11.3. Statistics

Statistics of the last 6 Month:

281 flights 
225h10' airtime
48' avg. time per flight

26.2. Last Day in Pokhara

Heute war der letzte Flugtag fuer mich in Pokhara. Die Bedingungen waren perfekt. Basis zwischen 3200m (Green Wall) und 4100m ueber Korchon. Der Plan ging tiptop auf. Habe praktisch jede Querung mit Rueckenwind geflogen. In den tieferen Lagen war der Wind lokal, Nahe der Wolkenbasis NW.
Ist genial, die Wintersaison mit so einem Flug abzuschliessen. Wicked!!!
Link zum Flug.

Hier noch ein Video mit ein paar Ausschnitten von dem wunderschönen Flug.

23.2. Nepal Open Task 4

After only two valid task the organizers decided to add one day. The task was ment to be easy, so everybody should reach the goal. Takeoff, Torepani, Diki Danda, East Green Wall, Russian Construction, Japanese, Frontiers Landing.
I gave up again after spending a long time in Diki Danda chasing the lifts low, and being pushed out by the crowd as soon as I got something usable. In the wall, I couldnt fly properly with especially two other gliders. I wanted to ged rid of em, but they followed even when I was leaving the best climbs. Back in the house thermal, I could just avoid two collisions, I went again low towards Torepani, fucked it up, landed at Frontiers. Not my day, not at all. Tomorrow is an other day...

Link to the much better blog from Stan.
13th Nepal Open Final day

22.2. Nepal Open Task 3

Good Task. However, i was really slow and spent ages in front of Korchon. Near Dampus I was almost alone. Almost, the birds were fighting together in my thermal, and eventually they decided to attak me as well. Fortunately no damage to my glider, I did not expect that when I was still flying. I gave up and landed next to the retrieve jeep.

Link to the much better blog from Stan.
13th Nepal Open 2012 : Task 3

21.2. Nepal Open Task 2 cancelled

Second task cancelled. I was lucky because I would have bombed out anyway. Went to low for the takeoff cylinder due to a lot of traffic...

Link to the much better blog from Stan.
13th Nepal Open 2012: Task 2 Cancelled mid Flight

20.2. Nepal Open Task 1

Today first task of the Nepal Open. Conditions were, lets say, different. Lower cloudbase than the days before, and no visibility (haze). I took off quite early, 1.5min after the window was open. Spent a lot of time scratching at the end of Sarangkot ridge, however, the goal was the goal, no worry. I was happy reaching finally the turnpoint near Dampus. Reaching the ridge of Korchon was OK, however, it took me a while to get height, again. I decided to fly back over green wall due to low cloudbase and not infinite performance of my glider. Crossing the ridge behind Diki Danda was RADICAL, only 1-2m AGL. The green wall was already quite dark, but it was not raining. Couldn't make proper altitude to fly back, and I was not able to get the lift under the 2 clouds on the way. I arrived pretty low at the ridge with the road and couldn't climb up anymore. However, a pilot with a green white Gin glider made it (Bastard ;-).
Today, I was way to busy to take pictures, and the haze doesn't improve quality. Below some photos from the training day.

Link to the tracklog.

Links to the much better blog from Stan.
13th Nepal Open 2012 here we go!
13th Nepal Open 2012: Day One: Race On.

Two pilots ended up in trees, but fortunately no injuries...

12.2. Sirkot

Heute hats endlich geklappt! Wir sind frueh morgens mit dem Minibus von Pokhara nach Wailing gefahren. Dort gabs ein super Dhal Bhat. Genau das Richtige vor einem XC-Flug. Gleitschirme auf die Jeep laden und eine Stunde Holperpiste bis zum Startplatz.

Ausruestung auspacken und los gehts. Die Basis war eher tief, die Thermik dafuer kraeftig. Am Anfang hatte ich ein bisschen Zeit verschenkt, da ich mich ans andere Vario gewoehnen musste. Das Teil rutschte staendig vom Instrumentenbrett und ich konnte nur schwer abschaetzen, wie stark die Thermik nun wirklich war. Die Jungs waren schnell ausser Sichtweite.

Anschliessend habe ich eine gute Route und Taktik gewaehlt, und ich konnte aufschliessen. Einmal bin ich in der Konvergenz Richtung Talmitte geflogen und habe eine viel staerkere Thermik gefunden als die anderen Piloten.
Auf einmal konnte ich den Phewa Lake und Pokhara sehen. Der Talwind war jedoch ziemlich stark, also beschloss ich der Ridge weiter Richtung Osten zu folgen. Kurz darauf fands ich mich im Lee zwischen der Krete und einer Hochspannungsleitung, ich konnte aber ein bisschen Hoehe machen und die Leitung ueberfliegen. Plan B waere ein Acker 20x50m gewesen. Anschliessend zeigten mir die Geier eine schoene Thermik unterhalb der Stupa. Ich konnte aufdrehen und neben der Stupa Richtung Sunrise landing fliegen.

Special thanks to all Pilots. Was a beautiful flight at the right spot. Magic!
Link to the tracklog.