The cold front has passed leaving us with a cooler NE flow.  The is an inversion around 2600  and a further kink at around 3000m.    Lower level winds are light (supposedly) and winds above the boundary layer seem to be more W.  I don’t think this day will provide an amazing XC day like we have been seeing over the last week or so.   Post frontal days in summer normally drop the thermal heights considerably, successive days should become warmer with higher climbs.

NE winds do tend to be a little aggressive  and deceptive. https://vimeo.com/64294975

To go far we would need to go down the cherry tree valley which as discussed already has its challenges.

NB. Puri is going to Salamanca today, so the non flying ladies in the group may like a trip there! Leaving around 11am.

1pm

1500

108km

section of above

Wh

What Happened.

Trip to Barco for Johan and I and short for the others.  reasonable evening flying but a bit E.

A cold front is approaching from the NW and we have an increase in winds , though NW and on PN launch which should give us OK wind conditions for flying.  With ground  temperatures above around 31 ºC we will probably start to get Cu forming , some of which, especially in the Avila valley may get quite tall.    Flights to Avila (beyond will be difficult, or if the conditions allow, perhaps over the back!

1pm

1500

At launch last night I was surprised to be congratulated by a pilot from Madrid for getting the spanish open distance record.  Apparently my flight of 246km last week was the farthest flown by a member of the Spanish flying Fed.  Maybe it is the case, but I have not logged a flight anywhere for many years now.  I had it a  few times back in the early nineties when we were all pushing for the first 100km, and with a flight in 1994 of 163km form Lastra,  it was also the biggest flight made in Europe at the time.

It was my personal best up from 244.5km which I did at Peña Negra quite a few years back before the airspace restrictions to 3000m.  The last claimant (Ramon).

This more northerly route avoiding the Madrid airspace was much more relaxing than the more common route towards Segovia, since 4000m days when you need to stay below 3000m are very stressful.

Of course this is not the best distance from la Lastra nor the longest done in Spain.  That still goes to Thomas Puthod with jus rover 300km from Peña Negra.

9 hrs plus on a light wind day from Lastra

The instability generated by the passage of the trough seems to have moved further N and we probably will not get the build up of cloud in the Ambles valley today.  if cloud does form it will be at around 5100m according to the skew.  The Skew is giving SW, also S at launch at 8am.   However the local forecast gives NW going N, which is appropriate for a circuit flight unto the Pass or to Avila and back rather than open XC.

NB. If Ann is interested, bring some clothes for the tandem for todays XC.

1pm

1500

Yet another high quality soaring day for XC with generally light winds from the NW, so as you can imagine we will be held back at Avila with large scale convergence in the Avila valley with possible congestus in that area and thermal sources in excess of around 36ºC.

Not likely to be an earl start and wind nil at take off at 8am so we should be fine for PN.

DAVID AND JURGEN.  please turn your trackers on at 10.45am just so I can test them.  I will exchange them for other numbers today after yesterdays  problem.

1pm

1500

What Happened.

Great conditions and a circuit of the valley for most, though Nige Prior,  Adam and the Tandem went over the Pass towards Avila.   I flew a tandem XC with Elias from Manresa  but  bombed at the quarry!  never mind.

Heat low deepened a little and the wind a little emote to the SW so less chance of being stopped by the N wind beyond Avila.  Once again a very high cloud base to around 4400m, so it would be very useful not to fly into the NOTAM area and try to go more north.  Although the local forecast gives just limited cloud and no chance of storms, I imagine, if we look at the skew T for 1500hrs that we may find some large Congestus development along the convergence.

Wind at 8am is over the back at PN, but this is not unusual.  We will see if it is showing signs of coming on by 11am , and if not then direct to Lastra (which at least sets up us better for a route away from the airspace.

Still under the influence of the Atlantic high with a heat low forming over the Peninsula.  The SW winds will give us blue convergence today and great potential for a big XC towards Avila and beyond.  The more defined wind should make going over the Pass and advancing along the Avila valley easier.  Early on  there is an inversion around  3200 then rising to 3800m later in the afternoon.  trigger temperature is around 29ºC-  As ing as it gets hot on the ground then it should be an epic day!

12

15

wind at thermal tops and track sec ion

secton over time

What Happened.

An amazing day with  booming thermals to over 4000m with Cu.  I flew with Simon on the tandem and we came back a little having problems finding sink  to get down in the Ambles valley.  Lancashire Dave got back almost to the Pass from Avila (Nigel and Mike also getting a fair way back).  Canadian Dave pushed on into the northerly (no clouds beyond Avila, and still made 103km.

Canadian Dave green. Lanc Dave red (O&R)

We are still under the influence and protection of the atlantic high with  a ridge at higher levels giving reasonable flying conditions.  today it should be hotter, and although there is a marked inversion early on around 2600m, later in the day we should go to 3000m plus with blue thermals.

Wind in the west, so a flight towards Segovia, though we are likely to find N winds low down towards Avila.   Avila goal would be a good flight today.

1pm

skew

12

winds at thermal tops and track for section

section over time

What Happened.

Nigel, David, Nige P  and myself over the Pass with all the others succuming

short of the pass  in the quite difficult light conditions early on.  Nigle best who battled the N to 42km then back to the Pass and although  tired multiple attempts could not return.  About 5.5 hrs in the air though!

Nige Priors battle to get back over the Pass

This is at a service station on the way back from Madrid.  Just pop your doggy or pussy in and technology does the rest.

the machine

detail2

High pressure moving in with light N winds in the boundary layer and light NW above.  Looks like it should be  pleasant thermal soaring day with good opportunity for modest XCs, probably towards Barco.  I have included 2 skew T s below, and will try to give a brief description at the briefing of the basics of reading them to obtain cloud and thermal heights.  If you  want a really good description and then look at https://www.meted.ucar.edu and their skew T tutorial.

Unlikely to blow out early and conditions will probably not get going until around 1.30pm

1pmç

x secton to Plasencia

track of x section

12

15