...more patience is required...
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Thursday, 22 June 2017
grounded -3: back home again!
By late Friday afternoon I'll be receiving my last dose of antibiotics and then I'll be allowed to go home :-))
Many thanks to all of you who have mailed, called or even visited me during these last 2 weeks and thus helped to 'cut short' consideraby the long days here in the hospital!
Last, but not least, my heartfelt thanks go to Ruth, for bringing there, visiting/ calling daily and bringing me back home again!!!
Many thanks to all of you who have mailed, called or even visited me during these last 2 weeks and thus helped to 'cut short' consideraby the long days here in the hospital!
Last, but not least, my heartfelt thanks go to Ruth, for bringing there, visiting/ calling daily and bringing me back home again!!!
Friday, 16 June 2017
Tuesday, 13 June 2017
grounded - ufn
:-((
Due to a bacterial infection I'm grounded until furhter notice (but at least another 2 weeks)...
Friday, 19 May 2017
Fanas - a video by Andy S.
Andy is now using a 'Feyju Tech Gyro' (Gimbal) with his GoPro: it brings the quality of his videos to a completley new level! And as usual with his videos, the music fits perfectly.
Unfortunately I already had handed in my equipment for inspection the day before - as I expected this to be a pretty good day. Furthermore I had 2 appointments, I didn't want to change again. (I had moved them already once in order to be able to go to Spain...)
Unfortunately I already had handed in my equipment for inspection the day before - as I expected this to be a pretty good day. Furthermore I had 2 appointments, I didn't want to change again. (I had moved them already once in order to be able to go to Spain...)
Tuesday, 16 May 2017
Rigi
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| looking NE |
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| Zugersee, Arth-Goldau |
Nice flight which had the potential for more ;-)
Wednesday, 10 May 2017
more site-seeing: Vilanova de Meia
The day started much better than I had hoped, but the fcst (and webcam on launch) indicated still (too?) much wind. So I decided to have a look at another site nearby: Vilanova de Meia.
I found the LZ easily, as well as the roads to the (2) different launches: but to call them roads is an exageration: for 'Cogullo' 4WD is highly recommended (though I got there in my rental car); the last 1.5kms of the track to the other launch require 4WD (so I didn't actually get there.)
As the sky became clearer all the time I headed back to Ager and up to Coll d'Ares. Launching would have easily been possible: nice wind coming straight in at times, but at times coming also gusty and cross from the left (similar to yesterday), so I didn't fly.
Instead I continued sightseeing to the north of the Sierra de Montsec.
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| Vilanova de Meia |
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| large LZ with windsock |
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| Cogullo South launch |
As the sky became clearer all the time I headed back to Ager and up to Coll d'Ares. Launching would have easily been possible: nice wind coming straight in at times, but at times coming also gusty and cross from the left (similar to yesterday), so I didn't fly.
Instead I continued sightseeing to the north of the Sierra de Montsec.
Tuesday, 9 May 2017
Ager / Organya
Promises, promises... According to the weathermen, it should have been a good day, BUT due to a high cirrus layer here at Ager only weak thermals could develop; additionally a low ceiling and east wind made flying not very attractive. I was the first to land, but shortly thereafter nobody else was flying as well.
So I drove again to Organya, as Jordi had told me to expect good conditions there.
As I arrived in Organya, many pilots were flying high above, doing acro and stuff, which I watched for a while. I also watched some not so nice 'landings', as the thermals made coming down rather tricky. (That was the reason, I had used the altn LZ on my last flight here).
When I arrived at launch, conditions had completely changed! Everybody had landed. I had to wait quite a while to just get a little head wind for launching for my 5' sledder...
>> Too much driving today for way not enough flying ;-)
Tomorrow: more promises?!
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| Coll d'Ares, TO a little higher up than for the other flights here |
So I drove again to Organya, as Jordi had told me to expect good conditions there.
As I arrived in Organya, many pilots were flying high above, doing acro and stuff, which I watched for a while. I also watched some not so nice 'landings', as the thermals made coming down rather tricky. (That was the reason, I had used the altn LZ on my last flight here).
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| Organya |
>> Too much driving today for way not enough flying ;-)
Tomorrow: more promises?!
