Harry Hofmann - the last navigator

By coincidence I've found this article about my former instructor for astronavigation while I attended SLS (Swiss Aviation Scool) in 1908-81. He's been one of the best and certainly the most interesting teacher I ever had!

Find the article here - especially: the second part which describes his life. Unfortunately it does his career and experiences not really justice -they are way more interesting.

Quixada: another TO by Nicole

Not so windy this time...

Ozone Test Pilot Russell Ogden discusses all things Paragliding

Video from 2012 where Russell Odgen (Test pilot for Ozone) talks about techniques of flying modern gliders.

or here is the link.

Mark Twain

Arosa

Pano from Weisshorn; looking towards Chur/ Calanda (center pix)

For the first time this year the ABB (Arosa Berg Bahnen -Company) run the Hörnli gondola and Weisshorn cable cars on all weekends in November. They have even prepared a ski slope at the Hörnli for the eager skiers.... So already last weeks many pilots took advantage of this opportunity, as normally at this time of the year almost no cable cars are running. And the few that are (like Fanas) can have quite long queues.

Erich

On both days there have been some thermals, so it was possible to climb a little above the summit of the Weisshorn. I only flew today as yesterday the conditions on launch had been a little tricky (cross wind), but for this time of the year it has been a really nice flight to Chur!

Chur

Emirates: #HelloJetman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VPvKl6ezyc

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFCQJ5sYGtI

(extended version)

Nicole Fedele: Quixada - 'windy' TO

                              Here are some links, which might be of interest: 
                                                         -  Facebook
                                                     -  her homepage

preliminary/ unconfirmed: new ladies-WR open distance: 394km by Nicole Fedele

Today (3.11.15) Nicole Fedele (IT)  flew (approx) 394.8km from Quixada (Bra).
If confirmed, this would be a new WR for ladies - congratulations, very well done!!

The track log of the flight can be found here.  OLC-distance 401km

 

Abdalajis -9: Levante / Thanks

Contrary to yesterday's optimistic forecast, the conditions today were actually much less convincing: less wind, less sun, more clouds...
After waiting quite a long time I finally launched as two other pilots were slowly climbing above TO. I knew that it would probably be 'touch and go' and so it turned out: I couldn't catch any lift before crossing the power line at the foot of the Sierra. This meant that I could never get really close to the hill where the lift (probably) would have been. So I had to land - but at least I made the LZ in the village.
While folding up I could watch the others getting high :-((

LZ in the village of Abdalajis

As this was the last flying day here in VdA, I'd like to thank especially Gary. He accompanied me on all flyable days, helped getting my gear to launch and drove the car in order to retrieve me when ever necessary!

like me, he doesn't like his picture taken ;-)

My thanks also go to José and Ati from Joja, who on almost all flyable days texted me about the conditions in Loja and made suggestions for alternative sites. Unfortunately I didn't make it to Loja anymore at the end of my trip to have a drink and a chat with them - sorry guys!

Abdalajis-8: Algodonales, Capilla: NADA!

On paper, the day looked rather promising: blue skies, little wind. So Gary and I decided to go to Algodonales (Sierra de Ljiar) , about a 2.5hrs drive from VdA (up to launch).
A few pilots launched for sledders from the west launch; many (!) others were waiting on the SE/ S-launch. But the wind pushed in from the north...We waited for a while, but no change, so we decided to head back to VdA. While dirving down, we saw just 1 (!) glider climbing up.
XContest later showed that short flights had finally been possible.

Algodonales -South launch

When coming back to la Capilla we saw a few gliders high and of course had high hopes for a good flight. But as I was preparing to launch, the wind started to die and these pilots either toplanded or sunk out.

'la Capilla' ('Poniente' on the far left)

So after more than 2 hours hoping for the wind to turn on again, I gave up and stuffed my gear into the car :-((

But at least there was a nice sunset while having dinner ;-)

Tomorrw the wind is supposed to be southerly again, so I'll meet Gary after 1500 and we hope 'Levante' we'll be good for a last flight on this visit...

Abdalajis -7: la Capilla

Finally, after 4 days without flying, another (very) good day.
Well, already yesterday a flight would most probably have been possible on Levante, but as the wind has been rather week I was not sure if I could topland (to get my car down), so in the end I declined.
Today started cloudless and by noon nothing but some nice CB's.
So at 1500 Gary and I drove to 'la Capilla', where already the first gliders were flying.

looking back to 'la Capilla' (launch just slightly to right of center)

Launching here was 'special' as usual: where you stand, there is almost no wind (foreward launch), but as soon as the glider is in the air (10m above you) the wind speed there is 15- 20kmh stronger... You actually want to foreward launch, because when the wind is strong enough to reverse launch, 10m above you it can be too strong to handle (at least for me).

Pano looking NE (la Capilla launch on right side)

...locals...

freshly ploughed field

As usual, the air has been very smooth and flying would have been possible until sunset, but I landed after 2+hrs.

