Saint-Omer,
ville d'art et d'histoire...
The
Aero club of Saint-Omer
The aerodrome of " Saint-Omer - Wizernes / LFQN " - it is his official name - is opened with the public air traffic; it is located on the heights of the Plate of the Heathers (249 ft!), between the communes of... Saint-Omer and Wizernes. The history of the aerodrome is closely related to the history of Aviation. In 1910 is held an air meeting there, probably one of the first in France. In 1911-1912, a manufacturer of planes has the free use of the " Plate " to carry out his tests. In 1916, a unit of hunting of Royal Flying Corps English - future Royal Air Force - is created; the 41ème Squadron carries still today emblème of the town of Saint-Omer. Between the two wars, the private aircrafts appear on the platform. The second world war represents one dramatic and intense period. The plate of the heathers, between Saint-Omer / Longuenesse (on the left on the photograph, behind wood) and Wizernes. One distinguishes the two tracks from the aerodrome: the track into hard directed East-West (09-27 of 517 meters) and tracks it out of almost perpendicular grass (03-21 of 660 meters). The small track, on the right on the photograph, is that of the aeromodelists. One also distinguishes on the photograph the hippodrome and the ground from stunt bike.
The aerodrome of " Saint-Omer - Wizernes / LFQN " - it is his official name - is opened with the public air traffic; it is located on the heights of the Plate of the Heathers (249 ft!), between the communes of... Saint-Omer and Wizernes. The history of the aerodrome is closely related to the history of Aviation. In 1910 is held an air meeting there, probably one of the first in France. In 1911-1912, a manufacturer of planes has the free use of the " Plate " to carry out his tests. In 1916, a unit of hunting of Royal Flying Corps English - future Royal Air Force - is created; the 41ème Squadron carries still today emblème of the town of Saint-Omer. Between the two wars, the private aircrafts appear on the platform. The second world war represents one dramatic and intense period. The plate of the heathers, between Saint-Omer / Longuenesse (on the left on the photograph, behind wood) and Wizernes. One distinguishes the two tracks from the aerodrome: the track into hard directed East-West (09-27 of 517 meters) and tracks it out of almost perpendicular grass (03-21 of 660 meters). The small track, on the right on the photograph, is that of the aeromodelists. One also distinguishes on the photograph the hippodrome and the ground from stunt bike.
Two
fighter pilots, two " aces ", are indissociable of this time:
Adolf Galland and Douglas Bader; many works report their chevaleresque
meeting with Saint-Omer during the summer 1941. After the second war,
the aerodrome is returned to the civil aviation and it is in 1956 that
is created the flying-club of Saint-Omer in his current form. So considerable
visitors are unaware of the historical past of the small aerodrome of
today, none is not insensitive with the charms of the " Plate ".
The pilots have the chance, without leaving the solo circuit, to benefit
from the sight of the city and the marshes, the Our-Lady abbeys and Saint-Paul
de Wisques, of the cupola of Helfaut and its " Center of History
of the War and the Rockets ", by beautiful time of the sea and the
so close coasts... Of its German past related to the second world war,
the aerodrome mainly preserved the track into hard and this large hangar
which lodges the 14 machines based more 3 constructions in progress. While
being tightened, there is nevertheless always a small place for the planes
of passage.
The
flying-club the flying-club in its form current A thus created in 1956.
In 1999, it comprises 70 active members adding up approximately 900 hours
of flights. The flying-club currently has two machines, Robin DR400 120
cv intended for the training of the pilot pupils, and a DR400 160 cv intended
for the voyages. These two planes are maintained in the workshops the
flying school Amaury de Lagrange with Merville. A third plane, of type
Jodel D113T, is in the course of construction by the members of the club
and should supplement the fleet for the end of the year. Association also
comprises private apparatuses: 6 ULM (3 pendular and 3 three axes) and
5 planes CNRA i.e. of construction amateur. Three of these machines were
entirely built in Saint-Omer. In addition, three constructions are currently
in hand: a plane of stunt-flying CP750 and Jodel D18, built on a purely
individual basis by two members of the club, and Jodel D113 already quoted.
The manufacturers audomarois - gathered within a section of the RSA, the
" Network of the Sports of the Air " - known and are recognized
long date in the area. The visitors, French and foreigners, are always
surprised by the diversity of the machine stock and by the dynamism of
our manufacturers.
The
flying school
One of the vocations of a flying-club is to place at the disposal of the members a machine stock for their walks and their voyages. A precondition is naturally the training of the pilots: " initial " formation, for the pilot pupils, but also followed drive and updating of knowledge for the already patented pilots. The theoretical lesson (on the ground) and practical (in flight) is exempted by an instructor controls professional, mainly the weekend. To be able to fly as " a commander ", the pilot must have a " patent " and a valid " licence ". The patent is a diploma obtained following a training on the ground and in flight; it is definitively acquired by its holder. In complement with the patent, the licence confers the right for one given duration to exert the function of pilot; its renewal is conditioned by a medical examination and a control in flight accomplished by an instructor.
