Porzus (Attimis)

Unfortunately a thin layer of high altitude clouds prevented a better development of the thermals, but still Marco and I had a nice flight at Porzus, a small, relatively seldom flown site south of Gemona. Vittorio (who had developed the site) drove us there and also helped me launch.
Thanks Vittorio!!
The launch is rather small and the trees in front grow higher by the day...

Marco ready to launch

Marco over launch (the small village of Porzus is on the right)

local LZ in Attimis (sport field)

In the nice, smooth thermals I could climb to almost 1600m (1000m over launch) and started heading N towards Gemona. But unfortunately at Bernadia the flight was over after a good hour, as I had been unable to find any more decent thermals  :-((
Later the local pilots told me that today the thermals were to be found further out in the flats...

Bernadia

TO in Bernadia

LZ in Bernadia

As I'm presently flying my 'old' Axis Vega III, because I'm still not 'able' to launch the Rise 2 properly, I had Marco inflate this wing a few times and see, if he would detect somethin unusual - which he didn't. But he'll fly it tomorrow and do somemore checking...

Monte Baldo (Malcesine)

While heading further east towards Friuli and to meet Marco, I stopped at Malcesine on Lake Garda. Monte Baldo (1750m) is easily accessible by gondola from Malcesine. The launch area is HUGE and almost like a golf fairway: just short gras, hardly a bump, vitually no stones etc. and a magnificent view

TO, looking west over Lake Garda

This site is often used for SIV trainings; it's also a thermal site, but it turns on only in the afternoon (after1400).

looking North

Malcesine

LZ

The LZ (the only decent LZ along the lake!) needs getting used to, especially if the Bora (local south wind and what all the (kite-) surfers are witing for) is turning on in the afternoon...

Sunset

Cornizzolo (Como)

Almost to the day 21 years ago (12.5.1994) I was here for the first time.
When driving up, the gate at the farm 2/3 up the mountain had been open, so we passed. When Ruth was driving down the car after my launch, the gate had been locked. It took Ruth some convincing in order for the farmer to open it up for her...
Luckily no such problems today, as now on Sundays  there is an hourly shuttle service.

looking SSW from launch

Great views and soft thermals made for a nice flight.

looking N (left: Lake Como/ right: City of Como)

LZ in Suello

Piemonte - Andrate (San Giacomo)

My last day on this trip and it looked pretty nice again. Today we went to Andrate (San Giacomo). Ennio, Pierandera (of course) and some other HG pilots met at the LZ and rode up in Ennio's car. Conditions on launch have been perfect - even for me ;-)

Pierandrea launching first (as usual)

Unfortunately for my liking the wind in the air was a bit too strong (> 20kmh out of the East), but otherwise it probably would have been a good day to fly the 'Serra'.

LZ - long enough for hangies

Piemonte -3 Santa Elisabetta: upper TO (again)

Very promising day! Yesterday just a few pilots showed up early on launch. Today was completely different: the shuttle was crammed and Pierandrea took another 3 pilots in his car .

He (again) launched first (around 1115) and quickly disappeared from my view. By the time I was ready (1200), all others were already in the air and heading east.
Pierandrea's flight (133k) is here .

Today I was flying my 'old' Axis Vega III, as the last few days I had troubles launching the ('new') AD Rise2. And I have to say it felt as solid and stable as ever; just the performance is a bit lower, but today this was not really important.

looking west towards Gran Paradiso

I just got high enough (2270m) to catch a short glimpse of the main Alpine divide (Alpenhauptkamm). Once I got pretty low (about 100m/gnd), but luckily a nice thermal saved me. I didn't attempt to try to fly back as the wind had become westerly at about 8-10kmh. And so I landed at Calea, the main landing for Cavallaria.

Lessolo/ Calea (LZ is to the left of the roundabout)

A friendly pilot from Milan offered to drive me back to Salto, where I had parked my car.

Grazie tanto Fabio!!

Piemonte -2 Santa Elisabetta: upper TO

Another promising day. This time we went to the upper TO.

Pierandrea and Ennio (with HG)

Pierandrea

 Pierandrea tock off first and flew a 125km triangle. I (again) couldn't adapt to the conditions and played 'JoJo' again  :-((

looking towards launch

Gran Paradiso

Piemonte -1 Santa Elisabetta: Belice (lower TO)

As the forecast was (finally ) predicting 4 good days in a row, I decided to head South in order to meet Ennio and visit with him some sites in this beautiful region of Italy.
We started in Belice, a site I had visited with and Pierandrea him last october.

Pierandrea

Belice

Unfortunately the conditions were much less promising than everybody had anticipated and it was very hard for me to get even to 300m above launch. 
So not much xc-flying for me, just some local 'JoJo'  ;-)

Fanas

As I was heading home from Arosa today (which had been planned for some days), I've made a reservation for the gondola in Fanas (for 2 persons, as I hoped Andy would join me - which he did).

Fanas, TO 'Eggli'

As you can see, quite a number of pilots had the same idea. And it took untill about noon before the first pilots could take off, as there was quite a persistent tail-wind. But as soon as the conditions improved, the rush began...

But with the intermittent tail wind periods, it took until 1345 until I was also ready to go (as one of the latest). But by then the (forcasted) south wind had increased to >15kmh, so I was not really in the mood to fly far.

heading for Schiers

Andy landing in Schiers

But still it has been a nice day in the company of Andy and some other friendly and helpful pilots - thanks guys for your help and assistance!

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