The 2024 season of the STOL (short take-off and landing) championship came to a close on Saturday, September 14, at the MULM in Blois, with pilots competing in four of the six competitions on the calendar, those in Beaune (Côte-d’Or) and Pons-Avy (Charente-Maritime) having been cancelled.
The meetings, open to all ultralights pilots (French regulation – similar to LSA) from all over France, established a hierarchy that had already been sketched out in previous years.
In the 3-axis category, it came as no surprise that Eric Grare (Yuma 100 hp E-Props prototype, with his Durandal 3-blade diameter 205 cm / 80,7 inch) emerged as the discipline’s leader, even though he had to relinquish the top step of the podium at the Corsica meeting to Bertrand Amart (ICP Savannah S with E-Props), who conceded a lead of just 3 m. What remained was a series of events that looked like a walk in the park for this spectacular pilot – a term to be taken literally, as his take-offs are reminiscent of a balancing act.
The leading group, made up of Jean-Claude Aynié (E-Props), Michel Gaignard (E-Props), Laurent Plassard, Lucas Lamandon and Bertrand Amart (E-Props), outdistanced the rest of the competitors, without making them look ridiculous, as they all achieved scores (landing distance + take-off distance) that would make most ultralight pilots pale, with 96% of values below 150 meters and an average of 77.9 meters for all multiaxis competitors over the whole season.
E-Props propellers have made a name for themselves in this type of competitions, both in France and Europe, and are beginning to be known in the USA (US National STOL). Further proof that E-Props are just as ideal for short take-offs and mountain flights as they are for long cruising flights (round-the-world tours, for example). It all depends on the model, and E-Props offers many. See here : CATALOG
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