From Alpha to Omega
Interesting day today. We had a day off from clients and I was fortunate enough to have a fly on the Small Omega 8. From flying the Advance Alpha on the recent occassions it was nice to have a go on the new Advance Omega 8, completely different gliders but same manufacturer, strangely similar characteristics although worlds apart! I had a couple of really nice flights although will reserve my opinion until I’ve tried it with a bit more ballast. First flight was late morning and in gentle light conditions, second flight a bit more thermic with a tempered inversion. Nice glide though… Dennis had a fly on it but was quite heavy although he did manage to climb out very well considering the glider weight ratio. More fun tomorrow weather willing.
Some pics of me on Omega 8
Claggorgraphic Cloud!
On waking the sunrise cast a gentle rose hue over the Fiz, giving it that autumn/winter cold but breathly beautiful wash. Took a snap of it out of our bathroom window (am getting quite trigger happy with the camera at the moment!) looked similar to the first shot ever when starting this blog.
We were working with John again today, but the lovely early morning wasn’t to last, it wasn’t long before my newly created description of ‘claggographic cloud’ took control. We were both up there at launch engulfed, waiting for the cloud to present us with a view of the landing before launching, as John needed to complete some other tasks and they couldn’t be done if Dennis couldn’t see the implementation of these manouveres. Not to mention VFR… we waited… and eventually it came good and John had three flights completing all the required tasks.
Whilst I was waiting at launch, I was happily occupied with my new toy and embarked on taking some close-ups of the last few signs of summer… they came out specatacularly well considering I’m a complete amateur! Also managed to get some shots of Mathieu on his Axis Vega II, I have to say it looks like a really nice glider… Mathieu was doing some pretty radical ‘A Symmetric Spirals’ on it, and it looked as clean as a whistle throughout the whole display! He’s really happy with it, he’s had a change from Niviuk and appears totally smitten!
Down at landing, having swapped with Dennis on launch, I saw a calf just a few minutes old! being washed by it’s mother, it was still ‘steaming!’ what a wonder. I was hoping to see it take it’s first stand up on it’s wobbly legs but was summoned away, got a few shots, although you can’t tell by the pics.
Most impressed with the first pic of Mathieu, have a look at the larger image, also the flora is quite impressive too, amazing what these cameras can do!
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- Rose Tinted Fiz
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- Mathieu and Axis Vega II
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- Claggographic Cloud!
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- last hints of summer…
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- Bumble a la Bellamy be!
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- new arrival!
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- Looks like Mum eh?!
Space Hoppingly Bouncy!
It was cold today. First time I wore my winter down jacket and still felt the cold. We were working with John and managed to get three flights in for him, working on landing approaches, praciticing ‘big ears’ and stuff. It was difficult on launch with the air at differing strengths and coming in from all directions, back, front, east, west, up, down, swirling around, etc. etc. it was becoming quite unpredictable. There were some spots of precipitation coming and going… so we did what we could.
On John’s last flight the weather was deteriorating and I decided to fly down afterwards, seeings as it was the quickest way. Took off and got sucked up, was on speed bar for virtually the whole flight, and this on the small Alpha school glider, no reserve, no vario… but was at least warm enough. The top half anyway, the wind was whistling up my jeans though, felt like some long johns (oops! base layers) would have been nice. The sky was on a rapid change a bit bouncy, and jerky at times. John experienced his first natural ’A Symmetric’ don’t think he’s too keen to experience many more, well not at this stage anyway.
The cattle had taken residence in the landing field spreading over the whole of the normal area, but we did have either side of the cattle to land in. So it was ok really… just not so nice after they’ve left their messages all over the place, and especially in damp conditions.
Not a bad day, all in all managed to complete some tasks for John. For me it was interesting, both assisting John on launch, and enjoying my own lively work-a-day flydown.
After lunch Dennis took John out to do some much needed Reverse Launch Practice.
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- The Cows have Landed
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- Autumn Trees, and Mt. Blanc before it disappeared behind the cloud
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- Cloud and Snowdusted Varan Peak
Snowdust
We had a small opportune window to fly this morning, but that was all, it was hardly worth it…
Les Quatre Tete
Feeling a definate temperature drop now and considering putting on the heating. More leaves in the garden and a steady but sure move towards full blown autumn.
Snowdust on Varan
Not to say the flying is done it may well improve again it has a tendency to do that, nothing guaranteed though.
