finally - underway...

Finally! Waking up at 0400, getting to the airport (ZRH) shortly before 0600 for checking-in my 3 bags; departure with BA to LHR; arrival on-time. Almost 4 hours to ‚kill‘ before departure with BA to ORD, arrival on-time. The food and service on the flight has been excellent, as was to be expected in FCl.

LHR-ORD

Very speedy clearing of immigration and customs (less than 30 mins). Transfer from Terminal 5 to Terminal 2 (United). While going through security there and being screened/ x-rayed, I saw Fabio (a good friend of mine and a LH captain) pass outside. I called on him and we had just enough time for a short chat before he was due to depart for DUS. While awaiting my flight to SLC in the lounge, a departure delay of almost 2 (!) hours was announced, but fortunately in the end we arrived in SLC only about 10mins late

CB somewhere over the Mid-west

SLC

– for which I was rather grateful, as by now I had been on the road for more than 24 hrs. All 3 bags arrived within 20mins. Now there was only the car pick-up and drive to Lehi for a (short) nights rest at the Days Inn left… At least that’s what I had hoped for, but 7 mins out of the airport I had a flat tire ...

:-((

So total travel time in the end (bed to bed): 27hrs. In the morning, Stacy will pick me up for flying at the Point of the Mountain‘ (PotM) and having the tire fixed.

Arosa - Zernez

For once, the thermal forecast was much more pessimistic than the actual conditions turned out to be.
As happens very often in 'Arosa' (at least to me) I had quite some problems launching from the the to of the 'Weisshorn', but finally I got airboren from a lower TO.
I arrived at the 'Schafrügg' rather low, but after I found the first thermal, it became rather easy going.


above 'Schafrügg', looking N towards 'Arosa; 'Weisshorn' slightly left of center

The flight then took me South above the 'Albula'-valley towards 'Bergün' and the 'Albula'-pass.


Albulatal -Bergün -Bernina (background)

Here cloudbase was above 4000m and a couple of times I had to make 'big ears' in order to remain below 3950m (the legal ceiling here in Graubünden).

Originally I wanted to cross via 'St.Moritz' towards 'Corvatsch'and 'Bernina', but the ceiling was almost overcast.


Bernina

So I turned East to follow the 'Engadin'-valley and finally landed in 'Zernez'.
2h40m for almost 54km - exactly the it took me to get back to Arosa by train' ;-)


Zernez, looking East towards St.Moritz

Fiesch -Day 3 -Disentis

Once more I drove to Fiesch, but this time a different plan of action: I parked my car in Disentis and took the first train to Fiesch (at 0714). Arriving Fiesch at 0956, taking the 1020-gondola. Ennio was also there. On launch I also met Dominik (we have been together in Barzil last year). I could launch at 1135 and -for once- got away and up quite easily. It was rather easy-going towards the Grimsel pass.


Haslital - Grimselpass - Rhone glacier -Furka pass

But on the actual crosing towards the Furka pass I caught heavy and sustained sink and I arrived over Ulrichen rather low and was thinking about landing...
... luckily (with lots of patience) I could climb up high enough for a second attempt to cross the Furka pass.


above Oberwald (ca 3300m) looking West over the Goms valley


Rhone glacier - Dammastock - Furka pass


Rhone glacier - Belvedere - road to Furka pass

The the flight continued East towards Andermatt, where the second pass (Oberalp) was waiting to be crossed...


Schöllenen -Andermatt - Oberalp pass
My route took me on the right side of the picture to the nice cumulus you can see there.


abeam Oberalp pass (South side) looking East towards Disentis
(left side of picture; in the center: Medel glacier)


over Val Medel: Piz Medel (and Medel glacier) - Lukmanier pass


Monastery in Disentis (also a (catholic) high school)


LZ in Disentis; looking West towards Oberalp pass


about 85kms in less than 5hrs...
...not very fast, but hadn't I needed more than an hour for the second attempt at crossing the Furka - who knows, maybe I could have added a few kms...

Fiesch Day -2

Regtherm Goms 110628

The (thermal) forecast for today looked excellent, and it proofed to be excellent.


lots of 'Männertreu' (a kind of Orchid) at launch

My (first) TO was at 1115, but due to some problems with my harness I had to land at Fiesch and go back to up in order to relaunch. 2nd TO at 1245.


Panorama with 'Aletsch glacier', 'Jungfrau', 'Eiger'


'Lötschental', 'Petersgrat'


on the way back...


...a first CB looming near/ above 'Grimsel'

Due to these CB's I decided not to push the flight too much and after just over 4 hours I landed in Fiesch (again), having flown a (flat) triangle of 93+kms (average speed of > 23km/h - that's rather fast for me).


and that's the result...

Unfortunately the forecast for tomorrow calls for thunderstorms/ showers starting midday/ early afternoon.

Fiesch -Day 1

Looking East (towards Grimsel and Furka pass)
Oberaar lake

Finally a very good day, even if I didn't make the most of it ;-)


Haslital


Grimsel pass/ Totsee

Just as I had crossed the Grimsel pass, I felt cold air in my face and I knew immedialtely: 'that's it'.


Belvedere (left)/ Furka pass (right)

Utah 18.7 - 5.8.2011

Red Rock (PG) Nationals in Richfield (UT) 23.-30.6.2011

A while back I have decided to participate in the US PG Nationals in Richfield (UT).
More info can be found here.
Last year, at the XCamp in Southern Italy, I acquired the taste for it; not because I want to compete, but because of the infrastructure provided by the event: every day you'll get a wx-briefing, transport to the best possible launch for the day, a proposal for a route (= the task) and (hopefully) some kind of retrieval service. I think these are all the ingredients needed for a successful PG day.
Furthermore I'll be meeting some old friends: first of all Stacy (he'll be my guide before/ after the comp); Kari (my 'coach' for the comp), Arnie and last, but not least, Nicole from Italy.

