Quite a scratchy day to start and with a NW wind initially in the Avila valley. Only 7 over the Pass with Philip, Tim and I reaching Avila, where at last the condtions turned on to give climbs over 3000m. Rather than landing there in the convergence we started flying back into the headwind to land. Phil made it as far as la Torre on the way back.
The end of a rather amazing flying week with a lot of distance flown.
Arriving high at Avila
The fourth successive 100km+ goal achieved by our group this week. A convergence day, mainly blue but some Cu marking the line of lift. Helen took a northerly route after Avila, and although not quite reaching goal made her first 100km+ flight. Most of the group landed around the 50 to 80km mark, with only Tim making the Segovia goal.
Helen at her 100km+ landing
Tim’s approach to Segovia.
Another excellent day with an easier start and most of the group over the Pass and moving well towards the first goal at 80km. Due to a radio misunderstanding Indy and Simon, first at the 80km goal, landed there. However the day was for continuing and we pushed on in the hope that Simon and Abby on the tandem would get their first 100km. This they did and we went on to the declard goal at Navalmanzano along with Ralph and myself. Pam and Michael were a bit further back. That is the 3rd day in a row this week with 100km+ goals achieved.
Ralphs track
Simon and Abby at Goal
On retrieve journey
A decent forecast but with weak and inverted (around 2300 to 2700m) earlier in the day. The SW wind came onto PN, but the anabatic wind was crossed making it tricky for many to stay up. By the Pass,
Indy Nearl Villacastin
Cathedral (Phils Photo)
conditions had improved, but only 7 made it over, with Martin landing at the top near the Antenna (an 8th). Indy, Phil, Ralph and I made our way to Segovia. Indy and Phil seemed to have an easier time of it on their Zenos than Ralph and I. Ralph had a miraculous low save at the Decathlon car park in Avila. I took a wide route to the north hoping for a magic line of convergence, which I never found. A light NE after Avila for me making it slow going. It was only after Villacastin that I was finally getting near 3000m. The 4 of us were at the Segovia Hospital Goal by about 7.30 landing into a light NE wind after doing some aerial sightseeing over the city.
The Alcazar of Segovia
At the goal field Segovia
So far this July we have had phenomenal weather with it set to continue all this week. On 7 days this month, we have declared goals over 100km with multiple arrivals from our guests, mostly flying B class wings. On only one day did we not arrive, but with 3 pilots within a few Kms of the 103km Goal at Olmedo. A quick tally of the kilometers flown to those goals amounts to over 6000km by our guests and many new PBs. We have also had some remarkable out and returns and triangles including a 166km O&R by Ralph Skora, who in the same week made two 110km+ plus flights to Avila and back.
Our service is focused on XC flying with full weather and tactical briefings each morning, normally with achievable goals set to the weather conditions of the day. We have been based in the area since 1991 and have been involved in task setting in over 50 International FAI sanctioned events. Our usual customers are keen XC pilots, mostly on B level wings. By setting realistic goals and routes we aim to make the flying more a holiday than an endurance test, normally arriving back before 10 pm even with XCs in excess of 100km. We also normally aim to return people landing early in the day for a local evening flight if possible.
We are fully booked for the rest of July but have spaces through August and September.
Steve in Avila Valley
A tricky day with a relatively strong forecast, but light in the convergence towards the NE. Setting a goal at Navalmanzano, with the option to go to 200km in the case of us all doing well and going early. As it was we had to use a poor SW site north of the Pass. 4 flew but only Phillipe(F) reached goal, with Philip (USA) landing some 8km short of goal.
Philips track to goal
Ralph has been a bit of a star Pilot this week with already 2 returns of over 100km. However, today, he has done probably the longest out and return in Spain this year with a phenomenal flight of 166.59km. Flying alongside was was Michael who failed to get back over the pass, but also made a great flight of around 145km. Simon and Abbey also flew to Avila on the Tandem. Whilst this was going on it was our changeover day so most guest were arriving or departing. This coming week looks to be a big one!
Ralph’s caricature I did of him last year.
Ralph’s out and return flight
Light NW going more N in the Avila valley with good reasonably flat Cu at around 2800m. Quite an easy run to Avila with quite turbulent air near Avila. A few attempted the fly back, and Cedric, on his PB (A class wing.. A Niviuk Kyot) nearing goal at Avila started to fly back with Ralph).
Ralph made it all the way home to land at launch as we arrived for the evening flight. That is Ralphs 3rd return from Avila…each time I have said it would probably be too tricky negociating the Pass with the headwind…but each time so far he has proved me wrong. Well done Ralph. Well done to all the group. Today are returning home the yorkshire UK contingent and SinGas from Japan. We have had a great 2 weeks together with so many excellent XCs with many achieved goals, a fair
Ralphs 113km OandR
Dinner Saturday 21st July at Flypiedrahita
few of them over 100km.
With the high risk of storms we kept local on the XC flight, just cruising around the valley, some making it almost across to the other side, most landing in El Soto as the clouds started to overdevelop around 2.30pm.
A very nice evening flight with quite strong wind and thermals. Unusually there was quite a wind change from NNW to NE, towards the end which caused some turbulence at the end near sundown. Here are some of Cedrics photos from the flight.
evening flight
Blue convergence day, wiht the wind on the strong side at launch and crossed to West. We moved to the launch some 500m E of PN and had a good launch. Conditions in valley were tricky with few getting over the Pass, Steve, Abby, Simon and Mark landing on the other side in the Avila valley. For those of us who continued we found it tricky till Muñogalindo, where things got easy and before Avila we were making 3600m. From Avila to after Villacastin was an easy glide of around 30km in the convergence. A low point for most on the last climb before Goal before Fuentemilanos. A new personal best for little Simon who arrived at goal along with Frank, Fred, SinGas, and myself (Steve H).
Goal group in Avila