First flight 08 November 2025 ! I line up on runway 25, calm but focused. I gradually increase the throttle, 260 horsepower are unleashed. In 20 seconds and few hundred meters, YB takes off, logically, like a flower ! A leap into the unknown, now I have to manage… Right turn at the end of the runway to facilitate the return. The cylinder head temperatures are high, the propeller is spinning a little too rapidly, the GPS is insistently warning me of the terrain proximity… Nothing too serious for now, but one must deal with these parameters and fly the plane, be ready for any eventuality, try also to manage the enormity of this first flight, appreciate a little, let it sink in… I only managed to do that once on the ground, and even then !
Third flight 13 November.  We are cruising at 330 km/h north of the Rhône Valley, pushed by a light tailwind. I reduce power to 65% to follow the engine break-in procedure. The air is calm, the sun setting gently, YB is in its element, what a plane ! Certainly the best single-engine I’ve ever flown. I realize and fully appreciate this incredible moment, between satisfaction and gratitude.
The plane flies, time stands still, pure happiness !
It took us seven years from first rivet to first flight, but much longer since that slightly crazy dream of one day building my own airplane. This project has far exceeded our expectations in technical and human terms and the fact that we achieved it with so little prior knowledge will always amaze us !
This is just one project among many, a personal dream come true in this somewhat crazy world where, for many, the priorities lie elsewhere. But I wanted to thank from the bottom of my heart the people who made it possible :
Vasita, without her patience, her support, her love, without all those “romantic” evenings riveting or sealing tanks, this project would probably never have been completed.
My family, for their support, once again !
Jean Margotton, Philippe Cordier for the RV-8 and 9 discovery flights in 2014
Michael Wellenzohn for the decisive RV-10 flight in 2017
Xavier Lebegue for the RV-10 flight in 2023 and his technical assistance
Frederic and Camille de Preux, Alexandre and Remy Crettenand, Dominique Délèze, Laurent Bridet, Alain Pitteloud, Thierry Courtine for their invaluable help
Eddy Pelfini for the remarkable Spirit of Sion logo and the future paint scheme
Laurent Zen Ruffinen for his wise technical advice and invaluable help
Laurent Sobota, Michael Wellenzohn, Gordon Anderson for providing their flight manuals and examples of technical documentation
Vital Emery for the “miraculous” correction of my biggest building mistake
Jean-Luc Adam for his invaluable help during ground testing, inspection, and first flight
Pierrot Luyet, Alpine Helicopter for the memorable transport of the fuselage from Savièse to Sion
Jean-Etienne Allet for the helicopter lift movie
Michel Seppey, Alpark for the 5-star hangar that greatly facilitated the initial assembly
Christophe Varone and his team, Farner for the hangar, the help and a wonderful year spent in their workshop
Didier Perrenoud for his invaluable assistance in configuring the avionics
Muriel Bornet of Le Nouvelliste and Nathalie Terrettaz of Rhône FM for their reports
Jean Pierre Parizon and Riccardo Reis for the superb training flights in the Epsilon and Extra NG
Jean-Claude Hege, Alain Pitteloud, Jean-Daniel Perruchoud for the superb photos of the first flight
Experimental Aviation of Switzerland which makes these construction projects possible and oversees them, in particular Jakob Straub, Daniel Sulzer, Dan Ruiters, Nico Höhn
The Van’s aircraft builders community of Switzerland for their precious help and advice
The Van’s Club of France for their gathering and the great encounters
Daniel Koblet (whom we will not forget), Laurent Calame my build advisors, André Beusch my flight advisor
The Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Mr. Infranca for the final inspection
Van’s Aircraft, Lycoming, MT Propeller, Steinair, Aerosport Products, Aircraft Specialty, Beringer, Aircraft Spruce for their support and their 5-star products.
And finally, THANK YOU LIFE for allowing me to realize yet another dream !
SOME PICTURES :