People getting ready on 'Poniente'-launch

Embalses del Guadalhorce

Abdalajis -6: Rain, Rain

Already yesterday (Saturday) the bad weather started with high winds and then rain in the late afternoon and it's supposed to continue on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, ...

:-((

Abdalajis -5: VdA Levante -Sunset

Today unfortunately it took a long time before the wind strength and direction become acceptable for launching; so finally at 1915 the first guys become airborne.
Again supersmooth thermals and we could soar until it almost became to dark for landing...

Abdalajis -4: VdA Levante

My friends from Loja informed me by SMS that today it wouldn't be good there and that I should go to Abdalajis ;-)
Apparently others had the same idea, so about 10 pilots have been in the air at times.
A perfect day here in the Valle: wind not too strong on launch, buttersmoth thermals, flying until sunset, top landing for those who wanted. But due to a little bit too much clouds it has not been possible to really fly away.

quite a large number of locals enjoyed the conditions as well

landing (again) at sunset

Abdalajis -3: la Capilla, Loja

Today we wanted to fly 'la Capilla'. The conditions looked rather promising, but I declined to launch, as presently this really cool site has no legal/ official/ usable LZ anymore!

UNLANDABLE: the red marked area has been planted with olive trees (2015)

Landing at other LZ by the road/ farm is not tolerated anymore by the landowner (and pilots may be denounced!), as pilots didn't stick to the agrement with the landowner (not kiting etc)!

> to all pilots reading here: kindly observe the local agreements and rules, as many sites are in danger of being closed/ becoming unflyable due to 'our' misbehavior!

Therefore we decided to go to Loja, from where I got the info, that the conditions should be good.

Later some loca lpilots also arrived on launch, some I've even met before: Raffa, Pepe (el ferroviar).

Raffa

José

look how tiny the cars are compared to the 'windmills'...

Gary

It turned out to be really good: wind on launch just right, in the air super smooth.

Just a few more (and higher) thermals would have been needed to make it a perfect flying day. But anyway it was very relaxing.

landing at sunset

Before heading home Gary and I had dinner at Rio Frio, where all the restaurants serve the local speciality: trout.

Abdalajis -1: Arrival / -2: Cenes de la Vega

Yesterday (Monday) I flew into AGP (Malaga); as can be seen from the picture I took during approach to AGP in the region of Abdalajis, the clouds hung very low over the Sierra...

approaching AGP from NW (near Abdalajis)

... so no flight was possible. There was even some drizzle at times :-((
But this at least produced a nice rainbow.

Rainbow in Abdalajis

Today (Tuesday) initially Gary and I wanted to go to Algodonales, but in Antequera, when we turned towards Campillos, we saw that the clouds were already low in the west. Towards the east/ Granada it looked much better. So we did a 180 and headed for Cenes de la Vega, where I've flown the last for time in 2008.

Pano looking towards Cenes/ Granada

Pano on TO (looking SE):enough space to easily top land

LZ at Cenes

LZ

I was able to make a (short) flight, as the conditions have been rather switchy and weak, but some pilots could stay up.
Later while driving back, when passing Loja, it started to rain/ drizzle all the way to Abdalajis.

>> to all pilots intending to fly here: kindly study the info board at the LZ and observe the local rules: otherwise this site is in danger of being closed!!

airspace regulations: to be found on info board at LZ

Oludeniz -6: final day

Again it was a very good day here at Oludeniz: blue skies, some Cu's, 'thousands' of tandems and lots of solo pilots. Contrary to yesterday, the wind situation on top was better: meaning that the wind was coming more steady (and also a little stronger) out of the north and not switching around all the times. Thus I had no problems launching at all today and could make a 1.5 hr flight with base at 2500m :-))

Bernd

Babadag, Oludeniz (seen from NW)

So tonight we'll drink to Denis' birthday and tomorrow at 0800 I'll be picked up for my return flight from DLM at 1150.

Hartmut & Denis

Even though I couldn't fly every day, it has been a relaxing time in company of Gaby, Hartmut and all the others.

Oludeniz -5: Hartmut's birthday

Hartmut

Another reason for coming here was that Hartmut's birthday happend in this week as well,
So yesterday evening I was invited to his party: we had a (surprisingly!) good dinner at a local restaurant. with lots of laughter and joking.

This morning we again rode up the mountain at 1100. Hartmut, Bernd, Glenn got off easily and wanted to fly to Gemiler beach (Bernd and Glenn made it). Denis had some problems launching - as I did, but finally he got off with a beautiful launch (I didn't).

Denis

I then decided not to try to launch anymore but wait until 1800 for an evening/ sunset flight,
Hartmut, Bernd and Glenn came up again (with them at least 50!) solo-/tandem pilots.
The winds remained very weak so in the end I was riding down with the shuttle :-((
while they got off without problems, 
At the moment I lack my usual confidence for launching in such weak/ switchy conditions; I think it's probably due to the (too) many painkillers I'm presently taking in order to make it through the day...