‘Fly me to the Moon’ sings Frank Sinatra and ‘Fly me to the Clouds’ sings gyrocopter aficionado Jacques Lorriaux.
Lagos resident Jacques fell in love with flying at the early age of thirteen. “I built some wings and attached them to my arms,” explained the flying enthusiast. “Then I jumped out of a window and, flapping my arms like a hummingbird, I quickly landed on the patio of the house. The cuts and bruises didn’t deter me.”
Later in life, Jacques took up gliding, but that required a tow vehicle, so a gyrocopter was the next best choice. It is independent, requires only a short runway, and carries one passenger. Over the past ten years, Jacques has flown all over Europe but lauds the Algarve coast and the Costa Vincentina as among the very best for their spectacular beauty.
On 20May, a group of flying enthusiasts congregated at the Lagos aerodrome (under the auspices of the Aero Clube de Lagos) for the first leg of a flying rally. The ten-day rally, organised by Air Flash Aventure, anticipated five stops in Portugal, three in Spain and two in France. The flight legs were designed for wonderful scenery and interesting stops to enjoy history, culture, cuisine and special events.
Throughout its nearly 60-year history, the Lagos club has been a meeting point for aviation enthusiasts, promoting the safe and responsible practice of various air disciplines, from general aviation to ultralights, model aircraft, and hot air ballooning.
Located in one of the most beautiful regions of Portugal, the aerodrome offers excellent conditions for scenic flights over the Algarve coast, offering unique views of Ponta da Piedade, Meia Praia, and the surrounding region. It provided the space and runway access for this recent event organised by Air Flash Aventure, a French company based in Amiens, France.
Air Flash
Air Flash was founded in 1991 by Éric Lefebvre, a pilot since 1989, and his wife, Sylvie. Evolving with the times, starting with weight-shift control (WSC) aircraft, the company was a pioneer in autogyros and then helicopters. Trips are organised every year, allowing pilots to experience extraordinary adventures.
In the 2026 rally, four different types of ultralight aircraft took part: autogyros (13), helicopters (3), fixed-wing (3) and a pendulaire ultralight. The fixed-wing aircraft flew into Lagos after flight-hopping through Europe from its home base. Many of the others arrived by truck with their aircraft partly disassembled and they had to be reconstructed at the Lagos aeroclub. The Air Flash team provided skilled and qualified mechanics for each type of aircraft.
Marc Lefebure, son of the founder and part-owner of Air Flash, is an instructor in his own right and mingles with the pilots before they depart on the first leg of the adventure. I asked him why the company chose Lagos to begin the rally, “We have contacts here,” he explained, mentioning Jacques Lorriaux. “We like the location with plenty of space and a runway suitable for light aircraft. The Algarve and Atlantic coasts are spectacular from the air and there are lakes everywhere (barragems). Also, the facilities, the hotel and restaurants are excellent and easy to access.”
Jacques explained the difference between a helicopter and an autogyro. ”Autogyros and helicopters both use overhead rotors, but they fly very differently. Helicopters have engine-powered overhead rotors that let them take off vertically and hover. Autogyros have unpowered, free-spinning rotors for lift and a rear engine propeller for forward thrust, meaning they require a short runway for take-off and landing but cannot take off vertically or hover. Autogyros are very safe and even in the unlikely event of engine failure, the aircraft can land safely.”
As an introduction to the rally, some of the fliers enjoyed a short Algarve flight from the Lagos aerodrome west along the scenic Algarve coast, around the Burgau area and then north to Monchique and its green mountainous terrain before returning to base. The following day, the rally began with Seville as the first destination. Participants had a rest day there to explore the history and culture of this renowned Spanish city, then carried on to watch a flamenco show. “The camaraderie of group flights and rallies really adds to the fun of ultralight flying,” explained Jacques.
Further destinations included the Douro wine valley, the town of Montalegre and its castle, and the Vale de Zêzere, a U-shaped valley carved by ancient glaciers in the Serra da Estrela Natural Park. Vigo in northwestern Spain was notable for its verdant landscape and spectacular coast, second only to Portugal’s Costa Vincentina. The rally continued across the Pyrenees, with its enduring snow-capped mountains, before ending back in Amiens.
For those whose interest has been piqued, there are opportunities to take an ultralight flight. A retired air force pilot, Kevin Robinson, offers gyrocopter trips:
Facebook: Aeroclube De Lagos
+351 282 793 891
The Aerodrome Municipal de Lagos
This aerodrome is one of the most desirable in the Algarve. It offers secure hangars with 24/7 security, a certified runway for ultralights, support services, ultralight parking, and dedicated space for ultralights. Powered paragliding and ballooning are also available. The aerodrome can advise on ultralight flights, training, certification and more.
+351 939 329 904
Air Flash Aventure ULM
This company in Amiens, France, organised the recent flight adventure. Trips are organised every year, allowing experienced pilots to take part in extraordinary adventures, with trained mechanics available for aircraft assembly and maintenance. The company is a distributor of leading autogyro and weight-shift control aircraft brands. It is also the French importer of Dynali, a leading helicopter brand.
