Club Arnage

Hi All

I am discussing with some contacts in the airline business the chance of a scheduled flight or two there and back next year.  What would help is some idea of how popular this might be (i.e. the difference between a 5 seater death trap and a larger plane with very attractive cabin crew).

Let me know your thoughts and if you are interested.

Cheers

Buddha

I was thinking about this only today. Can you keep me informed?
Many thanks
Steve

I believe that similar enquiries were made a few years ago.
Landing charges were found to be very expensive LM week, as was plane parking for the week

What about flying to Paris CDG (plenty of cheapish flights) and then getting the TGV to LM?
We could all rendezvous in Paris for a mass train ride to LM.
Thinking seriously about this for next year.
Steve

Trayboy and another of the Brethern did it this year, then caught the tram. As they were staying on HAN, it apparently worked excellently.

But who takes the kit down?

One of our crew arrived by TGV and tram this year - worked very well.  The only solution for kit is for them to cart it with them, or someone else to bring it/some of it (e.g. tent etc) for them by other means

MG Mark

It's quite cheap to fly to Paris CDG then get the TGV to Le Mans.

This year I flew from East Midlands to Paris for about fifty odd pounds return (inc taxes etc) on BMI Baby, then got the TGV first class to LM for £35 and came back on a slower "Ten" service for £25 (no TGVs at 4am!)

Due to none of my friends being able to make to full trip this year, I went down for qualifying on Wednesday and Thursday and came bakc on Friday.
I got the tram from Le Mans station to the circuit on wednesday, camped in my small tent in an unmarked corner of KN wednesday night and headed back to Le Mans train station on foot after Thursday qualifying (the trams had finished running by then) for my 4am train back to Paris.

It was well worth it for my annual fix of Le Mans, especially down at the awesome Arnage (although no fun walking back from there in the dark) and I watched the race at home on a TV projector I borrowed.

Hope to be back for the full week+weekend next year.

Would be interested. Planning shorter trip next year due to lessening love of tents, pikey thefts, missing my 2 kids, not missing my dragon wife, busy worklife etc.
 Like the plane and train idea too. Problem with charter plan is it will prob be from soft southern airport which doesn't help us northern monkeys.
 Want to stay in a hotel too next year so gear not a problem for me. Has anyone stayed at the Hotel de Paris in Eccommoy? Looks nice from the outside and is only 15mins away.

Dr S,
I rendezvoused at Blue Nord with a mate, and although our two journeys were very different, our journey times were almost identical,  as I think you're based in the NE somewhere it's a good comparison.
I left London at about 6am on Friday morning, driving to Calais for the tunnel and arriving at LM just in time to pick him up at the tram stop at Tetre Rouge at 3 in the afternoon. He'd left Edinburgh, also at 6am, with a flight to Paris CDG, transfer to the TGV to Le Mans and finally the tram.
And I'll admit, he was in much better shape than me.
H

My first 2 trips to LM were via the CDG and the TGV and I "freecamped" in Houx, what you can bring is obviously limited, but if you are only staying a few nights then its not a problem.

I've twice hired a car and whilst more expensive makes the trip more enjoyable.
Personally I'd rather fly to Orly or Rennes as the journey will be quicker.

Stu

If i get anywhere with this vain attempt I will post something on CA for all.  For us soft southerners, there is a great flight from Newquay (excellent for us surfers) to St. Briec with a TGV straight to LM - a source at the airline suggested they might consider extending this flight to include a drop off and pick up from LM - thus taking away the parking problem.

Kit is the problem, but hopefully the rest of my group who hire a van can accommodate - maybe if this takes off (do excuse me on that one), then we can consider sharring the camel resource.

Do like the idea of CDG and train - could be just like the old ski train to the mountains.

Keep your ideas flowing.

Buddha

I looked into this a couple of years ago, and I'm afraid to say, the cost was pretty prohibitive. The Arnage runway is fairly small, and the best you can hope for (Size wise) is a largish twin turboprop - ATR 72, Dash 8, Saab 2000 sort of size.

The price I got came in at about £350 PP for a Saab 2000, assuming a full plane both ways.

Pieanair and TGV will be much cheaper, and you can still do the 'group' thing. And you won't get left holding the chequebook when the music stops.

Best of luck.

I'm sure we have seen bigger stuff than that taking off, Nick, but I'm no expert.
And I was probably over refreshed. ;D

The bottle of grouse on the way down probably didnt help you h.

There is definitely bigger stuff than that taking off and landing we had our resident aviation oracle with us this year!!!!

Any chance on a C130?

We can then take a few cars with us.

Ah yes, but were they full?  ;)

Even better, imagine the entrance and exit we could make, our own mobile BBQ.  ;D

(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4f/C-130_Hercules_10.jpg/745px-C-130_Hercules_10.jpg)

Fulton Skyhook should do the job  ;)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/bullocks/mc130_49FultonSystem.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/bullocks/Fultonsystemop.jpg)

We need a C17 don't we?

I believe the RAF refer to their four as Thunderbirds 1, 2, 3 & 4

 ;D

http://www.petergoodearl.co.uk/airdays/airdays/airdisplay/riat05/1_static/pict0001_20050716.jpg (http://www.petergoodearl.co.uk/airdays/airdays/airdisplay/riat05/1_static/pict0001_20050716.jpg)

Wotcher Robbo, how're you keeping?

I'm off the whiskey for a bit....
I got stuck into a sizeable hip flask of single malt at Paddys Party on Friday night, co-oincidentally shortly before I passed out. Just as I was recovering, another bottle was cracked open at the campsite, and that one gave me 'walking sickness' and I shot off on foot to Arnage corner, almost getting run over several times. Come Sunday as I was packing up, and feeling very very ropey, young H Jnr (on his first trip to LM), pulled out a package he'd hidden, and with a 'Happy Fathers Day, Dad' handed me a bottle of Laphroig. I nearly strangled him.
I suppose he was on the right track....
H

Got it, it's LAPES - Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhG_HSfawpc

Landman

Whoever said anything about asking for permission to land and paying to do so?????

I like the C130 idea - how about we drop cluster bombs and the like on Rouen on the way down and then just land on the start/finish straight so there is less distance to walk.

Anyone know anyone with a Lockhead Blackbird?

Buddha

Maybe a HALO jump landing on the start/finish straight?

Will it be Ok if I just watch these antics then

I no longer wish to strap on unwieldy harnesses and walk out of any perfectly serviceable aircraft whilst in flight mode.

Be warned "ground" sometimes comes a bit sharpish, OK?


Yerss

I'll just watch

Don't much care about landing a C130 on the start/finish straight, It won't fit mate.

But a C130 could take us an cars over with all the camping gear. Even better if we're all camping on Bleu Nord, it can park next to the fence.

OK then build a purpose built runway behind the track in Le Mans town - it would certainly be an improvement on the current infrastructure.