Rieti WGC - Day 10 Flying Report

Written by Administrator

Report by: Janine (Day 11)

Let’s see if I can get the pilot to type something up… Andrew and Conrad are in discussion about today’s task…

Nope, they are still busy.

Well, yesterday was an interesting day. We were sitting in the restaurant, having a cup of coffee at 12:10 because everyone was under the impression that they weren’t going to fly. The announcement over the PA system revealed that the first launch would take place at 12:30 – action stations! Andrew had his best day to date. It’s really nice for the crew when their pilot lands with a big smile on his face and says “I really enjoyed that flight.”

After the gliders are in the air and we have collected the two rope, Conrad and I are hoping to go up Terminillo (the local mountain) and try and get some photos of 67 in action.

Report by: Andrew (Day 10)

Yesterday was one of those days that had a window in the weather and it was small. Fortunately I made good use of it and my timing was good. However with the rush and a few other complications I did not pay careful attention to the top assigned area section and having left the PDA at home I flew out the sector doing 20 km extra and not getting any credit for it. Had this not been the case my speed was 107.9kph. Shit happens and lesson learnt, today is a new day and it is time to fly and see what can be done.

The task today is a ridge run north and then some flat country south and then heading NW along very low ridges for 80 km and then returning home in SE direction. The lines to follow are not obvious and this will decide the day.

Cloud base is 1000m above ground lifting to 1500m above ground, this leaves very little working alttitude, because below 800m agl you get horribly stuck and this has to be avoided as much as possible. In order to utilise thermals you need to arrive above the trigger point, which is normally the top of the mountain and these might well be in cloud today. This will be one of those days and is something I have no experience in, but lets see how it goes.

Conrad and I are making plans and looking at all possible routes taking into account reserve energy etc.”

Today the weather is looking… interesting. I can see clouds formed because of wave above the ridges to the east of the airfield and cumulus clouds on the western side.

Update by Admin

The 18 July was cancelled due to weather.