Thermal index X-section running SW- NE through Piedrahita

A heat low which has formed in Southern Spain bringing a little more instability in medium and upper levels.  Increasing temperatures (28ºC Piedrahita) with decent thermal climbs.  The diagram shows the thermal index along the track Plasencia/Segovia.  Probably best XC direction would be towards Guijuelo to the NW.  Light SE so we expect P.Negra to work with N-NE winds low down in the Piedrahita valley.  Thermal tops between 2600, maybe rising above 3000m later in the day.

Wind at Peña Negra at 9am SE around 5-10km/hr.  We will go up the hill around midday.

Brians 3D tracklog

Well, Brian had another epic with some climbs to near 4000m.  He made a run down to the big mountains at Tornavacas and made a leg finishing to the NW of Piedrahita. During the return leg he had to keep low to avoid overdeveloping cumulus clouds which later in the day turned into Cunims.

Approaching El Barco at 3700'

At the Tornavacas Pass

Evening flight at Chia with storm clouds over Piedrahita in the background

We tried an evening flight at Chia with the backdrop of a cunim in the Corneja Valley, but the wind was very light and across the take-off.

We continue with high pressure and light winds.  Some instability in altitude, though storms not expected, though we may see some OD in hot spots.  Light S winds.  S wind at Peña Negra.  Cirrus may give rise to a late thermal start.

Skew T ( 26ºCmax) Piedrahita

a at 9.30 am

We shall go up at 12.00

Conditions a liitle flat at 2pm.  Local flying though not too high.  Brian last in the air landing as he though lunch would be more interesting than the flying at that point.

We will go up for an early flight at 6pm

The light instability at altitude brought us some storms around 6pm yesterday.  This will not bre a problem today with a mainly blue thermal day and possibly some small Cu around 3200 in the mountains.  Light winds, probaby N in the valley and SW in altitude.  Possibly a circuit task or the Avila direction.

Light backwind at atake off at 10am.  We will meet to go up at 12:15pm by which time we hope the thermals will bring the wind on the hill.

Skew T Piedrahita 15:00 29 May

21:24

A high quality thermal day.

Bart went down near the Pass along with Paul.   Brian managed 3000m and crossed but sunk out near Blacha.  I flew back from the pass as Jono had spun his glider in on his landing approach near El Barrio. Nice evening flying.  I flew tandem with Jorge.

Brians track over the Pass

A ridge of high pressure to the W will bring light winds and good soaring conditions for the next few days.   Today light SW to W (NW on mountain) should give us a good oportunity for a flight to Avila.  Base around  2500, rising to over 3000m in some areas.

The wind at take off at 10.30am is still nill.  Probably the conditions will not be reliable untill 13.30 +

We will have a  briefing at the house at 12:00.

Ride up the hill at 12.30 (JORGE).

21:00hrs

The day went quite well with Bart getting his PB with a circuit of 16km.  Myself and Brian flew N to Horcajo Medianero (25km upwind)

Last week of May weather overview

Looks like an easy week for flying with generally light winds and good thermal conditions.

Today the thermal quality should be particularly good with thermal tops around 2900m.

Skew T 15:00hrs Piedrahita

Next 3 days thermal index

Too windy yesterday, but now a stretch of very pleasant conditions await.  Only a few of us around next week, this last week of May being one of the only weeks when we are not fully booked for the rest of the season.  Just finishing off the last bits of DIY repairs on the guest house – thankfully with Brians´ help this week.  Also too we should see some changes in the website over the next weeks as Paul brings on the Live Tracking and mobile device pages for our retrieve system and for flight analysis.

XC Skies profile

Light winds and good thermals to near 3000m. Hopefully we will have a good day today. Paul Russell has just arrived and along with Bryan Hindle we will give it a go. No retrieve as I am taking Jorge our driver on the tandem to try an XC on the new Magnum 2. Further tracker testing now the Mastermind behind it (Paul) is here.

Description of Bryan’s Flight

Bryan's flight around the valley

I launched into the gentle, warm lifty air to spend the next four hours in a nice easy circuit around the Piedrahita valley.  For those of you familiar with Piedrahita, I set off down towards the pass, following Steve Ham. We flew together as far as the zig zag road, Steve trialling his new tandem, with Jorge. It was Jorge’s first flight at midday, and he was looking forward to it.  I was some distance behind Steve, as he set off towards Bonilla de la Sierra, and I could see he wasn’t finding any lift.  I made a decision to take a slightly different route. I had occasional radio contact from Steve, confirming that they knew my location, because of the innovative “Live Tracking” system, established by Paul Russell.  You will soon be able to follow all flights at Piedrahita.  I found plenty of lift, but unfortunately Steve didn’t, and landed after 13km.  I carried on towards Puente del Congosto with easy climbs all the way.  At this stage, the sky could go from good cumulus clouds to blue so glides were a leap of faith that there would be a thermal.  Now flying downwind, I pushed back to takeoff.  I could see a few people below me taking off for an evening flight,  and after four hours in the air decided to land, as I knew the wife had the evening meal ready!!!  😉   I definitely think that the “Live Tracking” made a difference to my decision making in flight as I had no anxiety about landing out, and no-one knowing where I was.  Another great days flying at Piedrahita.

Looking good for a while ahead. To much to be done on the ground though untill Thursday.

No chance today or decent flying — nor probably even a fly down

Strong thermic conditions at mid day after short morning flight. Only Alberto and Luis near towards the Pass. The evening flight in restitution gave 4 personal bests with with landings around Villafranca and Casas del Puerto. Our low airtime coastal ridge soaring group were very happy.