Right hand through toggle and I hand over hand the stabilo, working most of it clear. "Ok, now the right side." Same procedure, similar results. A final handful of deep brake pumps on both sides and the Delta 2 was back to being a proper wing. Needless to say the wingovers and landing approach were …
Continue reading Double your pleasure, double your fun, two cravattes for the price of one.
Last day of week one with Escape XC and, finally, a day with proper Annecy Cross Country (XC) weather. Slightly cloudy over the peaks, cloudbase above 1500 meters, meteo winds more or less from the west and the valley wind setting up nicely from the north. A lake crossing? A distinct possibility! Our group arrives …
Continue reading Teeth and Beef: a Cross Country flight with Jocky Sanderson.
... stalls now out of the way, the radio pipes up that we will try a spiral. One of the guides, Chris, had indicated that I am very likely the first Delta 2 that Jocky has had on one of his courses. So I wonder, for briefest of seconds, if Jocky is not only assessing …
Stall/spiral day. The quietest of rides up the mountain. The emotion on the launch amongst students changes from eager anticipation to one of unease. Reflection, 'why did I sign up for this?', 'I hope it is blown out and the day is called off'. Hoping to stave off the executioner for one more day. The …
The wind gods frowned upon us yesterday, forcing us to do the tourist thing and visit the pasture/ridge behind the Montmin launch, giving an excellent view of the Dents and the Roc de Boeuf - the basic turn points in Le Petit Tour du Lac (the shorter cross country circuit most visiting pilots attempt). Absolutely …
...and the wind gods smiled upon us. Three flights in the morning from Forclaz ('Four Claws'), and one in the evening. In addition to the aforementioned maneuvers, Jocky added asymmetric collapses. Similar flight plan as with the symmetric collapse, but only collapsing up to half the wing (and dealing with the resulting turn/dive). Even including …
Continue reading Nonono-Stopstopstop: SIV with Jocky Sanderson.
0800 - meet up with Jocky and get the run down on the planned flights for Day 1 of the SIV (Simulation des Incidents en Vol - Simulation of Flight Incidents). What I thought would be a simple warm up to more advanced maneuvers took a decidedly Jocky turn for the interesting. I mean B-Line …
Day 2 - Strong SW meteorologic wind, overdevelopment possible once inversion lifts, strong N valley wind as the day progresses. The plan was a straight run NE with the wind past Annecy to the border of the mountains and plains SE of Geneva, due north of Chamonix. The result: one person made it back to …
After a relatively uneventful journey from YVR to GVA (and entertaining shuttle ride driver with curious opinions pertaining to the Swiss) I finally arrive in Doussard. Sleep cannot come soon enough. After quick intro/meeting with my new flatmates, we head off to join the guides/organizers for dinner at the fine dining establishment of 'Sushi Wok'. …
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