Steve and Jennie Bailey report from the recent fly-in at the Robin Aircraft factory in France
9 November 2022
When Ben Smith of Garmin UK floated the idea of a ‘Tour de France’ to showcase Garmin’s aviation products, Casimir Pellissier, CEO of Robin Aircraft, happily offered the Robin factory fly-in at Darois as a host venue.
Travelling by ferry from Southampton, then driving more than 1,000 miles in France, the Garmin exhibition vehicle toured the local airfields of selected Garmin Aviation Dealers in France, giving customers the opportunity to interact with a whole range of products available for new builds, as well as to discuss potential upgrades for their aircraft.
Robin Aircraft’s fly-in saw at least 20 aircraft and about 300 visitors converge on Darois by air and road, from France, Belgium, Germany and England.
An eclectic collection of Robin-related aircraft ranging from Jodels, including a D140C Mousquetaire, through DR300, ATL, DR400, DR500 up to the latest DR401 model, crossed the Route de Troyes and parked up on the grass verge of the taxiway between the workshops and the hangar, overspilling into the area in front of the woodshop.
It was good to see some other marques there, too, including a SkyCatcher and an Aquilla – perhaps the owners coming to see a different approach to light aircraft design and manufacture.
A series of workshop tours took visitors through the entire production, from grading the wood for quality and hardness, through the initial machining and component manufacture, building the aerostructure, then painting (with a huge pallet of newly commissioned, gorgeous, vibrant, metallic coloured paints) – and final assembly.
Downstairs, the tour took in the metal work department where all the alloy and steel components are made – production aided by new, computer controlled drilling and lathing machines.
Meanwhile, the Garmin exhibition saw a steady stream of people trying out the range of avionics, certified and uncertified, and the Robin and Garmin staff were kept busy answering questions from an inquisitive audience.
Back in the hangar, a lunch of local Burgundy dishes was served, before Eric Vazeille rounded off the event with a spectacular aerobatic display in the CAP 222.
A great day, blessed by sunny weather and enthusiastic visitors.
*A great day out at the Robin factory fly-in
