Regulations are currently changing in France, and imposing a no fly zone in South West France for all jet fighter rides. Unfortunately, this implies that we are no longer permitted to offer to fly a jet fighter from Bordeaux. This no fly zone is temporary whilst the administration ruling the French skies publishes new regulation this summer which will apply with immediate effect. We are quite happy of this new regulation as it will professionalise the operation of jet fighters. We are already operating in compliance with the future guidelines so this will have no effect on us, but we are pleased as such is not the case for other operators who, we think, are very borderline. As, for the moment, we may not take you flying in Bordeaux, we have increased our capacities in Paris where we fly the L39 Albatros, as well as in Beauvais and Abbeville where we fly our Fouga Magister. If you have any question, do not hesitate to contact us. Overall, these new regulations are a blessing – and we had lobbied for this - as it will force other operators to reach a high standard in aviation in order to fly jet fighters.

The Space Shuttle Endeavour is due back to earth on the 1st of June, for the last time. This incredible bird has spent 300 days in space – almost a year – and travelled about 130 million miles… It should get an award in any frequent flyer program. Endeavour has flown 25 times into space since its first mission on May 7, 1992. It is always sad to see an incredible plane grounded forever, but the upside is that many people will now be able to admire the shuttle in one of the museums in the US. Congratulations to all the pilots. If only we have had the chance to test it out… this is one of the best airplanes ever made and the most powerful. It is also probably one of any pilot’s dreams to reach space. We are also very much looking forward to the shuttle’s replacement.

We are very excited to announce that we are currently in the process of acquiring a new jet fighter – L39 Albatros – to be stationed in Bordeaux. This is exciting as this will allow us to do more jet fighter rides, but also to have more fun flying in formation. The purchase will take a bit of time, as it usually does when buying a plane – this is not a can of beans – and we expect the delivery of the plane towards September. Then the jet fighter will go under testing to ensure full security. After that we will do a few hours to make sure we get the right feel before getting anyone on board. So after all this, we should be able to get some passengers looking for adrenaline towards the end of October or early December. We are also very lucky as we have in our team of pilots some who have been members of the Patrouille de France, our national display team, and they will help us deliver great formation flying evolutions. Of course we are all used to flying in pairs, but we are looking at delivering that extra sensation when you do display maneuvers. We know it is a bit far off, but we are so excited about this that we wanted to share this big news with you. In the meantime, come experience the thrills of a lifetime by getting into the cockpit and fly a jet fighter.

We would like to say Congratulations to Bertrand Piccard for his success in the 1st international flight of Solar Impulse. Although his aim is to demonstrate that solar power – green energy – can actually power airplanes is a bit “opposite” to what we actually do – flying jet fighters – we think Friday 13th May will remain as a milestone in aviation history. Solar Impulse took off from Payerne in Switzerland and flew almost 13 hours to land in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. By airplane standards this is quite slow, but the accomplishment is amazing. This step is another one on the ladder of greener energy, and maybe one day, we will see this applied to jet fighters as well. A few months ago, a F-22 Raptor flew on bio fuel, showing that most people in the aviation industry are actually planning for greener fuel for fast jets. Before it becomes a reality, Congratulations again to Bertrand Piccard for this great accomplishment. Fly a jet fighter – contact us if you want to fly a jet fighter

Due to success we will open more dates to fly a jet fighter in Abbeville. Our Fouga Magister is usually stationed at Beauvais, just one hour south of Abbeville, but we will organise more dates to fly this fighter in May, in Abbeville. Why this town ? Because we are over the sea in just 30mn, and because the scenery is just spectacular. We take off flying north west towards the bay of Somme, and then we put the nose down until we are just meters from the water so you can experience the speed of a jet fighter. Look left, and you can admire the great cliffs of Etretat. This truly is a great flight. Then flying back to the airfield we enjoy a few aerobatics, such as loops and barrels… just before landing. To fly a jet fighter in these conditions is more than great, this is why we will put the Fouga Magister for 3 weekends in May over there. So you get a chance to experience all this, as well share our passion for fast planes. Get in touch for more information.

We have been very lucky last week to be able to visit the Lockheed Martin Corporation. This invitation went through thanks to fellow pilots, and we have to say this was one of the top 10 experiences for all of us. When you are passionate about aviation, being able to venture into one of the temples of aviation is quite something. We have been more than lucky as we have been able to see some of the production lines of the F-35. We are still very much excited about all this, so to share our excitement with you, here is a great video by Lockheed Martin showcasing the F-35B. Unfortunately we will never be able to fly this jet fighter, but seeing it in action is already a treat.

The Aero L-39 Albatros is a high-performance jet trainer aircraft developed in Czechoslovakia to meet requirements for a "C-39" (C for cvičný – trainer) during the 1960s to replace the L-29 Delfín. It was the first of the second-generation jet trainers, and the first turbofan-powered trainer produced, and was later updated as the L-59 Super Albatros and as the L-139 (prototype L-39 with engine Garrett TFE731). The design is still produced in an evolved state as the L-159 ALCA, while more than 2,800 L-39s still serve with over 30 air forces around the world. The Albatros – the most widely used jet trainer in the world – is versatile, seeing duty in light-attack missions as well as in basic and advanced pilot training.

Check out our latest video. We fly the Fouga Magister in Northern France with a TV presenter and we pushed the limits… of the passenger!!! This was terribly good fun. The Fouga Magister is a fantastic jet fighter, making a lot of noise, and with its characteristic V tail. We usually fly from Beauvais, sometimes from Abbeville, and when we can from Le Touquet in Northern France. If you want to experience a great jet fighter ride, come fly with us. We will even let you take the controls!!!

Every year we offer a flight to a charity so they can raise money for their cause. This year, we have decided to support Cancer Research. They are organizing a golfing day out in June along with COMET, bringing suppliers to this event. At night, an auction will be organised with various prizes to bet on. And one of them will be our jet fighter ride. We hope to raise a lot of money through our gift. Cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 40 years, thanks to the tremendous work done by organizations such as Cancer Reasearch. But every 2mns, someone is diagnosed with cancer, so it is still very much alive. If you want to know more about Cancer Research and how to donate, please check their website http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/

We love to fly our jet fighter in Northern France as we can get really close to the cliffs. There are also many aerobatics axis where we can do many maneuvers. Check out this short video. The jet fighter ride is done in a Fouga Magister, one of the most agile jets ever made. It is recognizable by its V shaped tail. Twin engined, it is also one of the safest jet fighter to fly. And the bonus point is the large glass canopy for a great view of the scenery.