Monday, May 31, 2010

Ozone BUZZ3


Yups, that's the one. The one lots of pilots should consider buying. Safe flying, very good performance and the looks ... well see for yourselves.
I've tried lots of gliders, seen lots of gliders, sold lots of gliders. And every now and then I feel there is a winner. Well looking for a DHV1/2, get the Ozone Buzz3. You won't regret it.
As you can see it was another bloody good day inland. XC hounds Pepe, Ismael and Rafa, flew during central hours and made it up to 1400 m above take off, meaning 2200 above sea level. We have to take their word for it, as we arrived for later flying, when strong hammery spring thermals were gone.
Still fantastic to see Tal, John, good old Alf, and very good old Stevie in the air.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Tandem flying


At 11.30 thermals were already present. Bruno had his quick flight before heading back to Paris with Remi and Hervé. Bruno made a quick out and return of 15 k. Remi and Hervé stayed local to make sure retrieval of the car was secured.

During all that Toon and new guest Tal enjoyed the morning pitchy thermals as well. Just before having a chill and having a later smoother breeze flight at 5 pm.

I was working hard, and doing tandems.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

home soon baby ...


From 11.30 wings out and last one to land at 7.30.
At 11.30 am, we were flying in the lee. Clouds were coming from over the back, we were flying pitchy lee thermals, but safe.

Huge clouds were forming and that was probably the reason why no local pilot showed up. No worries we had the whole air for ourselves.

Locals arrived at 5 pm, breeze had kicked in and all got very smooth.
We had three cycles at Palomaret today, thermals, collision with the breeze, and some breeze flying. All good was

Friday, May 28, 2010

No, not us but our Danish friends


Our Danish friends soaring their coastline. We couldn't play today. From early morning it looked too nasty, with rain this evening. A day off, I think after a good week of flying daily, that it didn't matter to chill, drink and eat for a bit. Tomorrow we are off again. All re-charged.

Down, more for the Danish. An article in danish about flying in Alicante, published in the past






.





No,


Thursday, May 27, 2010

Mammatus clouds over take off


Cliffs of Santa Pola. Tricky in the morning as lee thermals from the 'barranco' were shooting off when toplanding. It turned too much to the south, so we had to take it relaxed this afternoon, to get our wings out again later in the afternoon.
Inland bad weather, mammatus clouds over the take off, as you can see. These subtropical clouds don't mean good weather. All pregnant water bags over your head, usually in the tail of the cunimb, which was luckily miles away inland.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Calpe, Peñon d'Ifach


Last view before heading home. Orographic loud over Peñon d'Ifach. The rock sticking out near Calpe beach, for me to categorize as top 10 beauty places of the world. Click on it and see it large.

Bandera España - Spanish Flag


Bandera Española the flowers are called, now blooming everywhere.

We flew earlier at La Cortina, later flying Toix near Calpe.
An amazing site, right over the Med, needing southwest. It was only till late that conditions were good, before we had to sit it out. It was hot today, probably 30 degrees and loving it.

Stevie with Kath's HOOK touching cloudbase near the top.





Everybody was taking his clothes off today. Don't know why. Ok, it was scorching hot, but not very common that all the boys wanted to be photographed. Anyway here is the result so.
Down below the same group of french, 8 years ago, with clothes on .... .








Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Cabo flying and later Carrasqueta on my birthday, cheers you all !



A busy day on my birthday. Soaring with the lads till noon and then quick powernap for half hour and off to Carrasqueta. Nippy thermals at Cabo, who made most of the group landing near the chapel near the beach. Winds were a bit off, mid spring, so that's what happens at our take off.



I flew the NOVA Triton 20, up to max 105 kg, with my speedy weight of 95, it was fast. But not getting less height, no this beast climbs like no other glider. And this demo for sale still at 1800 euros. Mainly aimed for current pilots I would say.


Our apres-vol we had at Venta Teresa again. There I was happily treated by the owner by a quickly selfmade birhtday cake. How little things can warm your heart. Foto on top of the French Flying Chickens and my 'vlaamse moat' Toon.

Nervures gliders - french


Nervures lightweight gliders. Flew their tandem the AlpamayoII. A vivid thing. Flew it over the weightrange, deadeasy launching, very light, almost no input for turning, lovely little tandem wing.

Then flew their Kailash Bivouac, a bit more performance there. Fiddle about with speedbar, its trims etc... , got to get connected to this glider before you make it perform I guess. It felt like driving a car with too many options at first.

Nervures, years of experience that brand, hardly known in Spain. Dealers are my colleagues from Entrenuvols up in the Pyrenees. If you need their contact, or if you want to fly these gliders demo with us give us a call.

speedflying at Hondon




Jean Philippe speedflying at Hondon, after speedflying Palomaret and Cabo. He's nuts, but in a good way.

Ann, Niklas, Peter




thanks joining in for the party last night,


you had to leave so early this morning,


hope you have a pleasant homecoming,




cheers buddies,


Nick

Monday, May 24, 2010


it's my party and I dance when I want to...


