Marty_d Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 After two cancellations due to weather, I finally got a scenic flight in a Sav S today. My pilot is an ex-Armée de l'Air Mirage driver (he left with the rank of Colonel) who prefers being a flight instructor using the Sav! We departed a grass strip about 8km north of Uzes, tracked over Uzes to the Pont du Gard, from there to the Rhone and on to Avignon, then along the Rhone to Chateauneuf-du-Pape and then pretty much west back to the airfield. On the way back he kindly let me drive, including a few turns (he took it back for the landing though - fair enough, I haven't done one for about 25 years). It was the highlight of my trip! Oh, there was a very nice 60yo Lycoming powered Jodel at the field, I included a pic of it for you Old Koreelah. Cheers, Marty 7 1
Old Koreelah Posted September 28, 2014 Posted September 28, 2014 Wow, awesome pix Marty! Looks like you had fun. You can't beat the aerial view. Love seeing the different patterns people make in other countries. Those Romans understood the importance of streamlining their bridges. If I'd been far from Oz and seen the rusty old corrugated iron shed it would have made me homesick.
Marty_d Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 Wow, awesome pix Marty! Looks like you had fun. You can't beat the aerial view. Love seeing the different patterns people make in other countries. Those Romans understood the importance of streamlining their bridges. If I'd been far from Oz and seen the rusty old corrugated iron shed it would have made me homesick. Yes, I asked Christian "où est le gaz?" when I couldn't see any petrol tanks on the airfield - the answer "In the petrol stations, we bring 98 unleaded in jerry cans." I thought that was interesting given the debate about mogas vs aviation-specific... perhaps the mogas has less impurities in western Europe? The Romans put up the Pont du Gard in 5 years, without mechanical assistance or laser levelling, and managed to achieve a constant fall of only 1 inch over the length of the bridge (that's about 1 in 3000). In fact the whole aqueduct only fell around 13 metres over a 53km length. 1
terryc Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 After two cancellations due to weather, I finally got a scenic flight in a Sav S today.Hi Marty, did I notice a few extra pounds in that photo. The good life is starting to show 1
Marty_d Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 What can I say Terry. Cheese, wine, bread, olives, salami, croissants... I have no idea how the majority of French people remain skinny!
bexrbetter Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 Well done Marty, hope you're getting into that Chateau Le Chunder while you're there! On the way back he kindly let me drive, including a few turns (he took it back for the landing though - fair enough, I haven't done one for about 25 years). Of course you went through a briefing before the flight ... The Romans put up the Pont du Gard in 5 years, without mechanical assistance or laser levelling, and managed to achieve a constant fall of only 1 inch over the length of the bridge (that's about 1 in 3000). . There's some awesome incredibly old auqaducts around my area, aprox 2300 years old, makes me wonder if they got it from the Romans or vice versa.
Marty_d Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 Well done Marty, hope you're getting into that Chateau Le Chunder while you're there! Mate the wine here is great. We haven't paid more than 4 euro a bottle and it's at least $15-$20 standard back home. Of course you went through a briefing before the flight ... Er... I speak about 3 words of French and he had maybe a few more of English... so no. We went thru over the planned route, jumped in, strapped in and that was about it. I knew enough to keep my feet off the rudder pedals and my leg away from the Y-stick, at least until he told me to take over! There's some awesome incredibly old auqaducts around my area, aprox 2300 years old, makes me wonder if they got it from the Romans or vice versa. I believe the Chinese were as, if not more, advanced than the Romans - and something like structures to move water to where it's needed would probably evolve equally as well in isolation.
bexrbetter Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 Er... I speak about 3 words of French and he had maybe a few more of English... so no. We went thru over the planned route, jumped in, strapped in and that was about it. I knew enough to keep my feet off the rudder pedals and my leg away from the Y-stick, at least until he told me to take over! You must have missed the "qualified passenger" thread while you were away ... I believe the Chinese were as, if not more, advanced than the Romans - and something like structures to move water to where it's needed would probably evolve equally as well in isolation. China has some of the greatest waterway engineering feats in the history of man, Dujiangyan built around 250 BC, is an hour away from me, amazing story ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dujiangyan_irrigation_system
Marty_d Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 Talking of Chateau le Chunder, I'm currently drinking some wine called "Les Tourettes" (see picture below!) It's a f&&*& c*(*t f*&@& pi&*& fu&*#& shi&*#&& fu good drop! 1
bexrbetter Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 It's a f&&*& c*(*t f*&@& pi&*& fu&*#& shi&*#&& fu good drop! Have another one Mate, I can still understand you ..... 1
Marty_d Posted September 29, 2014 Author Posted September 29, 2014 Have another one Mate, I can still understand you ..... I was playing on the name... *sigh*... too subtle?? Anyway I'm on the water now.
facthunter Posted September 29, 2014 Posted September 29, 2014 It's probably Vin Rouge Ordinaire, or Chateau Cardboard. Nev 2
planedriver Posted September 30, 2014 Posted September 30, 2014 But drink enough and it all taste's great. Like some pizza's, you're not sure whether to eat the contents, or the picture on it's cardboard box.
bexrbetter Posted September 30, 2014 Posted September 30, 2014 But drink enough and it all taste's great. ...and there's not an ugly girl in the house, win win!
facthunter Posted September 30, 2014 Posted September 30, 2014 Champagne was invented to make revolting men look pretty. (Giggle Juice). Nev
Marty_d Posted October 1, 2014 Author Posted October 1, 2014 Doesn't work very well then. I've had champagne on occasion and it didn't even make pretty men look pretty. 1
facthunter Posted October 1, 2014 Posted October 1, 2014 IF you think some men are pretty you are halfway there.. In my day it was girls that giggled. Nev 3
Yenn Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 I went to the area around Bergerac and found the wine to be cheap, but the quality was nothing special. Good wine cost the same as here. Just as well that I can drink just about anything.
bexrbetter Posted October 2, 2014 Posted October 2, 2014 Just as well that I can drink just about anything. Obviously you have never tasted Great Wall wines.
Marty_d Posted October 2, 2014 Author Posted October 2, 2014 Obviously you have never tasted Great Wall wines. If they're anything like Great Wall cars, they're damned ugly! I went to the area around Bergerac and found the wine to be cheap, but the quality was nothing special. Good wine cost the same as here. Just as well that I can drink just about anything. The Gard region of Languedoc-Roussillon is still underrated for wine - they're producing some great stuff and the price is still low. Like I said before, the 4 euro bottles I've had would be equivalent to Australian $15-$20 wines.
facthunter Posted October 3, 2014 Posted October 3, 2014 You are not referring to the Blanc de Blanc Appellation wines are you? l
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