MACFLY PILOTS INTERVIEWS
1- What’s your favorite flying spot, and why do you love it so much ?
I have several —i t's a difficult question. But without a doubt I prefer a place where a light mist clings to the ground. Not a thick, worrying fog, no—rather that delicate, almost transparent veil that brushes the fields and curls around the copses. In that moment you are a privileged guest of a world very few people see, one that exists only for a few minutes between night and day. Those are always flights that fill me with wonder. That said, I think the spot in Brazil will remain etched in my life forever, because we flew tandem in competition with Oriane (my eldest daughter), alongside pilots from the French team, between tropical mountains and a surfers’ sea in a samba atmosphere
2. Do you have a routine or a little ritual before takeoff ?
(Don’t tell me about the fear pee, lol)
I promise I won’t talk about the fear pee. Even though... Anyway. I’m not very superstitious. I’ve learned that rushing things doesn’t help in flight. So I like to be in my own bubble before taking off.
If there are others around, I’m always up for a little funny comment or a joke before we take off — something like : “What’s that cap on the ground?” when everyone already has their gear on their back.
3. As an instructor and a trainer of instructors, do you have any advice for those who are starting their training ?
Yes: be curious, be patient… and laugh a lot.
Paramotoring is a great school of humility.
You have to accept struggling a bit at the beginning, making mistakes, but understanding them and laughing about it.
Most importantly, surround yourself with kind people, and don’t rush to “get there” – every step of the journey is already a pleasure.
And besides, it’s still a magical sport: we’re flying, after all!
So you might as well enjoy it from the start.
4. You are also a source of motivation for competition, can you tell us why ?
What does it bring to you ? Why do you motivate many pilots to come and discover it ?
My first competition was a French Championship in tandem foot launch with Christelle (my wife).
I was surprised by the adrenaline rush it gave me.
It's like being on a roller coaster for days.
It's exhilarating and addictive, especially since you can progress a lot in just a few days.
Competition accelerates progress.... and laughter too.
It pushes you to really work on your precision, navigation, and flight management.
But it's also a time for sharing with other passionate people, where you learn just as much in the air as on the ground, talking over a coffee or dealing with a GPS tracker that’s stopped working.
I love seeing pilots surprise themselves, make progress, and say: "Wait, I’m actually capable of doing that ?!"
It's rewarding and inspiring, for both them and me.
5. If you could fly anywhere in the world, where would you choose ?
There are legendary places that make me dream : Polynesia, the United States, Namibia, Indonesia, Japan, and many other places.
But deep down, what I prefer the most is flying with a paramotor that I trust, in beautiful light, in a wild spot, and with people I love. The perfect place might not be so much a destination as it is a good moment shared.
Well… but if Elon Musk calls me to test a flight over Mars, I’d still take it.