passing points Whisky 2, 3, and 4, without having a drink, of course! Then we flew over the Vendée, which is very different from Brittany, with its vast, flat fields and red-tiled roofs.

The journey continues without any problems (which won’t be the case for Kevin, who is stuck in Redon due to a breakdown). We land at 12:50 PM at the Saintes airfield, having significantly reduced our speed to leave some space between us and the Antonov, which was just ahead on the taxiway, because this huge aircraft really stirs up the air with its two enormous wings.

Lunch was a bit unusual, as I tried a real field ration! (a “12-hour” ration). On the menu:

• 150g country-style pâté, which allowed me to put some bread underneath!
• 300g tuna Niçoise salad
• a bag of Camargue sea salt chips
• a cereal bar
• a praline cream dessert All washed down with plenty of water. From what I had read, our rations were the best of all the armies, and well, it’s true, I confirm it!

After lunch, I had the opportunity to take a flight in the Antonov. During takeoff, the sensation is guaranteed with a slide on the side bench at full throttle! However, I was able to go to the cockpit to take a souvenir photo for you!

We returned to solid ground after this flight (I took a short video, I’ll edit it when I return from the Hop Tour).

And now, I’m going to the evening cocktail with the local officials, where I will play my role as an “ambassador of French youth aviation”! This day was great!