FAQ's
Here are a few topics we get lots of questions about. You'll find some basic answers below, and once you sign up for the tour we'll add you to our google group so we can prepare you with more detailed information about the trip. If there's anything you want to know that we haven't answered, just shoot us an email.
Weather:
The weather this time of year is very similar to the mountainous regions of North America. We will be in the Alps during the late spring/early summer season, so the weather can change quickly. It's typically in the upper 60's or lower 70’s during the day, and in the 50's at night. The higher you go the colder it gets so be prepared! The landing zone is often warm and sunny, but if you catch a good thermal you might be able to climb a few thousand feet above launch and over the snowy peaks! A light flight suit or wind stopper pants and jacket are normally worn during the flight along with some wind-stopper gloves. A lightweight rain jacket might come in handy if an evening thunderstorm passes through. Make sure you bring your sunglasses!
Accommodations:
We will be staying at a French style chalet/apartment in the Chamonix valley just outside of Megeve. The chalet has a beautiful location and close proximity to town and the local flying site called Plaine Joux. The chalet is composed of multiple cabins/apartments which each contain 2-4 private double or single rooms. Each apartment has a common kitchen and dining room area.
Electronic Conversion:
The European countries operate on 220 volts, so if you will be bringing appliances that use only 120 volts (USA & Canada) make sure you bring a converter! Most electronic devises that are made outside the USA (cameras, computers, that sort) are adaptable for both 110 and 220 volts. Make sure that you look on the back of the charging devise or AC cord and in small print it will say what it requires. Make sure you check before you plug it into the wall or you may risk losing it!
The wall jack connection is also a little different than what we use in North America. Instead of having two parallel flat prongs, they use two parallel rounded prongs. Small adaptors may be purchased for only a few dollars. These small plug adaptors do not change the voltage but only make the plug type adaptable.
An electrical converter changes the voltage from 120 volts into 240 volts or vise versa. These converters are much larger than a plug adaptor and usually weigh a pound or two. Don’t get electrical converters confused with plug adaptors!
Here is a picture of the type of plug adaptor you will need in France:
I use a clam shell battery pack (fill with 2A batteries) for my radio instead of dealing with a electrical converter. All my other electronics are compatible with 220 volts.
Flight Information:
We will be meeting at the Geneva, Switzerland Airport. France surrounds Geneva on 3 sides and part of the airport actually extends into France, but the main airport is in Switzerland. The most common flights depart Eastern USA in the evening and arrive in Europe the following morning. This is normally about an 8-hour flight depending on where in the USA you depart from. If the flight is not directly into Geneva, a short connection will be needed. Most arrival flights to Geneva are between 7 a.m. to noon each day. Don’t be confused and walk to the French half of the airport. We will pick you up just outside the baggage claim area (Swiss side).
Tour Schedule:
We are going to try and fly as many sites as possible within our area. After checking the weather conditions each evening we will decide where to go the next day to get the best flights possible! With Europe’s great road system we are able to travel from the North side of the Alps to the South side in a very short time! All of our sites are less than 2 hours from our base in Megeve. Plaine Joux, our local site looking up to Mont Blanc, is only 15 minutes away!
On most days we will depart from our chalet/apartments after breakfast at around 8:30-9:30 to arrive at our flying site 15 minutes- 2 hours later. Sometimes we will take a break for lunch, and other times we will pack a lunch so that we can fly all day long! Then, we usually stop for dinner at a restaurant before heading home. Sometimes we will even eat with the local pilots at the club restaurants next to the landing zones!
Our goal is to fly as much as we can and to experience as many new flying sites as possible!
For anything else, please contact us via e-mail and we will answer any questions you might have!