Arosa in April -2

That's the way flying in late winter/ early spring in Arosa is supposed to be: blue skies, nice thermals going > 3000m, magnificent views...
...and not as cold as the last flights.

Arosa

looking towards Engadin, Bernina

Medergen

Arosa in April -1: with 'trailing camera', flight 100

Today for the first time I've made a flight with the camera I have received from Hartmut (thanks!) attached to a C-line. It took a picture every 10 seconds (I don't want to start making videos as well). It looks like a GoPro, but it isn't...

Btw: flight 100 in my second life ;-)

ready for TO...

immediately after TO

above Arosa (Tschuggen)

just before landing

Arosa in March -2: new 'toy', first flight this year >3000m

Another 2 great days here in Arosa. Conditions for launching on both days required some patience (due to wind direction)...
Especially today I got off on the first try (forward launch) :-))  Also today I could climb twice above 3000m and soar above 'Seta' with the local eagle(s).
Since last week I have gotten myself a new 'toy': the Oudie 3 from Naviter. This is a navigation aid with a color screen, showing among many other things airspaces.
But, contrary to their claim, it is not very easily readable in bright sunlight.

Arosa in March -1: with Oli

For me the first 2 great days in Arosa this year with thermal tops close to 3000m.
But it was very cold, so after about 50 minutes I had to land, even with heated gloves :-((
Especially on the second day the visibility has been virtually unlimited.
It have been 2 relaxing days in excellent company, as my friend Oli had called the day before and asked if he could join me: any time again!
Also many thanks to Erich, Marlies, Peter, Kiwi +++ for always giving their time and helping me should I need some assistance! And I have to admit that it was needed, because so far I have not really mastered forward launching my AD Rise, whereas reverse launch is a piece of cake...

Oli

Welschtobel

Erich

Weisshorn

Oli, Calanda

looking towards Engadin: Palü, Bellavista, Bernina, Piz Roseg

Arosa

Moroc -11: Tifnit; end of trip...

(Unfortunately) same as yesterday: good forecast (wind direction/ speed). When we got there, it was about 45° off and a bit weak. Just 2 flew, some kited and some declined.
Later it became fully cross, but speed would have been perfect...

Even though I couldn't fly as much as expected/ hoped (due to actual weather and also due to my present physical state) it have been 2 weeks in warm weather and good company.

(As usual) very well organized by Peter from Flugschule Touch & Go.
Beside him as a guide our group consisted of:
Andy, Kurt, Dani, Daniel, Viktor, Reto, Ronnie and me.
Our drivers: Khalla and Moha(mmed).
Our excellent lunch cook: Khalla 

  Many thanks to everybody for their continued help/ assistance

whenever it was needed!

mint tea

Dust of the Universe - AD Rise 2

Friends showed me the website "Dust of the Universe".
The guy testflies all/ most of the recent paragliders (so far about 180) and writes unbiassed reviews. A great source of information to any pilot looking for a new wing or wanting to know where his present wing 'firs' in.

Especially interesting for me is his EN-B comparison, which includes also 'my'
Rise 2.

Moroc -10: Tifnit

In the morning we left Tafraout and headed for the coast: 'Tifnit' south of Agadir.

The forecast looked rather promising, but the actual wind was a bit too weak and too cross and it also didn't turn and increase in speed. But 5 flew and toplaned, 3 declined to fly and 1 sank out to the beach below.

Ronnie (ca 62kgs) kiting my glider...

Moroc -9: Idikel/ Idikl

Another great day here in Tafraout, although the wind was a bit more northerly than yesterday, the inversion stronger and the thermals not going up as high...
But I managed a longer flight -but this was not too difficult ;-)

Launch

another launch right at the pass (looking east)

Moroc -8: Tafraout (Idikel/ Idikl)

Yesterday, while returning from Aglou North we could watch a beautiful sunset at Nigel's place.

sunset at Nigel's place

The forecast for today/ tomorrow shows light winds in the mountains, so we drove across Col du Kerdous to Tafraout. After unloading our non-paragliding gear at the hotel we immediately continued to the site of 'Idikel' (or Idikl). While approaching TO we saw a single glider very high up (he later told us that he had been at 3300m, but still going up).

Idikel, Pano looking west

Unfortunately, while repairing a broken (brake) line yesterday I had made a mistake, which I detected only after having launched, so I went straight to the LZ :-((

But especially Andy and Reto got up very high and both landed near Tafraout.

Tafraout: view (Pano) from hotel room (looking North)

Moroc -7: Sidi Ifni, Legzira

So far the best day: first everybody flew at least once in Sidi Ifni (until 1971 a Spanish exclave), then - on the way back to ouraccommodation- we could also fly in Legzira, even if it was just a sledder to the beach.

Sidi Ifni

Sidi Ifni: Kurt, our 'photoreporter'

Landing beer (!) in Legzira

Moroc -6: Aglou, Nigel's place

We visited Tizni while waiting for the wind to slow down (this was supposed to be the last day where (strong) wind was a problem).

Tiznit

In the afternoon we flew (again) in Aglou, before quite rapidly the wind speed increased beyond anybodys handling capabilities. Even moving to a much lower place didn't help.

small fishing place near Mirleft

Yesterday then finally everything turned out perfectly: wind (speed and initially also direction), weather: so we could fly extensivly at Nigel's place.

Moroc -5: Aglou

Today the wx fcst was similar to yesterday, but this time for once it was quite correct: good wind direction/ speed when we arrived: everybody could soar for at least an hour. Later in the afternoon it increased and became to much cross.

looking South

looking North

Moroc -4: Aglou

According to the forecast we should have had 'perfect' conditions: good wind direction and strenght for flying in Aglou North.
Initially the direction was actually perfect, but the windspeed rather low, but still permitting groundhandling; later the wind increased a little and 5 out of our group of 8 flew.
Contrary to the forecast, the wind didn't pick up in the afternoon and it also started to turn cross... As there was still a (minimal) risk of sinking out I didn't launch, as the way back from the beach a 100m below TO would have been way to much stress for my back :-(

Moroc -3: Travel day

As forecasted there was some rain during the night as a front had passed and it turned windy and easterly. So we used the day to travel via Agadir to Mirleft. A short stop in Tiznit, but the wind was still way to strong for flying...
So we contimued via Tiznit and Aglou towards Mirleft.

Lunch in Sidi Bibi

Tifnit

Aftas Trip - our accommdation near Mirleft

Moroc -2: Mzouda

After a rather long wait due to too many clouds everybody was finally able to put in at least 1 flight. Conditions: windy with some thermals.

NOT our transport ;-)

...eatable...

Maroc -1: RAK, Mzouda

Descending into Marrakesh (RAK)

Sunday (early) morning we departed via GVA to RAK for 2 weeks of pragliding.
We is a group of 8 pilots (inclouding our guide Peter Enz) and 2 cars with drivers (Khalla and Mohammed). Arriving already shortly after noon, we drove to Aguergour, a site about 1.3hr out side RAK. Condotions would have been very nice, but 'they' didn't let us fly :-((
Apparently due to an accident the site is closed.
(But the locals are alllowed to fly...)

Aguergour

Dinner on Jemna el Fna (Main place in RAK)

So on Monday we drove to Mzouda, about 1.5hrs SE of RAK. As the site is facing almost north, we had to wait quite some before we could make some nice, but not too long flights.

Mzouda (Andy)

Mzouda: LZ on the 'football field'