One of the vocations of a flying-club is to place at the disposal of the members a machine stock for their walks and their voyages. A precondition is naturally the training of the pilots: " initial " formation, for the pilot pupils, but also followed drive and updating of knowledge for the already patented pilots. The theoretical lesson (on the ground) and practical (in flight) is exempted by an instructor controls professional, mainly the weekend. To be able to fly as " a commander ", the pilot must have a " patent " and a valid " licence ". The patent is a diploma obtained following a training on the ground and in flight; it is definitively acquired by its holder. In complement with the patent, the licence confers the right for one given duration to exert the function of pilot; its renewal is conditioned by a medical examination and a control in flight accomplished by an instructor.
Currently,
there exists in France two types of patents: - the main patent authorizes
flights only on board in a radius of 30 kilometers around the starting
aerodrome. Additional authorizations can be delivered by the instructor,
to carry passengers or to land on an external aerodrome - the private
pilot's licence plane makes it possible to fly on all the French territory
while taking along passengers. An additional test (test of radiotelefony
in English language) makes it possible to fly abroad. In practice, approximately
25 hours of training in flight are necessary for obtaining the main patent
and 60 hours for the private pilot's licence (main patent included). For
the interested people, a booklet is available to the flying-club, describing
in details the two patents, the course of the formations and their costs.
For the young people: Preferential rates are granted to the young registered
voters of less than 20 years. In addition, Jodel D113 in the course of
construction is particularly intended to them, with a time cost lower
than that of the DR400. Enfin, several establishments school of the area
propose, after signature of a convention with the aero club, a preparation
with the BIA: Aeronautical patent of Initiation. Teaching, primarily theoretical,
is supplemented by displacements on aeronautical installations: station
weather, control tower, workshop of mechanics... A flight of one hour
initiation is also envisaged. In addition to offering an opening on the
trades of the air, the BIA makes it possible to its holder - becoming
raises pilot - to postulate with various purses, thus reducing the cost
of its formation.
"A
sky for all"
The training of the pilots is an essential role of the flying-club. But the promotion of the general aviation near the public also represents a significant aspect. Thus, each summer, of many young people of the Young centers of Animation of the area audomaroise and the littoral discover their area seen of the sky, free or for a modest contribution (taken charges some by the communes and subsidies Ville Life Holidays). The money is not the only reason for exclusion. There is also the disease, the accident, the physical or mental handicap. To fly then appears often an inaccessible luxury. However, the flight is an inexhaustible source of happiness and makes it possible to be withdrawn from terrestrial worries. Since 1995, Aviation Without Borders (ASF, recognized association of public utility) animates in Island-of-France of the " days of aeronautical discovery " including a first flight for the handicapped people. Cordial contacts were established in 1997 between the persons in charge of ASF France and the Flying-club of Saint-Omer, leading to the signature of a convention for the operation " a sky for all ". Operation which profits from the sponsorship of proximity of the Savings bank of Pas-de-Calais and which is also supported by the General Council of our department.
The training of the pilots is an essential role of the flying-club. But the promotion of the general aviation near the public also represents a significant aspect. Thus, each summer, of many young people of the Young centers of Animation of the area audomaroise and the littoral discover their area seen of the sky, free or for a modest contribution (taken charges some by the communes and subsidies Ville Life Holidays). The money is not the only reason for exclusion. There is also the disease, the accident, the physical or mental handicap. To fly then appears often an inaccessible luxury. However, the flight is an inexhaustible source of happiness and makes it possible to be withdrawn from terrestrial worries. Since 1995, Aviation Without Borders (ASF, recognized association of public utility) animates in Island-of-France of the " days of aeronautical discovery " including a first flight for the handicapped people. Cordial contacts were established in 1997 between the persons in charge of ASF France and the Flying-club of Saint-Omer, leading to the signature of a convention for the operation " a sky for all ". Operation which profits from the sponsorship of proximity of the Savings bank of Pas-de-Calais and which is also supported by the General Council of our department.
Each
day accomodates approximately ten handicapped people and five guides.
The program adapts naturally to the nature of the handicaps. It includes/understands
a technical talk on the apparatuses, a meeting with members of the Model
aircraft making Club of Saint-Omer for a demonstration of reduced model
followed of a lesson of piloting in double command, a lunch on the spot
with the voluntary ones of the flying-club; then comes the flight, by
group of two people handicapped with a guide and the pilot of the flying-club.
For the people in travelling armchair, an electric winch makes it possible
to install them in Robin. For then tasting with the magic of the flight...
Six days were organized in 1998 per eight in 1999. All had a great success
whose local and regional press was made the echo. For year 2000, the flying-club
but as the hospitals and associations of parents of unsuited children
wishes as this operation fit now in the duration. Traditional photograph
of group at the end of one day filled well on the aeronautics plans and
human.
You can contact us with the following co-ordinates:
Flying-club of Saint-Omer Aerodrome of the Heathers - LP 7 62967 Longuenesse Cedex Tel.: 03 21 38 25 42 Fax: 03 21 98 98 25 e-mail: aeroclubstomer@minitel.net (click on the link to write to us)
You can contact us with the following co-ordinates:
Flying-club of Saint-Omer Aerodrome of the Heathers - LP 7 62967 Longuenesse Cedex Tel.: 03 21 38 25 42 Fax: 03 21 98 98 25 e-mail: aeroclubstomer@minitel.net (click on the link to write to us)