EMPOA Mooney Tour 2026 – From Lausanne to Lyon

Four days, two countries, two special airfields and plenty of Mooney spirit

From 10 to 13 September 2026, this year’s EMPOA Mooney Tour took us to Lausanne and Lyon. The tour was organised by David Kromka, who put together a varied programme combining flying, food, culture and, of course, plenty of Mooney spirit.

Arriving in Lausanne

On Thursday, 10 September, the first Mooneys arrived at La Blécherette (LSGL), just north of Lausanne. It was EMPOA’s first tour to Switzerland.

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Over snacks and drinks, there was plenty of time at the cosy airfield to meet old friends and get to know new faces. And, of course, everyone received their personal EMPOA tour shirt.

From La Blécherette we headed into the centre of Lausanne. There was little time to rest, though: in the early evening we boarded a historic boat for a three-hour dinner cruise on Lake Geneva (Lac Léman). Good food, Swiss wine and beautiful views provided the perfect setting for discussing both the days behind us and the adventures still to come.

Following the Rhône to Lyon

After breakfast on Friday morning, it was back to the airfield. Following a last opportunity to stock up on Swiss chocolate and other souvenirs, the Mooneys departed for France.

The route took us through the Geneva area and along the Rhône towards Lyon-Bron (LFLY). There the crews were welcomed with French apéro specialities and a refreshing drink.

A very special sight was waiting for us on the apron: parked alongside our Mooneys was a particularly rare Mooney M22 Mustang from Switzerland. Naturally, we took the opportunity to have a good look at this unusual and powerful member of the Mooney family.

A private bus then took us into the centre of Lyon. In the evening we visited a typical Bouchon de Lyon, where regional specialities and wine served in the traditional fillette made for a very enjoyable end to the day.

Cars and Beaujolais

Saturday morning was free for everyone to explore Lyon, do some shopping or simply enjoy a leisurely lunch.

In the early afternoon, our bus took us to Rochetaillée-sur-Saône, home of the famous Henri Malartre collection in the Château de Rochetaillée. The collection covers more than a century of automotive history and features numerous unusual and historic vehicles. The group was split in two, allowing everyone to enjoy both a guided tour and some time to explore independently.

We then continued into the Beaujolais region. At a local wine estate we tasted a selection of regional wines – and, naturally, there was also an opportunity to add a few bottles to our personal cellars.

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The day ended at Château des Moriers near Fleurie. A three-course dinner accompanied by the estate’s wines and coffee was served, and with the weather cooperating, we were even able to enjoy the evening outdoors before our bus took us back to Lyon.

One More Aviation Highlight

On Sunday morning it was time to say Au revoir, Lyon! After breakfast, the bus took us back to Lyon-Bron, where the crews either started their journeys home or continued on to other destinations.

For a small group, however, the tour was not quite over yet. Together with Dominique from the Aéroclub de Lyon, they visited the Lyon-Corbas aviation museum. It was a fitting final opportunity to explore historic aircraft and aviation history.

Another Great EMPOA Tour

The 2026 tour once again combined everything that makes an EMPOA trip special: flying our own Mooneys, interesting airfields, great food and wine, fascinating places to visit – and, above all, plenty of time spent together with fellow Mooney enthusiasts.

A big thank you to David Kromka for organising the tour, and to everyone who contributed to making it such a great success!

Photos

And now, enjoy the photo gallery!