Monday, 8 May 2017
Ager
Finally a day without too much wind! Cloudbase was lower than yesterday, but the thermals were very nice. So after a good flight today no need for any 'site'-seeing ;-)
Exeptional clear views to the north: Pyrenees
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| TO Coll d'Ares |
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| Embalse de Caneles |
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| Camping 'Vall d'Ager', with LZ (at 2 o'clock) |
Sunday, 7 May 2017
Ager and more 'site'-seeing
Again, the day started without clouds. Already at 1000 the first pilots were flying from Coll'd'Ares.
We headed up after 1100 and found a launch full of waiting tandem- and solopilots, as the wind was coming in cross or even from behind (W to NW).
After waiting quite a while (and setting up several times, as the tailwind had rolled up my wing) I finally managed to launch as well. I found strong thermals, but intermixed with the wind (> 20kmh). I didn't like the conditions at all and landed already after less than half an hour flight time :-(( After I had landed only HG could be seem still flying...
It was not 1500 yet and as I didn't want just to hang around I decided to go for some more 'site'-seeing.
In 1h45min I had reached Organya another good site here. At the LZ I was introduced to Jordi from the local flightschool Organya Experience. He gave me an excellent site introduction an drove me up to launch.
The thermals have been strong here too, but it was much nicer flying without the influence of the West wind. Jordi also drove me back from the alternative LZ, where I had landed.
Many thanks for everything Jordi; It was a pleasure having met you! Hope to meet you again.
We headed up after 1100 and found a launch full of waiting tandem- and solopilots, as the wind was coming in cross or even from behind (W to NW).
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| Coll d'Ares: parawaiting |
After waiting quite a while (and setting up several times, as the tailwind had rolled up my wing) I finally managed to launch as well. I found strong thermals, but intermixed with the wind (> 20kmh). I didn't like the conditions at all and landed already after less than half an hour flight time :-(( After I had landed only HG could be seem still flying...
It was not 1500 yet and as I didn't want just to hang around I decided to go for some more 'site'-seeing.
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| Abella della Conca |
In 1h45min I had reached Organya another good site here. At the LZ I was introduced to Jordi from the local flightschool Organya Experience. He gave me an excellent site introduction an drove me up to launch.
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| Organya (Launch:left side) |
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| Organya |
The thermals have been strong here too, but it was much nicer flying without the influence of the West wind. Jordi also drove me back from the alternative LZ, where I had landed.
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| Altn LZ (less thermal activity/ turbulence, but more wind) |
Castejon de Sos / (Tozal Gordo)
I woke up to an almost cloudless sky, but there was (too) much wind in todays fcst for Ager, so I decided to do some 'site'-seeing. And no, that's not a typo ;-)
Driving through beautiful landscapes:
Castejon des Sos, the other 'must' site here in the Pyrenees is just 2 hours drive form Ager. After having looked at the LZ there, I also wanted to have a lookat the launches so I drove up to 'Pedra Blanca'.
Just as I was arriving, I saw some gliders in the air :-)) I was able to talk to their driver and was told that fo the moment the conditions would be good for flying; furthermore she told me that normally a ride up would cost 10EUR (with 4 pilots as a minimum). But my problem was: how would I retreive my car; walking back up was no option, as it's a 35' drive with an altitude difference of more than 1000m. I decided to fly and hoped I would find a 'Para'-taxi later...
After I had retrived my car I headed back to Ager, but on a different route. Here I could visit another flying site: 'Tozal Gordo' (near Graus/ el Grado): but it was completely blown out.
Driving through beautiful landscapes:
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| Portell deis Terraders |
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| Embalse de Escales |
Castejon des Sos, the other 'must' site here in the Pyrenees is just 2 hours drive form Ager. After having looked at the LZ there, I also wanted to have a lookat the launches so I drove up to 'Pedra Blanca'.
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| Castejon des Sos: Pedra Brancas |
Just as I was arriving, I saw some gliders in the air :-)) I was able to talk to their driver and was told that fo the moment the conditions would be good for flying; furthermore she told me that normally a ride up would cost 10EUR (with 4 pilots as a minimum). But my problem was: how would I retreive my car; walking back up was no option, as it's a 35' drive with an altitude difference of more than 1000m. I decided to fly and hoped I would find a 'Para'-taxi later...
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| Pedra Brancas |
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| Liri |
After I had retrived my car I headed back to Ager, but on a different route. Here I could visit another flying site: 'Tozal Gordo' (near Graus/ el Grado): but it was completely blown out.
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| Tozal Gordo (Pano looking South) |
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| Benabarra |
Friday, 5 May 2017
Ager
With the lousy wx fcst for the next days (week?) I've decided at short notice to 'head south'...
