U turn Backlight Peña Negra 26th June

Today was a good test day: a mixture of very gentle thermals, then later strong climbs with a decent dose of turbulence.  I flew the SM, so was a little light, maybe around 90kgs (top end 100kg).

The glider looks very nice and has all he bells and whistles you would expect from a newly released glider boasting a glide of 10+ (lots of strimmer wire, and fancy names like HPD, HPCD – you can check U turns for more info).   I was not able to make any decent glide comparasons as the only glide with others (a Mentor 2 (Andy) and Delta (Ian)) we were rushing downwind in huge generalised lift and hoping for a nice sink hole.

What I can say is that the glider coordinates/handles very nicely and communicates well the air around you but without giving you an overload of movement.  I felt at home immediately and as with  all good gliders , though normally more found on higher rated wings, the wing gave me that sense that I could anticipate and feel the air beyond the glider.

I would certainly put this glider at the top of my wish list if I were in the market for a new wing.  I have not been so impressed by a CEN B since the Mentor 2.

U-Turn Blacklight

This week we have a brand new demo (SM) of the new CEN B U-Turn Blacklight.  This glider comes with a supposed 10:1 glide ratio – the first manufacturer to boast such a glide.  Steve will be flying it today.

Also this week and next we have the Rush 3 for demoing.  It is the L version,and we are still trying to get the M in for next week.

For Ozone, U- turn and Apco we can normally quickly get in demos of various sizes as the importer is quite local to us.

Heat low continues to develop.  Today we should have higher temperatures than yesterday with a potential of climbs to over 5000m.  However, some cirrus may calm the conditions a little. Winds from W, generally light with convergence.  Once again a latish start, briefing around 11.15.  I will not be flying with a tracker today as we have an extra guest pilot and he will use mine.  Due to extra numbers we will use both vehicles

midnight

Skew T 15.00

conditions along track with time

Some analysis of yesterday.

Finally the forecast came to be true, though early on the E predominated low down nearly fooling  us to go W.  Tim, Mike and Rob the heros of the day, but Rod and Catherine probably would have been ok to cross the pass.  Let look at Catherines track.  With the light winds she would probably been fine to cross and the likelyhood is that she would have picked up a decent climb at the high point.

Catherine at Pass N view 3D

20.00 hrs

The upper level development did not hgo mad but caused enough shadow to calm things.  First flight only Ian managed to climb out and we flew to the next climb in the valley that did not materialise.

2nd flight around 4.30 and big climb outs in smooth lift gave very enjoyable conditions untill a front of dust laden air came through provoking even bigger climbs and scary generalised lift.  Ian, Andy, Mike, Tim and myself went downwind to find sink to get down near Bonilla and Villafranca.

Hight pressure at surface level but with developing heat low over centrakl and S Spain.  Light winds starting NE but going W.  Convdergence very likely.  Blue thermals to around 3300m with potential Cu at 3800m in the hot spots and potential to buid congestus at end of day if Cu form.  Good chance for Segovia if not too N at Avila.

Potentially a long day (long time to get to Segovia) due to light drift.

Midnight

Skew T 15:00

Surface winds

Development along track to Segovia

Thermal index along track with time

23:15

A long day.  Superb conditions with climbs to over 3500m and over 3000m straght off from start.  Unusually light around the approach to pass which put many on the ground.  Tim, Mike, Rob and myself over the Pass.  Remarkably – like many of our visiting pilots, Mike, Rob, and Nick last flew here last year, and after this holiday will probably not fly again untill next year.  lack of practice seems to make no difference, as they all bagged a great flight and Nick, although not crossing, made his PB height gain.

