Sunday 28th June - Last day in sunny La Motte

For the final day of flying Christian decided to show H5 Matt the glacier. Barre des Ecrins is a huge mountain in the Alps whose northern flank is draped in ice which extends like a veil down into the valley. The lowest fringes are rent and broken as the glacier melts into the sun baked rocks, exposing blue tinged ice under the dust tinted snow. According to Christian, over the past 20 years it has shrunken approximately 30% in size and it is shrinking faster with each passing year. 

JB heads towards Glacier Blanc

All of the training throughout the week had started to come together, with Matt’s flying attracting far less abuse and even the occasional compliment from Christian. They worked their way out of the La Motte valley and skimmed across the mountain stepping stones, each higher than the last and heading north east into the Ecrins. The glacier was breath taking, evidence of avalanches and ice overhangs do not put off the walkers and climbers!  Much better to do the climb in a glider. H5 Matt and Christian thermalled to 13000 feet with Mont Blanc in the background, the air crystal clear and the views spectacular. What a way to end a brilliant weeks flying.

H5 Matt incognito against Barre des Ecrins

Halfway through their 1000 mile journey back to NHL news got to the guys that the French were on strike at Calais, who’d have thought! A plan B was frantically crafted and a couple of slots on a Dieppe ferry booked. After a night in the truck stop in the back of cars the gang pressed on to Dieppe, setting up camp again and enjoying a relaxing last day before catching the alternative ferry.

Luxurious digs

After nearly 3 weeks in France JB’s pigeon French was improving, at a Dieppe water-front restaurant he ordered what he thought was fillet of white fish, however the delivered dish didn’t quite look as expected and tasted even worse than the appalling road-kill gizzard sausage that H5 Matt had selected in the services the night before. Google translate deduced JB had actually ordered rare Monkfish Liver! Yummy! H5 Matt didn’t fare any better as his Fruits de Mer platter proved to be a collection of gruesome snails, limpets and only a couple of edible prawns which JB pounced upon immediately.

Always safe with Pizza

After a hearty French meal the trio expelled their remaining energy with a swim in the English Channel, and yes it is English right up to the point where it touches the sand, this was however disputed by the locals because water this polluted had to be French. - H5 Matt

A great end to the expedition totaling:

Holiday Statistics:

JB, 10 flights 43 hours 1738 OLC km

H5 Matt, 7 flights 19 hours 1001 OLC km

M5 Matt, 12 flights 64 hours 3401 OLC km

611 Phil  29 hrs 1194 OLC km

Estimated cups of tea: 300 + 18 boxes of French Bastonge biscuits

Saturday 27th June

A very busy day at the Club today, nearly 20 people on the two-seater flying list and with good flying weather lots of private gliders too. Everyone flew thankfully and I had some lovely time in the air with Charlie one of our Junior members who soared us nicely to cloudbase 3500ft above his home in Kentisbeare followed by a little trip to Cullompton and Uffculme School.

Charlie flying to Cullompton (Lisa)

 Congratulations to James F for completing his 2 hour soaring flight for cross-country endorsement (just waiting for either a cylinder head or a propeller now for the nav test!) Michael H converted to the Junior, and Paul S was kept busy by the over-full complement of trial lessons. 

And the collective noun for K6s is............? (Pete)

James managed to fit in the front of the ASH25 and enjoyed a nice flight with Ron in the sea breeze front round the Club 100. 

Its days like this which test the members and thanks to all who helped keeping the launchpoint moving. - Lisa.

Friday 26th June - Le Mistral

Standard protocol whilst flying in the southern French Alps is to use the thermals generated by the sun facing slopes. The anabatic winds created by this rising air causes a valley breeze strong enough so that the south facing ridges also work dynamically. A light northerly gradient wind interferes with the valley breeze and can make conditions really tricky requiring a more analytical approach to choosing where to look for lift. If this north westerly gradient wind gets even stronger it is known as Le Mistral by the locals. When the Mistral blows it overpowers the valley breeze and chops the thermals to bits but it also opens up a variety of new ridges that can be flown dynamically and linked together to create XC ridge flights to the areas where the wave is best. 

The winch launch into the NW wind is lively and the winch driver invariably calls for ‘corrige route’ (correct towards the road!) and the pilots call for more or less speed as the glider climbs through the rotor. It sounds scary but it’s soon over and you head for the ‘ravine’ which is a large NW facing gully on the lower levels of Blachere, the mountain by the air strip that propels you skywards as you start a series of ‘eights’ to maximise the lift before switching to circles as the mountain top is reached.

