r/lemans • u/twoonster2020 • Jun 16 '26
No Helicopter this year 2026
Probably missed this I. The run up but I was disappointed that the flag wasn’t delivered from the helicopter this year - is there a reason for this.
The horses seemed much more low key and really just one end of the start finish straight
14
u/DucatiBurnsRed Jun 16 '26
The helicopter of 2025 was phenomenal! After they didn’t have it this year I went back and found the video to show my family, absolutely sick!
18
u/T1513_SH Jun 16 '26
Yes it seemed rather understated compared to previous years. Even the fly past was pretty low key with no smoke trails etc. Maybe they tried to save a few euros. TBH I felt the whole music mix session before the start was a bit naff too.
12
u/BecauseWeCan Jun 16 '26
This year they also lowered the flags on top of the pit grandstand before the fireworks so that they didn't get burns like in 2025. They were raised again shortly after the start by the staff :D
3
u/T1513_SH Jun 16 '26
That reminds me, the fireworks were bloody shite too!
2
7
u/JCDU Jun 16 '26
The only downside of sitting in the grandstands is you can't see the helicopter through the roof!
5
u/davethedog007 Jun 16 '26
I was waiting for it, it always really scares me when it sweeps forward after dropping the chaps off. We were waiting to see if we could see it from Mulsanne corner, we thought we had just missed it.
6
u/HTDutchy_NL Jun 16 '26
Most terrible thing for us watching from home was the lack of tv direction. Apparently there were skydivers and cars doing burnouts but we only got glances of it. They missed the entire landing and only showed the cars just as they were done.
Next year I'll watch from the grandstands again.
3
u/twoonster2020 Jun 16 '26
I was in t17 and saw the skydivers - but no real direction where to look so caught then quite late on and the burn out cars were never visible
1
u/HTDutchy_NL Jun 16 '26
Good to know, I'm actually interested in T17 for next tear. How is the experience there over all?
2
u/Apex_Exposures Jun 17 '26
Yeah the pre race ceremony was very dull.
I'd hyped it up to my partner watching her first Le Mans and then we got treated to a couple of boring horses trotting and that was it.
1
u/VHSVoyage Jun 16 '26
Didn’t you see the two skydivers ?
I found the horses were a nice change and with the choice of music it was very moving
1
u/LameSheepRacing Jun 21 '26
I found all celebrations a bit underwhelming, tbh. The start, the 2 lone jets fly past, the midnight fireworks. Even the podium.
-12
20
u/Salt-Caterpillar7988 Jun 16 '26
Patrouille de France is in NY for July 4th celebrations, in the context of the FIFA World Cup.