Tutorials and articles

What are the techniques for getting the best from your flying in the area? Steve Ham has spent thousands of hours flying in the Piedrahita area. Here you can find links to a series of tutorials, articles and videos in which Steve reveals his secrets.

Staying Up Early in The Day

The challenge of the early morning flight is to stay in the air when the thermal conditions are weak and the thermodynamic wind on the hillside is insufficient to ridge soar.

The official landing fields in the valley are about a 4.5:1 glide from the take off because the slope of the hill is so shallow. Read more here....

Flights To The West

Most pilots visiting Piedrahita will be hoping for the classic flight over the pass and towards Avila. However, with any easterly component in the wind, this is going to be difficult, and flying towards the west will be far more enjoyable. Read more here....

Over The Pass

Almost everybody who comes to Piedrahita asks the question, "How do I get over the pass", or "How high must Iget to cross safely?". There is no magic combination of rules that will guarantee your safe delivery over the pass and a climb on the other side. More here....

Peña Negra - Site Briefing

Infoormation and advice using on Peña Negra the main take off in Piedrahita. Read more here....

Gliding With An Eye On Nature

One of the most satisfying things about free flying, is how it allows you to become involved with nature at many levels. Read more here....

Convergence in the Sistema Central

An article published in Skywings on convergence in the sistema central. The ideas came from observations since Steve's move to Piedrahita in 1991 and the laboratory of competition where he set tasks for hundreds of the worlds best pilots to test the theory. More here....

Flatland Flying

A podcast in which Steve answers questions from Judith Mole about flatland flying.

There is lots of useful information, it lasts around 40 minutes.