Much smoother than previous days, but still very strong.  We did not go on from Avila as we wished to get back for the evening flight – which was a classic big restitution flight.

tracks

Catherine 3000m + after launch

Sunday:Very hot, around 35ºC.  Airport day, but reports of good flying inthe day.  Nice evening flying

A ridge of high pressure in gthe upper leves.  Nice summer style weather for then next few days, though the formation of inversions will reduce thermal heights.  Today perhaps not hot enough to make a really good day.  Winds likely to be N to boundry layer, contrary to forecast in XC skies and NOA.  We will have to see once we are in the air.

noon

12:00

15.00

18.00

Avila Segovia X section

Turned out to be strong thermically  and generally W.  Alain flew some way N or Avila.  I flew a passenger XC who pucked about 4 times.  I called it off at Muñogalindo and Ken also decided that it was a bit to sporty.

V.nice evening flying indeed.  I did a tandem with a stag party which went well.

Tracks 23rd June

Tandem Stag party

Stag do

The Cold front now having passed leaves us with a very interesting XC day.  Winds in the West, though perhaps too North for really long flights beyond Avila.  Good blue thermals of around 3-5m/s and convergence.

Midnight

Skew T

Surface wind convergence

Take off to Segovia track section

Thermal 16:00

Report @21:30: XC to Avila

Well, the N came in a little so we stopped at Avila.  Ken and I were the only ones to get over the Pass on the first attempt as conditions were a little light up to the Pass – then 5m/s + thermals.  Max height for us around 3200m and hugh blue convergence 10km from Avila.  Wallis and Dirk made it to Avila on their second attempt arriving around 7.30pm and getting higher climbs than Ken and I.  The view below shows than Ken and I took a more northerly track.  A nice day, but a bit full on in the convergence!

All tracks

View back along Avila valley

The depression of the SW of Ireland is moving NE and the asssociate cold front passed us in the early hours of this morning.  High pressure is moving in and the current SW wind should moderte and move more the the N providing good paragliding conditions normally associated with this time of year  – rather than the rubbish we have been served up so far this week.

We will not be going to have a look early on as at the moment it is obvious that it is far too windy.  Perhaps by mid afternoon we will have conditions suitable for launching at Peña Negra (or more likely at the lower take off).  Clouds are on hill at the moment but will probably rise to 2500m later.

We will make a further reapraisal around 12.30pm.  Don´t despair!.  Looks like it may finally happen even though it may not look like it from the speed of the low Cu!

Thursday Midnight

3 Day

An evening XC jaunt

The wind did not abate till around 6pm, but with good thermals we had a go for the Pass and ken, Russell, Ken myself, Wallis and Dirk  went over succesfully – with the latter 2 at the bend in the road.  All very nice and mellow.  Hopefully tomorrow will now be a full day.

Russell

Ken

tracks 21st June evening over pass

We are still affected by low pressure to our north.   Another day with SW flow at all levels.  A temperature inversion will restrict convective clouds, however, the consistent wind direction with height and the inversion a little over the tops of the Gredos is perfect for Wave formation.  Perhaps if we do fly, we will only have to contend with the strong wind without rsik of Cbs.  We won´t go much higher than 2500m though if we get in the air.  Worth an early look at Lastra again though I am not optimistic.

16:30

Lots of wave and wind.  A walk across a part of the Gredos for most of us and Dusty the dog.

midnight

Skew 15:00hrs

X section of track

The Walk

Walk and Gredos in flower (Piorno Serrano)

Winds about the Province are SE and relatively light at the moment (c6km/hr in Navarendonda and Avila).  However we are still affected by instability which may complicate the day.  Less cirrus today and perhaps less proablility of early build up of mid level clouds which blocked the Anabatic winds on the sites yesterday.  Wind is forecast to go W later in the morning which will make more difficult our site decision:

SE is good for Chia, which is also good for stronger winds (less turbulnet than Lastra).

Lastra will work for SE and SW (but we may have had our fill after yesterday.

Peña Negra may work, but will bre later and depends upon good heating of the face.

Some wave activity evident already over the mountains and downslope winds in the Corneja valley.  This stronger downslope wind in our valley is typical on SE days with these conditions.  However the wind at the top in Chia may be lighter and flyable.  – We won´t know till we get there!

23:30

Oh Dear, another non flying day with lots of wind.  I fear another tomorrow too!

3 day

Skew T 15:00