So I flew to Barcelona (BCN) (Thursday), rented a car and drove to Ager.
Remark: as I have said to Ruth after having made my desicion: the wx in Switzerland will be thus much better than forecasted and in Spain worse ;-) (> see also XContest for todays flights.)
When I got to Ager (around 1800) I saw some gliders, but it was too late to make it up the hill.
This morning then(Friday) started out pretty nice: according to the fcst there should have been (too?) much East-wind and no rain, but actually during the morning we got just little east wind and a little rain. Anyway, a group of French pilots took me up to Coll d'Ares, the main launch, explainig me the different TO- and landing- options along the way (- thanks Roland!). As conditions permitted a launch, I took the oppotunity for a first flight here in Ager. There was even some light thermal activity but the flight had to be cut short due to some spells of rain.
Later in the afternoon it was clearing up nicely, but remained too windy... So I visited all the launches and landings.
So I flew to Barcelona (BCN) (Thursday), rented a car and drove to Ager.
Remark: as I have said to Ruth after having made my desicion: the wx in Switzerland will be thus much better than forecasted and in Spain worse ;-) (> see also XContest for todays flights.)
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| on the way to ager (near Igualada) |
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| puppies (near Balaguer) |
This morning then(Friday) started out pretty nice: according to the fcst there should have been (too?) much East-wind and no rain, but actually during the morning we got just little east wind and a little rain. Anyway, a group of French pilots took me up to Coll d'Ares, the main launch, explainig me the different TO- and landing- options along the way (- thanks Roland!). As conditions permitted a launch, I took the oppotunity for a first flight here in Ager. There was even some light thermal activity but the flight had to be cut short due to some spells of rain.
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| Coll d'Ares |
Link to webcam on launch.
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| almost tame fox |
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| Overview of the area ( I hope I've gotten all the names right) |
Sunday, 30 April 2017
Weissenstein
Todays (excellent) thermal forecast for the Jura region:
As Föhn was forecast in the Alps, 'everybody' flocked to the Jura and especially to 'Weissenstein', which is easily reachable by a gondola.
BUT: unfortunately the wind was much stronger than forcasted and also out of a much more northeasterly direction :-((
Comment by Chrigel Maurer about the conditions (the SwissLeague was holding a task here):
Die Bedingungen sind schlechter als prognostiziert:
- mehr Wind (10-15kn aus NE)
- Thermik ist nicht angenehm und zu schwach für den Wind
Most pilots launched anyway (also my friend Andy), but an estimated 5% elected to go down using the gondola (me amongst them). Andy reported later that it had not been 'really clean' ;-) But certainly some great flights were made today.
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| (Hotel Weissenstein) ...already the flag indicates, that there is wind... |
As Föhn was forecast in the Alps, 'everybody' flocked to the Jura and especially to 'Weissenstein', which is easily reachable by a gondola.
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| Finsteraarhorn, Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau... |
Comment by Chrigel Maurer about the conditions (the SwissLeague was holding a task here):
Die Bedingungen sind schlechter als prognostiziert:
- mehr Wind (10-15kn aus NE)
- Thermik ist nicht angenehm und zu schwach für den Wind
Most pilots launched anyway (also my friend Andy), but an estimated 5% elected to go down using the gondola (me amongst them). Andy reported later that it had not been 'really clean' ;-) But certainly some great flights were made today.
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| also some 'not so nice' launches could be seen... |
Monday, 24 April 2017
Alp Scheidegg / XCBanner
Originally Andy and I had planned to go to Fanas, but as a pressure difference of 6hpa was forcast we changed our mind and went to Alp Scheidegg instead. (Up to 4hpa is considered to be ok for Fanas, with more the risk of the 'Föhn' breaking through is to big - at least for me). Remark (25.4.): not a single flight from Fanas has been uploaded to XContest...
But also here the influence of the (SW-) wind could be clearly felt; flying was ok, but not a big pleasure and the landing at 'Hüebli' again a bit tricky ;-)
XCBanner is available here: different languages, very lightweight, costs about 15EUR and is mailed from Poland. I have received mine in less than 2 weeks....
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| Andy launching |
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| Launch |
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| LZ 'Hüebli' |
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| ...XCBanner... |
XCBanner is available here: different languages, very lightweight, costs about 15EUR and is mailed from Poland. I have received mine in less than 2 weeks....
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