That's right folks, taking him out for his birthday tonight, so you'll all have to wait for today's stories til later

K

ps He doesn't know yet, so hold all your calls n sms til later tonight.Tx

bullfights in Spain

Last friday bullfighter Julio Aparicio got horned by the bull. The horns gorged the neck and came out through the cheek of the bullfighter. The bull won. 1 - 0 you would think. But they couldn't have it, a bull with a grin on its face.

The winning bull got killed afterwards. Bastards.

When the bullfighter wins the game, he gets walked around the stadium, with the ears of the bull as a trofee, when he did very well with the tail. Imagine the bull walking around with little little balls around his muscled neck. Wouldn't be a sight, so they killed it. Bastards.

I am not 100 % against bullfighting though, but at least the bull deserved a 10.000 acre pasture, with lots of blond cows.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Gorious days at Alicante


Glorious days. Some arrived more than a week ago, and haven't had a day off yet . Flying every bloody day, blisters on hands, butt and feet !
Anyway, I flew the Aspen3. And as the Aspen original I expected an agile wing, very lightly to be steered. And indeed, its weightshift-response is on of the best. Gradient wing, still think they should hire somebody for the estetics of their gliders. Or they are pink or this menthol green.
I think all were happy. Some more tired than others, but mostly topping up their thermalling skills I can say.
And as you know we sell 5 euro, yes you heard it right 5 euro helmet stickers to help out maintaining our sites. It gives you the 'right' to fly all sites in Alicante for the whole year of 2010.
And we are pretty serious about it. If you are a selfish bastard not wanting to give up your 5 euro bill to fly all our sites in Alicante, thats whats gonna happen. To me you are not welcome any more.
And that's what will happen to you eventually, if you refuse to collaborate with the locals,
you'll be found on our beaches, NOT sunbathing, your choice... .

Cabo at night

Look at that, our famous site. Best soaring site in Europe over the Mediterranean, at night.
Foto take by Carmen
Her website Blauvent design airsport and technology

Saturday, May 22, 2010

hunky dory

Hunky Dory as Norris would say. Over the Med, together with the sailboats underneath, just enjoying the beachview, never a wrinkle in the glider. Hunky Dory.+



The name of the man on the foto is Japanese Tommy. He was a variety perfomer in the USA long time ago. This Japanese dwarf introduced the Japanese word “honcho-dori”. Meaning mainstreet, easy street, present in any port city to fulfil the needs of sailors in the port after al long trip. Hunky-dory Bowie !

Friday, May 21, 2010

Fortuna


Fortuna is a place, hidden between Alicante and Murcia. It has two take offs, one low - one high. The top foto is taken of Peter from Sweden, after launching from the top take off.

I hope the foto says it all. It is a marvellous place, where strangely enough no other pilots than us go. Have no idea why. But I think it is like everywhere else, pilots do stick to one site. Like down here, most pilots stick to Palomaret (palo-adictos) , and in Murcia most pilots only go to Carrascoy.
I just like to move from site to site. New skills, new take offs, new landing, and especially having others views while flying, every day. That's the way aha-aha I like it aha aha.


Foto below her, is from our late afternoon flight near the Bordilla near Fortuna, the lower take off. Peter and Niklas and Hans in the air, Stevie supervising.




Siesta during central hours with view over Sierra de Pila.


Near Fortuna, we now have two other brandnew take offs, direcion Sierra de Pila. Jesus, who owns a casa rural (gite - B&B) near the nature reserve of Sierra de Pila, opened up two new sites that he happily showed us after having a super meal for only 10 euros in his 'gite'.
On foto : Hans Germany, Ann Belgium, Stevie Wales, Jesus Heaven, Niklas Sweden, Peter Sweden.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

not my day today




Sometimes it is not your day isn't it. Like today.
Off to an easy site like Hondon. Easy dynamic. Guess what, bumming out after hardly two turns.
And all lesser experienced pilots up there, soaring their heart out.
Damn try again, one of our only hills where you have to walk up.
Bumming out .... again .... together with Stevie, him as well for the second time.
Peter who just arrived this afternoon had problems holding his helmet on, his smile was too huge. He flew fantastic.
Went home. Didn't want to cook. Wife and kid, Kath and Paco a bit ill, and actually I was afraid to burn my meal.
So went for pizza. Hit a car parking backwards, damn.
Did I tell you I fell over at my second landing ? Scratches on my leg, wearing shorts of course.
Breathe in - breathe out - talk to you tomorrow ...

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

thermals, never ending


In the air and on the ground. As promised weather is great to fly down here. Thermals as much as you want, and never ending.

Henrik, see you in a good month, thanks being here again, big dude !


Grass was green till last week, now the heat is coming in, soon the scorching heat, burning the grass, waving in the wind. Also something very spanish, the golden sun rays in the tall dry grass.
Not too lyrical eh ......