Conditions by 12.30 were very good, even those intending to do a down flight found it difficult to get down. The strong climbs made many decide to land early and have a more relaxing afternoon on the ground. The eveninng flght started early at around 6.30, with excellent condtions and strong climbs to almost 2900m till very late. I intended to fly tandem with my new Bifidus harness, but after spending lots of time preparing it, forgot to bring the passenger harness to the hill. I did the retrieve, collecting the last pilots at the long bar as the sun went down.

An uneventful morning flight, a very good evening soar till after sunset with the ridge run to the Zig Zag track, and a powerful midday flight, with climbs of over 5m/s, but not too much more than 2500m (so we stayed in the valley).

On the ride to the hill for the evening flight Nick had spotted a goat with it´s head firmly stuck in a fence…..apparently since going up for the XC flight. Bill and Peter were the heroes of the moment and wrestled it´s horns free.

A very pleasant day, with an uneventful morning flight then good XC conditions in the afternoon. Light W in the valley and a slightly difficult climb at the pass. Colin and Dave, first to arrive, landed near the Cemetery. Later, Bill and myself found a good climb and went via the Antenna route, followed by Mike and Peter. Pete, Bill and myself found a very low climb near Amavida, but leaving Mike on the ground there. Bill and I finally got to 3500m+, which was enough for me to make the 30km glide all the way to Avila along with Bill, but with Pete missing the big climb and landing at the bend in the road.

A good evening flight for all but a bit west to go to the corrals and back.

While I was collecting the new group Dave made a flight towards the pass and had a bit of a moment around the inversion level leaving him with no option but to throw his reserve. Luckily a good landing under his Metamorphosi Conar and he made an evening flight with the rest of the group. An uneventfull evening flight to begin what we hope will be a very flyable week. Bill and Liz Sampson came out earlier this year and had very bad luck in May so they certainly deserve a good week. Colin Hughes is out again after some good flights made earlier in the year. I flew tandem with him this evening.

A windy looking sky and much overcast but surprisingly OK and smooth conditions (11am). With the sun coming throgh in the valley things started to become very lifty and a bit windy so we landed early.

Light wind forcast, but conditions not really getting going till after 2pm . We had an early morning flight, then on the XC I thought conditions were a bit north at the pass. Most of the pilots were in a position to go over, though Dave Quinn landed near Villafranca after an excellent run ahead of everybody else. Read the rest of this entry »

The tail of a front going through with moderate W winds at launch. Graham and Dave took off, but the turbulence caused by the W wind made the rest decide to go down in the van. The winds in the valley stayed light till late on, and mid to late afternoon hang gliders were flying, though things did not drop sufficiently for an evening soar.

A pleasant early flight with gentle climbs around town. On the XC we didn´t get going till after 3 as things were very calm. I bombed on the tandem at the cemetery, but Graham, Kieth, Nigel and Brian went over the pass, though choosing to land at around the 30km mark so the others could get an evening flight.

It is August, so I have plenty of demand for tandems at the moment, so did a few during the afternoon.

Too windy all day, but with great Cus. A classic evening restitution flight with all the gang going down to the zig zag and back, returning to Piedrahita 1000m above it and having to loose height as the sun was well down when we landed. Tomorrow promises a return of good XC weather.

Thanks very much for the Dunstable boys for the book you send via Amazon.  The problem with all the flyable days we have been getting are that nobody gets to finish their books, leaving me with very little to read, Read the rest of this entry »