From the first flights to today
The Buzet aerodrome is bought by Lotfi Hedhili, in order to be able to share his passion for microlights. He undertook numerous changes to beautify, and refresh the land.
He would also buy one of his favorite planes: the Fouga Magister and set up a special place for it so that everyone could come and admire it on the ground or from the air.
2016
1999
Jacky Tonet (Dynali) would develop the first Belgian single-seater ULM helicopter, with the first conclusive tests taking place on the Buzet track. The Cosmos “Samba”, an ultra-light 45 kg trolley, equipped with the La Mouette Top Less delta wing (without mast) is demonstrated on the Buzet site, a marvel of lightness, performance and maneuverability.
Yves Borreman is the only Belgian pilot to practice the Delta competition and the paragliding competition (3rd in the Belgian championship out of 60 participants).
The Belgian paragliding distance record is shattered by Didier Doutrepont: 105 km, on an APCO Xtra wing.
1996-1997
1994
Confluence imports the Rans Coyote, a true light aircraft which revolutionizes the entire traditional philosophy of ULM. In a few hours without stops, it can reach the south of France, via Mont Blanc.
Two additional hangars are built and the Buzet runway is extended, now 220 m long.
Buzet pilots, including José Vandeveken, actively participate in the Belgian ULM Championships, as well as the World Championships and rank more than honourably.
In 1989, the first long distance paraglider flights were made from Les Sept-Meuses. Pierre Saint-Germain, and Yves Borreman flew for 3 hours, followed by Phillipe Hubert, Walter Gielen, and André Evrard, who lasted 6 hours in the air. This year also marked the year Luc Borreman made an unprecedented feat, gaining 350 metres of altitude from the start point in Les Sept Meuses. Further gains were also made by Phillipe Hubert, who flew a total of 28kms from here.
The 90's saw the birth of the paramotor, which allowed for speeds of over 200 km/h. Other improvements to paragliders saw them being able to reach a glide ratio of 8!
Confluence aquired their first paramotor, and began to teach aspiring pilots this new discipline.
1989
1987
Lucien Patriarche, father of microlights, dies. The Buzet farm and land are put up for sale.
Pierre Saint-Germain, Luc Borreman and Dimitri Caloussis decided to buy everything and create the company Confluence.
The runway is 120m long, with a single hangar (on a slope!) housing a handful of aircraft.
They teach microlights in Chickinox and DPM in Cosmos.
Paragliding, a new “free flight” discipline, appears in France.
Dominique Didot and his father, both parachutists, discovered the "slope parachute" during a visit to Mieussy.
Back in Belgium, the first major paragliding flights are carried out on Belgian sites. Yves Borreman calls for the integration of paragliders into the Delta federation.
At the same time, Pierre Saint-Germain, Yves and Luc Borreman, as well as Dimitri Caloussis embark on an adventure, and will train in France with Pierre Bouilloux of Sup'Air.
Shortly after, using their experiences as Delta and microlight instructors, they created the first paragliding school in Belgium.
1986
1984
The non-profit organization "Aéroclub du Patriarche" is created, administered in particular by Lucien Patriarche, Marc d'Ursel, Norbert Miseur, Baudouin della Faille, PierreBernard Velge.
Pierre Saint-Germain, Luc Borreman and Dimitri Caloussis, as part of their non-profit organization Vole Pétrole, teach as "freelancers" on the Buzet track.
Jacky Tonet (Dynali) puts into production his microlight "Chickinox Kot Kot" (Chicken - Inox - side by side) invented in 1982. Available in two-axis version then in three-axis, this Belgian tube and canvas aircraft would see 1000 units made and sold all over the world, lasting for 10 years. Confluence will train hundreds of Chickinox students, and fly thousands of flight hours.
First tour of Belgium in a microlight.
The first multi-axis microlights appear in Belgium. The crossing of the Channel by a Belgian microlight is made, an adventure worthy of Blériot.