Fanas (15.6.11) mit Beda

Beda
It has been quite a whiile that I was able to arrange for a flight together with Beda (how long? 2, 3 years -the last I remember for certain was Abdalajis...)
The conditions were quite nice until I coming back from the 'Fergenhütte', but in Davos (Landwassertal), just too many clouds (almost overcast)...

Fanas - Thusis (83.9km)

Yesterday (25.5) was the first day/ flight where I could really test my new and modified harness.
In 3hrs 45mins I flew 84kms: that's by far my fastest flight sofar. The first leg to the 'Fergenhütte' (approx 26kms) took exactly 1 hour, then the pace slowed down a bit. Several times I had to fight with the N-/ NW - Wind (about 20kmh). This also made me end the flight in 'Thusis'.
The harness (AVA Sport 'Tanto light' XXL)proved it's value: I still have some problems getting into the harness after TO, but then it's comfortable and not too heavy.
Furthermore: according to XContest I flew the biggest distance of a site on a specific day - that's a very rare occurence.


above 'Davos', looking South: Sertig-, Dischma-valley


'Domleschg', looking South towards 'Thusis'/ 'Cazis' (LZ)

www.flugsau.ch

www.flugsau.ch

that's THE adress if you are in need of a new harness and have a few special wishes ("Spezialfürze" -we'd call it here). André surely will find a clever solution and with his ability at the sewing machine realizes it within extremely reasonable time.
That's what I call (after sales) service!

By now my new harness (Ava Sport 'Tanto light' XXL is exacltly the way I want it and it's awaiting the first real XC-flights (may be next week in Fanas?).

If you have a "GoPro"camera and are looking for a way to fix it on your glider (or where ever you want) they have the solution for you: Kamerahalterung

"Tanto light" from Ava Sport (Büelen)

TO at 'Büelen'

Not that it was really a good flying day; but I just got my new harness,
the "Tanto light" from Ava Sport (size XXL). After trying to adapt it to my size I went for a trial flight. But I had big problems getting into the harness and into the speed bag as it was simply not big enough. After the flight I left it with 'André' (its inventor/ constructor) so that he can modify/ adapt it where necessary.
Saturday (instead of going to 'Fanas' as planned) I'll be there again and (hopefully) can make another test flight. When I had ordered it, I had clearly said, that I will only buy this harness, if it can be perfectly adapted to my size; othzerwise it will be returned...

strange ... (Arosa 25.4.2011)

Easter monday, the last day of this year's skiing season in Arosa and thus the last day the cablecar to the 'Weisshorn' was running before resuming service on June 18th.



There were a few pilots at launch and everyone of them had made the same strange experience on their first flight of the day: SINK (> 3.5m/s), wherever you went and wherever there is normally lift...


Medergen


over 'Medergen'; looking to 'Mattlishorn'
I finally managed to find some lift at the 'Schafrügg' and could fly for 1.3hrs.
On the way back from 'Langwies' to the 'Weisshorn' the same experience again: SINK so strong, that I didn't even reach the planned LZ on the golfcourse. Instead I had to land at 'Prätschli'...

The snow has barely gone and already the alpine flowers start blooming...

the value of pilots

the value of pilots

check out this video on YouTube - that's one of the reasons, why pilots earn their high (?) salaries...

Colli di San Fermo (31.3. - 3.4.11)

San Fermo
For 4 days I drove to Italy: Colli di San Fermo near Bergamo/ Lago d'Iseo. It was a training camp organized by "Fly with Andy". Monika and Erich have been our instructors.
San Fermo is a beautiful spot in the foothills of the Alps. It's ideal for training/ groundhandling, as there is lots of space to play and also for toplanding.
The only problem (if someone wants to go there alone) is transportation: there is no public transport from the LZ in Casazza back up to TO in Colli di San Fermo...
But as this was an organized trip, there was no such problem. We had 4 excellent flying days, of which Saturday was the best with cloudbase at almost 2100.

Arosa (21. - 23. March) - Test: Axis Vega III

Axis Vega III

In the 3-2011 edition of "Thermik" magazin there has been a test report of this glider: Axis Vega III, which sounded very promising. Furthermore this glider is also available in size "XL" (118-150kgs).
So finally I have been able to make a few flights. And the last 3 days have been (very) good here in Arosa.


Taggi


Andy

On all 3 days I was in the company of Andy, which I have met on this year's trip to Maroc.
Furtermore on Monday Peter was also getting some airtime.


Peter


Oli

And today (as I had to leave for home in the afternoon) I was also joined by Oli.
Luckily he can stay another 2 days; especially Friday is looking very promising...

Arosa (4./ 5. March)

2 perfect days with great thermals!

Maroc - Pictures

The 2 weeks flying in Maroc have been a great succes. Never before (on my revious visits to this country) have I been able to fly as much as this time: all days, except one (!), have been flyable.
The pictures are now uploaded and can bee seen here - enjoy!

I have also uploaded pictures from the first week (without flying), when I visited Marrakesh (and its surroundings) together with Ruth. See here.

Sorry for not having posted more out of Maroc, but the opportunities timewise have been too rare...

Maroc

Last Thursday I met the members of our flying group in Agadir.
Before that I had stayed with Ruth 1 week in Marrakesh - but that's another story.
We drove to Aglou Beach and after a day with too little wind we had an excellent day today and everybody could soar as much as he wanted to. The conditions in Aglou-North were absolutely perfect: good strong winds in the morning (a little cross) and straight on the nose, but a little weaker, in the afternoon.