Léon Xavier Eloundou, a graduate of ESILV's Class of 2022, recently made headlines by taking part in the Young Pilots Aerial Tour 2024. This unique experience, which took him across France, represents much more than a simple aeronautical achievement for Leon. It's the crowning achievement of a career that combines passion, academic rigour and professional commitment.

The start: from Pau to Belfort

Leon describes the start of his adventure in the 2024 Young Pilots' Aerial Tour as an extraordinary experience. After being ferried from Pau, the official start was in Belfort. For him, this tour was much more than a simple flight; it was a breathtaking adventure, marked by distance and duration, never experienced before.

A career with Safran

After obtaining his baccalauréat, Leon chose to study at ESILV, attracted by the integrated preparatory course, which allowed him to immerse himself immediately in the world of engineering. In his second year, he seized the opportunity to follow a part-time engineering course, combining theory and practice. For three years, he worked at Safran Hélicoptère Engines in Pau, specialising in mechanics and numerical modelling.

At the end of his work-study programme in September 2022, Leon was given a permanent contract at Safran, joining the team with which he had already worked. As a mechanical engineer in the compressor design office, he will be involved in the design and sizing of helicopter engines, a job that demands rigour and precision.

The formative years at ESILV

For Leon, his years at ESILV were marked by two essential elements: community life and the lessons he took. As an active member of the Léo Fly and Music Mix associations, he was able to put his passion for aeronautics into practice as early as his first year. These associative commitments gave him an early immersion in the field of aeronautical engineering, enriching his academic career.

The teaching he received, particularly in the mechanics and numerical modelling major, has been decisive for his career. The specialised subjects, such as flight mechanics, complemented his knowledge perfectly, enabling him to be immediately operational in the business world.

Becoming a pilot

Alongside his engineering career, Leon pursued another of his dreams: to become a pilot. He obtained his pilot's licence during his work-study programme and now has 130 hours' flying experience to his name. His dual role as engineer and pilot has enabled him to take part in the Young Pilots' Aerial Tour of France, an event that brings together around forty pilots to share their passion with the public across France.

The Young Pilots' Air Tour 2024: a stimulating challenge

Taking part in the Young Pilots' Air Tour 2024 was a rich learning adventure for Leon. Faced with varied weather conditions and the need to make autonomous decisions in flight, Leon has developed a heightened sense of responsibility. Crossing France, with stopovers in Tours, Dinard, Niort, Toulouse and Clermont-Ferrand, gave him the chance to strengthen his piloting skills while enjoying an intense human experience.

In Belfort, he also took part in an open day celebrating the 100th anniversary of the local Aero Club, an opportunity to share his passion with the public and meet up with other young pilots.

Leon concludes his story with a message of encouragement to the future engineers at ESILV:

Dream big, don't limit yourself, and above all, don't close any doors.

For more information on ESILV's Modelling and Numerical Mechanics Major and the opportunities it offers, please visit the school's website.