A couple of pictures of the snowdust creeping down on Varan and over towards Les Quatre Tête
No Sun, No Fun! well not as much…
Weather changing rapidly, although probably wont stay…
Rain for the last couple of days, more rain forecast and snow level dropping. There was a sprinkling of snow on Pormenaz this morning, and also on Brevant. We went into Chamonix this evening and the snow was already making a lower level appearance.
Not much more to report, no sun, no fun… well not flying fun anyway… plenty of re-aquaintence going on in the computer/gadget department though.
Coffee & Croissants
Day off today, It was flyable but we decided to take a day off from the ‘office’ as far as offices go we can’t complain! We had a trip into Sallanches doing a bit of window shopping and enjoying a morning coffee and croissant in Carrefoure where incidentally the walls of the café are plastered with football scarves and loads from all over the UK! as well as from various other countries, made for some strangely familiar slogan reading.
A trip to the accountant took up some of the afternoon, and I was trying to familiarise myself with a new photo programme, listening to tutorials that made we want to drift off to sleep! So much information on some of the software these days, need to go on a course to get to grips with just the basics. Anyway, will try to persevere as some of the effects are pretty impressive! Just need the patience to figure it all out…
Hands Free!
Distinctly autumnal air today. We have one client wanting to improve his thermalling so he can launch and land already, which gave me the opportunity to fly early, then later on. Unfortuantely the thermals are now diminishing so the thermic activity was weak for any serious thermal practice although it was working albeit to a much lesser extent. It looked ok to start with but there was a high white sky creeping across which eventually shut everything off.
We all had a fly today, it was difficult to get a climb of any distinction but fun trying. It was just bits and pieces and the second attempt, nothing at all.
It was a hands free fly day… although lovely just catching the early glimpses of the trees with ever so slightly touched golden tips. When we were back home the sky did break and the sun shone for what was left of the evening, apparently it’s going to be better tomorrow.
Just a note – the Webcam at Passy is now up and running, it’s been out of action for most of the summer and is just back on with a new look.
Click on thumbnails for larger image..
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- Dennis, sequence..
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- tree tops just changing colour..
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- another Mantra moment for me
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- still nice..
Gliders & Gadgets
Another working day today. The weather was very cooperative for our client, and it wasn’t too busy up on launch either. It’s getting very late in the season now and we’re beginning to wind down. After our client completed three flights I had a nice fly down, it was stay-up-able, but I had my working head on and was happy to land and have some lunch. We’re looking forward to some time out which is due mid October.
A Megève Balloon flyover welcomed us first thing, and a few lightwings had a fly down from the top of the Fiz in the still morning air. Meanwhile this evening still plenty of work on gadgets for us both to keep us occupied.
Click on thumbnails for larger image..
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- Megeve Balloon
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- ..not overly busy…
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- Lightwing Fiz Flydown
Ragged Ride
cloudbase ok, and lifting..
The rainy weather left us today, although rather reluctantly. The cloud broke and the sun came through late morning as forecast.
..Cloud beginning to Fractus...
We had another client join us, but as it happens I wasn’t needed as the ground handling work had to be assessed before we fly him.
I managed to get out later and had myself a nice fly. On arrival at Chedde, I was waiting around for a while as Dennis was up at Plaine Joux working on the training hill with John, and the bus still had my glider aboard. I cadged a lift up with Manu and Sylvain from Aerofiz.
It did look like a lovely day but although the cloud looked quite well defined to begin with, it wasn’t long before it became Cumulus Fractus, looking like torn candy floss… I was hoping for a pleasant ride but it turned out ragged! which was to be expected given the cloud formations.
Cameraquest Concluded
We were going to try to get to St. Hilaire for the Coupe Icare parafest but the weather has reverted to low cloud and rain leaving us with a drab miserable oppression that usually accompanies such conditions, just at the time when we’re client free too… so free to fly, but weather decided otherwise.
Anyway, am pleased to say I finally got my camera so the quest is now over, just going to take some time to figure out how to use it.
Dennis has acquired a gadget also in the shape of a new smartphone so we’re both pre-occupied with our instruction manuals and computers.
Here are a couple of close up shots of some flora. I took a couple of stills of the neighbours borders earlier, when the rain stopped momentarily to give Tizzy her walk. Believe me they were the cheeriest thing to look at, given the gloomy sky!
Have put another video up on the video bar. A taste of the Coupe Icare 2010 cinema offering. Just click on the mini video pic for activiation. Something to enjoy…