1982-1983
1981
Some of the Delta pilots started flying microlights and soon the ULM federation was born, founded in particular by Dimitri Caloussis (1984). In the delta; Pierre Saint-Germain sets a record flight duration of 6:30 hours, and Thomas De Clerck breaks it, lasting 7h30 on a 30m high dune in Bredene.
The distance records follow. Departing from the Sept Meuses, Luc Borreman and Pierre Saint-Germain carry out flights of more than 56 km. With the other sites seeing equal feats by reel winch, and towing behind a DPM. Olivier Strebelle is the first Belgian to cross the Swiss-Italy Alps: 70 km.
Marc d'Ursel has the first official microlight runway approved in Belgium on the hockey pitch at Lucien Patriarche's farm, which later becomes the Buzet ULM ground. Microlights took off after matches or at half-time.
Pierre Saint-Germain, Luc Borreman and Dimitri Caloussis join forces to create their microlight flying school “Vole Pétrole” and teach on country roads. First microlight school in Belgium with a side-by-side pendulum, Hirth engine.
1980
1979
A complete Belgian team participates in the World Championships in Saint-Hilaire du Touvet (French Alps). The same year, the first motorized deltas would appear in Belgium thanks toThomas De Clerck, Pierrot Mezzapesa and Patrick Dupont.
The first Belgian DPM "trolley" is purchased by Bernard Gosselet and Maurice Lebrun.
Most of these new microlights would find their home on a road in an industrial park in Wavre
In 1978, Luc Borreman founded the ‘Camill's School’ hang gliding school. Dimitri Caloussis and Luc Borreman took their students there for their first big flights in the Alps.
In Belgium, Olivier Strebelle organised the first cross-country flights from the Sept Meuses.
1978
1977
In 1977, Delta flying would primarily take place in Overijse, as well as the slag heaps of Marcinelle, Trazegnies, Strépy-Bracquegnies, and Les Sept Meuses. A number of competitions would take place on slag heaps, notably in Strépy, La Ferme Libert, and in Theux.
The first long flights at Les Sept Meuses would be flown by Thomas De Clerck, Thierry Van Laere, Eric and Domoniaue Pelletier, as well as Yves Borreman.
This period would also mark the discovery o the sites in Bérisménil-Maboge, Rochehaut, and Rochefort. The first towed flights achieved gains of 600 metres, even in a two-seater.
The Belgian free flight federation is founded by Dimitri Caloussis, Louis Dombard, Patrick Lenders, Philippe Peetrons, Philippe Michel, Roland du Roy de Blicagui, José Vandervoorde, Marc Segers, as well as Michel and JeanAndré Zembsch-Schreve.
The first world championship is held in Kössen, where Thérence Delore (of France) takes first place. Gérard Thévenot (also of France; creator of the Mouette Delta Wing) finishes fourth, while Dimitri Caloussis and Michel Féry (both of Belgium) finish 20th and 51st respectively, out of a field of 61 participants.
The first flights at ‘Les Sept Meuses’ in Rivière were probably made by Éric and Dominique Pelletier.
The first soaring flights were without doubt made by Thomas and Benoît De Clerck in the Puy de Dôme.
Yves and Luc Borreman bought their first ‘Rogallo’ veloplane wing and made their first flights on the training slope at Overijse, as well as on the slag heaps. They also made their first big flights in the Alps, notably in Lachens, and Puy de Dôme.
1976
1975
Dimitri Caloussis, Louis Dombard, and Philippe Michel make the first big flights in Mouster (France), and Météores (Grèce)
Dimitri Caloussis resumes the "Brussels Delta School", offering courses on the training slope in Overijse, as well as teaching high flying courses in France
The "Brussels Delta School" is created in Overijse by Louis Dombard, which oversaw the construction of a delta wing.
During this time Pierre Saint-Germain flew the first flights at Saint-Lary, in the Pyrenees, accompanied by Darlet; the inventor of "the cage" and the "pif-paf"
1974
1973
An American designed hang glider flies for the first time in Belgium, on the quarries of Braine l'Alleud, and in Lasne, thanks to the work of Dimitri Caloussis, Patrick Lenders, Jean de Marneffe and Marc-Henri Delaet.