Day 7

Today was a good day.

The Tabbner goes wave flying

The wind was forecast to be strong and before launch the live feed from Mt Ventoux showed 100km/hr Northerly, it was certainly brisk on the ground! We launched at midday onto Arambre and from 5000' a push forward into wind into rotor climbs took us to 7000 and a push further forward dropped us into 6-7kts of wave behind Aspres ridge. Up to 11500 here and across to Pic de Bure took us up to the airspace limit of FL195. We congregated here and set off North into the Ecrins and finally contacted good wave again just in front of Mt Pelvoux. Back up to FL195 again and off to Bardonecchia where the cloud cover became 8/8 and further progress was denied. We therefore did a downwind dash back to Pic de Bure, climbed up to 13000 and pinged off South East to the convection. East of Par Cours the wind changed from the 40kts NNE we'd been seeing to virtually calm. A run back up a convergence took us back up to Blayeul and an easy glide across to Chabre. Geoff and Ben went in to land, I ran out West to Rosans and was back over site by 1830hrs. The landings were pretty sporty thanks to the rotor over site but everything was tucked away nicely in time for dinner. At 2100 Klaus finally came in to land - the guy's a superstar!

Baron Broomhandle, Rachel and GA 

Day 6

Mt Pelvoux

Baron Broomhandle prepares his trusty steed

Much better weather today, with a higher cloudbase and a 10-15ktWNW to keep things mixed up. We had an easy start on Arambre then went South onto the Lure and started towards Ventoux. The ridge wasn't working that well as the wave was dumping on it so we turned and ran East to just short of Aups. A good line of energy took us up to the Par Cours and on past Prachaval to Briancon. We ran across to look at the Glacier Blanc but the downdraughts here were still not helping.

So  much nicer when the cloudbase is 12,000'...

We finished off at Col de Cabre and landed relatively early in time for the usual €15 five course meal on site. 426kms by OLC standards - not such a bad day out and tomorrow promises to be a good mistral wave day.

Looking good for tomorrow?

Day 5

Andy Perley in the Nimbus 4

In defiance of the weather forecast the day started bright and clear. It was clear though that there would be showers and possible thunderstorms so an early start seemed wise. We launched at 1130 and were all able to release low and climb away in therms in the middle of the valley: this was a typical british day, not an alpine rockpolish. Once congregated we ran South East and headed for Aiguines. Leaving the Lure where cloudbase was 8,000amsl we ran above and amongst cloud towards the lower cloudbases and turned Aiguines at around 5,500'.



lac de Ste Croix with Aiguines on the near left



Turning round to head back towards home it was clear the showers were moving in and as we reached Beynes the fat raindrops smacked the canopy. We all turned out South towards Puimosson where I really did not want to land after my last encounter there. I headed for the Asse valley where sadly the wind was canalised at low level and running straight up the valley rather than onto the ridge so to cut a long excuse  story I landed out. 4 hours later the cavalry arrived and we were back nicely in time for dinner on site.



T6 in the air





T6 not in the air.



Day 4

Day 4 was a very wet scrub. A visit to Gap town yielded Salade Paysanne for lunch and an hour wandering around a Decathlon store. Perley and Rachel then bid for Masterchef status with a lamb tagine and we wrapped up with a marathon game of poker. Modesty forbids me to name the player who effectively pulled 5kts out of the weeds to final glide to glory…

Yes, I would photoshop out the loo but can't be bothered

Enough scrubbing - we’re here to fly. Weather Gods: make it so.

Day 3

And on the third day the Tabbner showed up. The wind had dropped, it was warm enough to take off the third sweater and the sun had his hat on. We launched at 1200 onto the local hot spot and most of us soon popped up to 8000'. One of us in an open Class supership had to light his turbo to speed things up but eventually we were on our way. A run east past La Motte and onto Dormillouse then up the East of the Durance and into increasingly good conditions. At Pitman ridge we made 12,000' and moved on over the top of Bardonecchia, into the Sollieres valley and up to the limit of the Cumulus where cloudbase was up at 13,000'.



Running back across Sollieres airfield



On the way back South we ran round the West end of the Ecrins and made our way down the side of Serres Chevalier and Les Deux Alpes ski resorts. The views here were stunning with ice fields, crevasses and super scenery.

Yours truly in the ASW27

Rare sight: The Bus in a turn

Day 2

Ben and Rachel joined today with the Duo Discus. The NW breeze of 20kts again made for easy launching and after Ben finished swearing at the ClearNav and we persuaded him not to rip it out and drop kick it across the field we got in the air and congregated above site. The ridges South made progress easy and we ran all the way down to Fayence in good therms with 8kt averages to 10,000'. From here we had a great view of  Cannes and the Mediterranean coast and considered a final glide and beat up at the Monaco Grand Prix but thought better of it.

The seaside!

 A run up the Vars ridges to Barcelonnette was all very straightforward though the volume of snow still around is clearly making things take a while to get going. Lake Brice was frozen and snow covered but from our vantage point of 11,500' this was academic. We ran as far North as St Crepin and then returned over the Ecrins. Whilst the others went in to land I made use of the Northerly wind and ran out to Aubenasson on the Western edge of the alps and then back home on the ridges. All in all a very pleasant day out so I could justify a maxi Entrecote at the Hotel du Nord!

Running home over the Ecrins

2013 edition

This was not the sight we wanted to see the first morning:-

Bugger off snow

Fortunately within a couple of hours the picture had improved and with a brisk NW breeze it was obvious the wave had set up and the therms were popping.

Wave over Rosans

Andy Perley in the Nimbus 4 "Z2" and I launched mid afternoon for a warm up flight and after a relight (oops - perhaps pulled off too low?!) had a pleasant 4 hours running round the Lure, Blayeul and Gap town. On the way back I diverted to Pic de Bure and while Andy went in to land, climbed in the rotor and popped up into the primary wave. This was humming and the climb to 14,000' peaked at 13kts. Climbing at 1300' a minute is always impressive and this was made better by the vertical wall of cloud alongside. The wind dropped off at height so this was like riding a tube in surfing parlance, so when the wave broke at 14,000' I should have expected it to be rough but oh brother!

Primary wave behind Pic de Bure

The view from 14000'