Teneriffe (TFS) -3 -Izana (SE): 'third time lucky' (almost)

Wed (29.1.) Again a very nice morning, no clouds to be seen at all. We decided to try Izana (launch at 2230m). We drove by the way of Güimar, so we could check out the LZ and the wind: wind at the coast (Puerto de Güimar) has been too strong, but at the LZ near 'las Rosas' and on 'Ladera de Güimar', as well as on Izana, looked good/ ok.

Pano above 'Arafo' - I have never seen this area so clear and free of clouds. Gran Canaria on the left

Pano at launch: Gran Canaria

Arriving on launch we found just a little head-wind, perfect!? While preparing a little  tail-wind could be felt at times, interrupted by some spells of head-wind, so I had a good launch.

Unfortunately right after my launch the tail-wind steadily becam stronger and uninterrupted, so Hart couldn't launch anymore... 

Izana Astronomical Osservatory / Teide

While flying out even some thermals could be felt, but I ignored them as I wanted to get near/ above the LZ in order to asses the 'real' wind - as unfortunately at launch there has been no more internet reception for updating on the actual winds below...

''Ladera de Güimar' (launch)

The lower I came, the more the wind could be felt, a little bumpy at times. Above the LZ conditions have been very strange for a while: thermals and wind from the 'wrong' side. But in the end the landing has been been uneventful in a steady (strongish) wind (coming from where it was 'supposed' to be coing from)  :-)

LZ Güimar near 'las Rosas'

I didn't have to wait too long for Gaby and Hartmut to pick me up. On teh way home e had an early dinner in Arona ('Asador la Camella'  ('just' 800gr of excellent meat for the three of us)...

Teneriffe (TFS) -2 (La Corona) / Taucho

Tue (28.1.)  In the morning, the wind for 'la Corona' / 'los Realejos' looked right and alos the webcam didn't show any loe clouds, so we decided to give this site a try. But the drive there takes almost 1.5hrs and by the time we had arrived there, the situation had significantly changed: wind speed had increased (but still launchable) and TO was covered by clouds  :-(

la Corona / los Realejos

RMK: this is one of the nicer launches I know: ground is covered by 'Tartan'. The wing in the pix is from a tandem pilot who had wanted to to talk his guest into flying in these conditions. He told his passenger, that it would be only about 30 seconds, before they would be out in the clear, blue sky; but the client declined... While driving down we estimated the cloud-layer to be at least 300m thick and that it would have taken several minutes before being able to see the ground again. Both Hart and I judged the 'attitude' of this pilot completely irresponsible/ non professional - but we assume, that he just wanted to get the 170 EUR for the flight...

Playa el Socorro - (LZ for la Corona)

Pico Teide (3715m) seen from near Santiago del Teide

In the end (like yesterday) we ended up at Taucho, a site we both do not especially like ;-)

...overflying some nice villas...

Teneriffe (TFS) -1 (Güimar) / Taucho

Sunset from our appartement (Mon, 26.1.)

Tue (27.1.) We woke up to a clear, blue sky. After having done some shopping, where we also encountered a tandem pilot, who told us that we couldn't expect much here at Taucho, but that Güimar seemed to be looking good, we started driving North. Shortly after passing the airport (TFS) low clouds started to apppear, getting denser and lower the more we approached Güimar - so no luck there. After having taken something to drink, we turned around, heading South. But by now these clouds had also spread to Taucho and cloudbase was below launch...

low clouds over Conde

Only later in the afternoon this cloud-layer started to lift and dissipate, So we headed up to Taucho - as did every pilot here  - at least it felt that way ;-)

After a good launch I headed out for the LZ; unfortunately I couldn't find any usable thermals, just some reduced sink.

...probably the only grass-covered LZ here on the Canaries...

For dinner we went to a Sushi bar, Hartmut and Gaby had discovered last evening while having a stroll exploring the surroundings of our appartement.

...pretty good for Spain: all you can eat for 25EUR/person...

el Hierro (VDE) -2

Thur / Fri (23./24.1.) The wx continued to be wet and/ or windy, so still no flying...

Sat (25.1) Finally a change, so in the late afternoon we could make our only flight during our stay on this island :-)

Malpaso (1501msl), looking N

Dos Hermanas (1350msl)

This cloudlayer forms (and dissipates) very quickly: when we arrived, there have still been some 'holes', but they closed while we have been setting up.

The cloud layer has been about 200m thick; below - where the sun still could get through- some thermals could be found, so I could extend the flight to about 40'.

Sun (26.1.) Maybe flying from Malpaso would have been possible (good wind direction for launching) but the cloud layer appeared to be very thick, so we just went sightseeing before sailing back to TFS/ Los Christianos in the afternoon.

el Sabinar

the ferry travels with 60kmh (or more if needed)

el Hierro (VDE) - 1

Mon (20.1.) After 2 weeks of travelling through la Gomera, el Hierro (VDE) and Tenerife (TFS) together with Ruth, she returned home  (> some pix here). A few hours later my friends Gaby and Hartmut arrived and together we travelled to el Hierro by ferry, arriving there at 2030. We'll be staying until coming Sunday (26.1.), when we'll be going back to Tenerife for another 8 days.

Tue (21.1.) In the morning it has been raining :-(   While travelling with Ruth, we had 'blue skies' for the 2 weeks  - but I can see that this rain is more than welcome on the island as it has been way too dry so far this winter.

Dos Hermanas (1320m)

The launch has just been in clouds, but with a little less wind flying should have been possible, as there have been moments, when we could see the LZ...

Wed (22.1.)

no comment ;-)

Colombia - airspaces

A very helpful article about airspaces in Valle de Cauca/ Piedechinche (CO)