We are delighted to announce that our association, J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER, has reached an important milestone in our mission to make the sky accessible to everyone. Thanks to your generosity, we have achieved a crucial first stage in our fundraising campaign dedicated to acquiring the necessary equipment to offer free paragliding flights to people with disabilities.
Partially achieved goal: The acquisition of a new tandem wing.
Out of the €12,932 needed to acquire the handi-vol seat, a tandem paraglider wing, seats for both the passenger and pilot, as well as a rescue parachute suited to the weight of the crew with the seat, we have already collected €5,600. This incredible support has allowed us to purchase a brand-new tandem wing, the Duet Pro from DaVinci. We were fortunate to have it adorned with beautiful custom embroidery done during the manufacturing process, before the suspension lines were attached. This meticulous work was graciously offered by DaVinci to support us. The tandem features the inscription “J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER” in the center, along with two small additional embroideries of www.aile4.com on the wingtips, representing the new business of our president, Tony. Aile 4 shares the same values as our association: making the sky accessible to all by making paragliding equipment more financially accessible.
The DaVinci brand we chose is renowned for its high-tech equipment, offering optimal safety at affordable prices. The Duet Pro, our new tandem, stands out for its quality, comfort, and light, maneuverable controls, making it a pure pleasure to fly.
In addition to the tandem wing, we have also acquired a passenger seat, the Bipax 2 from the Swiss brand Advance, thanks to another one of our partners, Airsports Chamonix, who also provided us with a preferential rate.
The next objective: A chair for totally free handi-vol
We currently have about €1,500 remaining in our fund. If donations continue to come in regularly, we hope to acquire the handi-vol seat within the next few months or by next year. In the meantime, we thank our generous donors by offering them gift vouchers for paragliding flights, encouraging them to help us reach our final goal: collecting the €5,300 necessary for the seat, €1,000 for the pilot’s seat, and €1,200 for the rescue parachute. Currently, we are using a pilot’s seat and a rescue parachute generously loaned to the association. We would also like to obtain a seat suitable for children. Our partner DaVinci has lent us a child seat for free until mid-September, allowing us to fly several children this summer.
We are very pleased to present our new tandem, as the old one, after more than 300 flights for the J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER project, had reached the end of its life with less than 50 hours of remaining use according to its last inspection. This wing, which belonged to our president, played a key role, but it was imperative to replace it to ensure maximum safety.
Bertrand: A new passionate pilot
We also take this opportunity to introduce Bertrand, the latest pilot to join the J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER team. Passionate about paragliding for over three decades, Bertrand obtained his tandem qualification in 2019. This marked the beginning of a new adventure for him, allowing him to rediscover the joys of hike-and-fly with his wife, other passengers, and his grandchildren. Today, he shares his passion with as many people as possible, introducing them to the joys of flight while conveying his love for nature.
Captivated by Tony’s vision for the handi-vol project, Bertrand decided to support our association with enthusiasm. He is now our pilot for the Haute-Savoie region, and we are very proud to have him on our team. His enthusiasm, big heart, and passion make him a valuable asset to J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER.
Recap of Our First Event at Salève
On Saturday, August 31, 2024, we celebrated this first success by organizing a small event at Salève, the beautiful French mountain overlooking Geneva, offering an incredible view of Switzerland. We invited our Instagram followers to join us for a moment of exchange, meeting, and presentation of our new equipment and our new pilot, Bertrand. Despite the last-minute organization, we were fortunate to share this afternoon with some of our followers over a friendly potluck buffet.
This event, although modest, marked a significant moment for the association. Future events will be larger and organized further in advance, but it was a pleasure to celebrate this first success together.
We would like to thank all the participants, as well as all the donors, for their continued support. Thanks to you, J’IRAI VOUS FAIRE VOLER continues to make progress toward its goal of making the sky accessible to all.
To stay updated on our upcoming actions and events that we share in our Stories, follow us on Instagram here.
