Flying Journal

 

Decent flying at last

April 9th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Today may give us a chance to fly to Avila with blue thermals to around 2500m and maybe small Cu at around 3000m if the temp goes a little higher in the hot spots. Yesterday a very peasant flying day, though our clients were at the airport after a week of suffering very poor weather. […]

Read full article 1 Comment »

A slight improvement in the weather

April 7th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

A very disapointing week so far for our guests. Today and tomorrow offer some hope. Later today the wind should moderate and be OK or Peña Negra. However, probable 8/8 cover of stratocumulus near take off level, ad probable stratus (and maybe Nimbostratus above). Sunday looking Ok or thermal flying, but most need to go […]

Read full article No Comments »

Our first group of the season

April 2nd, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

4 British and 4 Polish pilots make up this weeks group. Unfortunately we do not have a particularly good forecast for the first part of the week. Saying that, Saturday we had some flying at Chia, and yesterday (Sunday) two flights from Peña Negra, though the mid afternoon flight cancelled due to Cbs and rain. […]

Read full article No Comments »

Flying with no seat board in the lightweight Zippy

March 26th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

I have had 2 flights on my new superlight (around 2.5kg) pod harness. It is a hammock style harness, similar I imagine to the Advace Lightness, though with an air bag and a mouse bag. I also have a light reserve, so now I am down from a previous 97kg all up to around 87-88kgs. […]

Read full article 2 Comments »

4100m. Convergence, light winds, super conditions.

March 14th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Once again an afternoon trip up the hill with the locals: Eduardo the Vet, Pepe Luis the Bull fighter from Salamanca and Juan Antonio, Chef and owner of the Cayetana hotel and the Café Commercial in the square. Pedro, who is recovering from a broken tibia has been doing the driving with Curro his dog. […]

Read full article 2 Comments »

2700m light winds.

March 13th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Two excellent days so far this weeks with strong climbs and today with convergence Cu forming over the big moutains way higher than the 2700m achieved in the Piedrahita valley. 24ºC on the ground.

Read full article No Comments »

Thieves at Peña Negra

March 7th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Finally a bit of rain at the end of last week, good for the fields and fire risk problems, but which also washed away the snow at launch revealing evidence of an attempt to steal a section of the Astro turf. This is maddening. The turf has been professionally laid and glued to the concrete […]

Read full article 1 Comment »

XC attempt to Barco

February 27th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

As Puri had to go there with Oliver I had ago at reaching Barco against the light NW. Weak themals and climbs to 2200m for me in the valley, but unobtainable convergence and Cu around 2800m over Gredos. I landed short at los Cuartos. 3 forest fires burning the other side of Barco attended by […]

Read full article 2 Comments »

Warm weather and nice flying

February 26th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Super conditions on Saturday with peaks of over 4m/s to Cu at 2600m. I was tempted to go over the pass but my hands could not stand the cold up high. Sunday more mellow, though pleaseant enough. Puri had her first flight on the Mentor on Saturday evening. After soundly thrashing Sophie (aged 5) at […]

Read full article 2 Comments »

New Mentor flight – 2m/s to 2500m

February 24th, 2012 - Posted by Steve Ham

Yet another sunny day. If fact, the countryside looks as it does in summer, very yellow and parched. Normally this time of the year it is lush and green. Apparently it is the driest since the 1940s and fire bans are now active. So it is CEN -B for me for a while with my […]

Read full article 2 Comments »