His ULM experience is equally extensive: Tetras, Nynja, Skyranger, FK9… until he became the owner of a Eurofox, which he kept for 8 years. A reliable and versatile aircraft, but one whose limited performance eventually curbed his travel ambitions. Because Patrick loves to fly far, but he also loves to fly fast!

An idea born out of necessity

For several years now, Patrick has been dividing his time between France and Italy, where he works as a helicopter ground instructor for Leonardo in the Varese region, near Milan. This involves regular, demanding travel, which naturally led him to consider an aircraft capable of efficiently connecting these two locations… whilst remaining suitable for a grass runway just 400 metres long. With his Eurofox, the journey is possible… but long. Too long.

He therefore needs a fast, economical aircraft, capable of flying in hilly terrain and operating from short runways. A particularly demanding set of requirements, to which only one family of aircraft seems to meet the criteria: the MCRs.

Always mindful of reliability and safety, it incorporates several significant improvements: the replacement of the analogue anemometer with a new electronic version that includes a speed indicator and altimeter; the installation of engine cowling flaps to better manage temperatures; and the addition of a sliding canopy curtain to improve thermal comfort and the readability of the instruments in summer.

With safety in mind once again, Patrick also replaced the front wheel with a larger-diameter model (5 inches), thereby increasing the ground height — a valuable asset when riding on grass tracks that can sometimes be uneven. A more personal touch: a protective cover made by his wife from a car tarpaulin, tailored to fit the MCR’s shape perfectly.

Travel as a playground
With his MCR ULC, Patrick has found much more than just a plane: a true instrument of freedom. His business trips to Italy are the best illustration of this. Whereas the Eurofox required over six hours of flying time, the MCR now allows him to fly from Pons-Avy to the Milan area in just under three hours, crossing the Alps at flight level 120 and flying over Lake Maggiore and spectacular landscapes stretching as far as the eye can see.

He undertakes these flights several times a year, but only in favourable weather conditions. Yet beyond his work, Patrick enjoys numerous getaways purely for pleasure: Italy, Corsica, Sardinia, and soon Croatia, in the company of a group of pilot friends with whom he shares this same passion for air travel.

Even at weekends, Patrick regularly travels with his friends within a 500-kilometre radius, including flying over the Pyrenees in winter when the snow-capped peaks provide a striking backdrop.

‘For me, travel is part of flying. I love going far. These are exciting flights that require preparation, especially in the mountains. In fact, my fondest memory is my first landing in Megève (French Alps). It’s a magnificent place!’

A machine that evolves with its pilot
Today, F-JXOZ is in our care, at the SE Aviation Aircraft hangars, for its five-yearly service. It’s an opportunity to take great care of this great little traveller. In fact, Patrick already has a new project in mind: to completely modernise the avionics of his ULC, with a larger, more up-to-date EFIS. When the time comes, he’ll know exactly who to entrust this project to…

At SE Aviation Aircraft, supporting pilots like Patrick Sprugnoli – who are demanding, passionate and travel-oriented – is a real source of pride. His journey perfectly illustrates the DNA of the MCR ULC: go fast, go far, simply.

When Patrick talks about his ULC…

I love my ULC because it combines simplicity with precise handling. It’s an accessible machine, but one that requires you to think ahead: it’s fast and precise, but it doesn’t forgive any sloppiness. What I particularly appreciate is its versatility. It offers a high cruising speed, whilst being capable of landing on very short runways. For example, in Italy, at the airfield where I go to work, the grass runway is only 400 meters long. With the flaps fully extended, I can land in around 200 meters at full payload, without even needing to brake. Its low weight is also a major advantage. With an empty weight of just 270 kg, it retains an excellent payload. In flight, it is economical, highly responsive – particularly in pitch – and a real pleasure to fly.