Monte Grappa (Bassano, Italy)
02.01.2011 -The calculation to find sun and thermals in December in the near abroad worked out perfectly: 6 days the sun shone on us and Bassano, above Venice at the foot of Monte Grappa. So I was able to fly in my new Vega 3 paraglider. It was great fun.
But also with my delta I was practicing a lot in the air and at the target landing. I even tried my hand at the first dynamic delta wingovers: Great feeling when the wing slides sideways and I don't have to worry about collapsing like with a paraglider.
Of course, in the area you can not get around grappa degustation and shopping: Our medicine cabinet is now filled up again. The turn of the year in the small town was then as expected quiet - was because of the 7 hour drive back the next morning but quite okay so.
Here are a few snapshots from the flight week:
Departure at 8 am in freezing cold and slippery motorway.
There is no more snow on the plain, but the cold catches up with us on the ascent to the ramp.
As feared, the starting area was still covered in snow on Sunday.
I spared myself a slide down 'the ramp to nowhere' on Sunday.
But Arthur could not be dissuaded...
So we swept the ramp briefly while Arthur got himself and his little scorpion ready for take-off.
The scorpion in the air
Res analyses Beno's 'Tower-Power' zero-sink engine
Simply constructed - but made an impression even on the turretless pilots.
Tower Power
Tower Power
Tower Power - Throttle with radio connection on the Trapetz
With the new week comes the good weather
The Garden Relais in the morning sun
View over the landing area up to the launch pad
Landing site in the morning mist
Landing site in the morning mist
View from the ramp along Monte Grappa
Ramp free of snow again
Task: Target landing with the delta
Paraglider launch site towards the east
Paraglider launch site towards the south
Paraglider launch site towards the west
My new Vega 3 paraglider before the first flight
My new Vega 3 paraglider before the first flight
Leisurely flight down
Leisurely flight down
Inversion layers
Landing site approach
Corinne finally took some photos of me.
For a change, there was someone in the way not in the thermal tube, but on the ground
Final glide
The glider just wouldn't stop flying.
Evening atmosphere over the industrial chimneys
Evening atmosphere at the landing site
Another beautiful, cold morning for paragliding/delta flying
Deltas as far as the eye can see.
An old bird in beautiful feathers
Deltas as far as the eye can see.
Longer shuffling to get to the ramp was the rule
Aerial shots over Borso del Grappa.
Aerial shots over Borso del Grappa.
Aerial shots over Borso del Grappa.
Paraglider landing site from above.
Village centre from above.
Thanks Co for the first shots of me on the Delta!
At the circling off in the volte.
On a counter-approach.
On final approach. But it wasn't as close to the wall as it looks!
And 'Tack! (pushing) - standing.
Shopping tour to Bassano
Shopping tour to Bassano
Poli Distillery in Bassano
Corinne and I at the Grappa Museum
Fine grappas sniffed, tasted and bought.
Big crowd at the launch site on the last day
Result of my false start in stress - embarrassing and time-consuming.
End-of-year evening atmosphere at the landing site
Here's to another super year!