Planning :-))

...the plan...

For quite a while already I wanted to go back to Japan for one more PG holiday. On my previous trips ( in '04, '05, '07) I had visited only sites on the main island (Honshu). This time I want to fly mostly Kyushu. Kyushu has more sites than I could possibly fly, but is also very well worth visiting for his landscape. So even if the weather shouldn't play along, there will be no shortage of alternatives (ie Onsen).
The time on Honshu will be mostly used to meet friends and possibly fly with them.

The problem: apparently only few pilots on Kyushu speak English. So in order to use my time most efficiently I need to have some assistance, which helps me communicate and possibly also drives.

For about 2 months I've been looking for somebody, bothering all my friends in Japan again and again with my requests ;-)  But nobody could be found or had time. Just as I was about to give up and postpone my trip some 'doors opened'  :-))

First I got in contact with Rick Brezina. He is a Canadian living on Kyushu and regularily uploading flights to XContest; he had also participated in 2017's XAlps. Without his invaluable knowledge and assistance this trip would be impossible. Unfortunately due to his work he's unable to come along, but he's supporting me by providing infos and contacts. Then with the help of a Swiss friend and his wife (both live in Tokyo) miraculously also a 'guide' could be found. She (Yuko) is living in Kumamoto, the place I had anyway chosen as 'base' for my stay while being on Kyushu. She'll handle the communication and will drive me. She is also providing great help in organizing my stay (like selecting accomodation, airport pick-up etc).

Already now a big ARIGATO GOZAIMASU to all of them!!!

SPC - La Palma: Campanarios; dinner for five ;-)

After two non-flyable days due to too much wind I had my last flight for this trip yesterday. After a side trip to Puerto Tazacorte for an icream from 'Frida' (probably the best gelateria on the island) and el Time, where we had a look at the launch, we flew again from Campanarios. Cloud base was rather low (just above launch and even a bit descending with time), but nice thermals almost everywhere permitted an easy flight to las Indias and back...

Campanarios

looking North towards Puerto Naos

Flytec 6030 and Alfapilot RS

I was using again the Alfapilot flight instrument. So far I'm still pretty happy with it. The support from the company is exeptional: mails are answred within hours and in detail! But for sound I'm still using my XCTracer, which I consider to be the most responsive vario available at the moment...

'Dinner for Five' in Puerto Naos: excellent fish! - thanks Hart!

Sunset from our Finca in Sao Naicolao

Today (Sunday) return flight to ZRH and the cold...

SPC - La Palma: Torre del Time

Yesterday we also tried to make another flight: this time from 'Torre del Time'.

Pano looking South towards 'Los Llanos'

Launch was without problems, but as soon as we (Bernd and I) were airborne, it felt very 'starnge': virtually no thermals (I could make twice 2 or 3 circles) but lots of sink. Distance to the LZ in Tazacorte is only about 5.5km; with an altitude difference of more than 1100m this should be easily doable, Should . as we both didn't make it and had to land below 'Tijarafe'. A few yeras ago while flying here together with Andy exactly the same had happened :-((

Looking back to launch (in front of the tower)

Pano from Mirador del Time (looking again towards 'Los Llanos')

After having been picked up by Hartmut (which we just could 'prevent' from launching by calling him), we had a 'snack' at the Mirador.

SPC - La Palma: Campanarios :-))

On Monday (last day with Kalima) my friends Gaby and Hartmut arrived from Düsseldorf.
On Tuesday we have been able to make two nice flights from Campanarios. Quite a lot of pilots are presently on the Island, so it takes some patience until you can launch.
Also the quality of some launches makes you wonder...

Main LZ in Puerto Naos

On my first flight I headed south until short of Las Indias. I didn't dare to venture further, as with the northerly wind component I feared I might not make it back to Puerto Naos. But it turned out that the way back was far easier than I had anticipated...

our finca (right): 'Cuevas de las Palomas'

Hartmut had brought my a new gadget I had ordered last year: an 'Alfapilot' flight instrument I had recently discovered. Its e-ink display is very easily readable in even the brightest sunlight, the software looks rather promising and its maps are very detailed... It can also be used as a normal (Android) tablet with WiFi etc.

So far I'm still experimenting, but the first impressions are very good.

For the second flight we could hang on until sunset. For a moment I hoped to be able to fly to Tazacorte and land there, but again the northerly wind component didn't allow for it.

But two very nice flight any way :-))

Also Today (Wednesday) we could make a good flight off Campanarios. This time I could fly further south, but shortly before 'Fuencaliente' the NE-wind could be felt coming over the ridge, so I turned around. But very easy flying with nice thermals :-))

SPC - La Palma - la Isla Bonita: Kalima

For the first 2 days of my flying week here on La Palma I have been 'grounded' due to Kalima.
Kalima is (warm) a S/ SE-Wind coming from the Sahara and bringing lots of sand/ dust, which can obscure the sky. It can be very strong: on Sunday some gusts exceeded 100kmh..
So I went exploring the NE part oft the island, looking for 'new' TOs and LZ's...

LZ in 'Fajana de Barlovento'

Puerto Espindola

some videos...

found on Lucien Haas' Blog:




- AWT: Acro World Tour Final 2018 in Soncheaux
  (you have to scroll down on the page to find the video)

- another way to launch   ;-)     (thanks Oli for the link!)

- Dolomites: just a nicely made video...

New Year in Arosa

After the many days which have been unflyable lately, today looked as there might be a chance for a flight: although the strenght of the wind in the forecast looked about the same as during the last days, the direction (W iso NW) looked more promising. Apart from the wind, a perfect day for wintersports!

Pix taken from the webcam...

After the wind speed had dropped a bit, I tried to launch direction west: a 'cliff launch', where EVERYTHING needs to be perfect in order to permit a safe launch. But with the limited space available and the ever decreasing wind I never felt comfortable enough for launching in the several attempts I had made... Many thanks to Marlies, PeterN amd PeterW for laying out anew the wing several times.

Finally I launched on the 'FIS', our regular launch here on the mountain and landed 12mins later on the 'Obersee'.
This most propbably will have been the only flight this month here in Arosa. Next Sunday I'll fly together with Ruth to La Palma (Canary Island), where I hope to make some flights between 13.- 20 January...

Jahresrückblick

Some numbers  ;-)

99 days away from home for flying  (blue and green)
64 days of actual flying  (green)
82 flights
4:17 longest flight
58 mins average flight time
88.7 km longest flight

16.8.2018