Flying Journal

 

245km and 235km

July 11th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

The final best distances yesterday were 245km and 235km.  Today strong southerly winds and tomorrow risk of storms, so no flying probably till Wednesday.  We will probably only have around 23-30 by then, but will try to do something interesting.  It seems the repercussions of the CIVL prohibition are echoing around the world.  Calvo is […]

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Fast run to Avila and a bit back

July 1st, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

Most of our group bombed at the pass, but Ed and I carried on to Avila with around 2800m and some strong climbs and a 20km/hr wind. The climbs were dramatic enought to fly a percentage back without turning, though wave and alto cu build up made things back towards the pass uglier by the […]

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Light winds Cus on back mountains

June 30th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

A pleasant day with light winds and some strong climbs.  We followd the comp pack on their trianing around the hill for a bit, though with Peter bombing on an into wind leg NW of Piedrahita.  Ed (with us from today and from Greece) went over he pass to near Solosancho, and Ido and Mike […]

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More gentle conditons NW

June 29th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

A day with some Cirrus and altocumulus.  3 flights for the boys with just local flying but generally pleasant.   More teams arriving, and some of my team as well: Ali Gali and Calvo Burns.  Not just Paul and I now worrying and fretting about the impending Worlds in 4 days time.

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Some Mega days. PB for Peter

June 28th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

During Sunday, our airport day, some flew to the border of Portugal.   Monday too windy, but today onkin bonkin stonkin.   I landed the tandem at 4.15  after winding down at 85km so the passenger,  Ido, whose gliders is stuck at customs, could have a pee and warm up.   An amazing sky ahead, though till then […]

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Classic summer conditons: 3000m, light wind, strong climbs

June 24th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

A late start  and mainly blue except in the mountains.  The wind was so indistinct that it took us a while to decide to try the Pass and back.  Things really turned on when we reached Villafranca, with climbs by then going to 3000m and some climbs touching 5m/s.  Paul and I went to the […]

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Similar day, but great evening restitution

June 23rd, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

Wednesday found some of us who stayed up having a hard time of it trying to get down before the pass in increasing wind and turbulence. The evening flight certainly made up for it will a good restitution giving us smooth conditons to fly the length of the mountain ridge  and back again.

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Yet another similar day

June 21st, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

Blue thermals to 3000m (in the forecast) and the westerly flow at higher levels continues.   We all had a good start at around midday.  Somewhat stable on the hill, and likewise in the valley, though 4 of us got a very good climb out from my house.   Arriving on the quarry spine we could stay […]

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Epic day, on the other side of the pass

June 20th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

A great forecast with a SW so easy to go around the airspace.  Good Cu from early on over the back but it took a long time to get good in the Piedrahita valley, leaving most of us bombed on the first, and a good percentage on the second flight.  On the second flight we […]

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Groundhog day

June 19th, 2011 - Posted by Steve Ham

Some of the spanish pilots said being here for a week was just like that movie.  Every day the same, same blue sky, briefing and flying day after day.  Today, pretty much the same, blue sky, but different as I got to fly.  Admittedly only comercial tandems whilst Jorge did the airport run, but 4 […]

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