Matt steers MC, La Motte's inconspicuous K21, towards Le Gache

1450m and you jump 3k to a west facing rock face of Jouerre that climbs from 1300 to 1890m in about 1km. You join the ridge just above the top and as you follow it you climb, faster than the ridge climbs, and at the top head west 3km to a pair of vertical west facing rock faces nicknamed the Camel because from the airfield it just looks like a couple of humps. Don’t stop here, just turn south and run the ridges to the Gache – a massive and very well known north facing, ochre coloured escarpment that just ‘goes like a train!’ You can stop there and climb high, just soaking up the views to the north in the crystal clear air before heading west over Sisteron town in search of the wave.

Getting into the wave usually involves tight turns in rotor thermals that are humongusly rough; Dave Rilley once described flying the rotor thermals in Cerdanya as like wrestling with an Alligator. Well the alpine Alligators are just as energetic as their Spanish cousins and just as reluctant to let you get into the wave without having a bit of sport with you on the way!! Although once established well worth the struggle, the air becomes silky smooth with off the clock climbs. During the week the team managed to climb to just beneath the airspace at FL195 the local ceiling at Pic de Burre from where they could glide into the higher mountains sightseeing and collecting OLC distance points before returning to La Motte. The views from that height are just breath taking, the Mistral brings with it crystal clear air and Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn dominate the distant skyline. Boring…. Time for tea. 

-JB

Into the delirious burning blue

Friday 26th June

The weather forecast suggested the potential for some flying at the end of the day, assuming the rain and low mist forecast for the morning and lunchtime part of the day cleared as expected - with suitable discussion between James and Mike Sl as the day unfolded, and with increasing optimism as to the forecast turning out to be correct, the Gales family from the Wellington area decided they would turn up in the hope of flying, whilst James "mobilised" the Club members including Mike Sl and Paul.

Preparing the gliders (Mike Sl)

The evening had been organised by Dan Gales, as his Christmas present to the family, and the decision to fly was vindicated with the early evening flights managing to use both ridge and thermal lift to complete extended flights - but as the evening progressed then so did the lift gradually decay.

By the end of the evening all of the Gales  family who wanted to fly had done so.

Another North Hill sunset (Mike Sl)

A big thank you from James, Mike Sl and Paul to the Club members who worked hard and efficiently throughout the evening to get the gliders into the air. - Mike Sl

Thursday 25th June

Summer at last! - It was a lovely start this morning with light south westerly wind, warm sunshine and those lovely white puffy clouds. First to launch was Pete H and Paul K, and after some final check flights, Pete stepped out of the glider and Paul had a couple of solo, short soaring flights. Congratulations to Paul who only had his first ever glider flight at North Hill on 8th February and has been cramming in the training flights ever since - hooked on gliding!.

Congratulations to Paul on his first solo (Mark)

It was soarable until about lunchtime when the sea air came through, and it went blue, thermals disappeared and the southerly wind picked up. There were wonderful looking wave clouds but not reachable, but the south ridge was working and extending flights.

Everybody commented on what a lovely enjoyable day of gliding it had been. - J&P

Wednesday 24th June

A small band of regulars arrived today so the list was small and we were thin on the ground at the launch point. The weather was almost exactly as forecast with some thermal activity before the decaying front passed to leave a bright evening. Local flights were mainly quite (or even very) short but Joe found lift from somewhere under the high cloud to achieve 42 minutes off the winch - we suspect it was generated by the cheesey beans he had for lunch.

Pete St 230 tested the extremities of the NHL soarable area:
"Knowing we were in for a short day with a combination of sea air and high cover, I thought I'd fly 'round the box' and see what the limits of the useable area were.
The Somerset Levels to the east were almost totally blue from quite early on, north to south so uncrossable(as someone found out!). To the west beyond MUD thermals were very weak and it looked totally dead further west than that due to the top cover.
South to Crediton and sea air had come up the Exe estuary and around the northern edge of Dartmoor but with no useable convergence.
To the North I had to go through the sea air convergence to go round BWE but the convergence here was quite good and I had some fun soaring it like a ridge. Just as well really as I needed the height for the glide home in the now totally lifeless air and an increasing Southerly breeze.Within these boundaries the conditions were actually quite good for a couple of hours.
No great distance or speed, but what an interesting little flight!" 

We welcomed Peter Hayes for a trial lesson on his birthday (I won't mention which one in case he sees this!) and hope to see him again during his temporary membership.

Those who did turn up had a good day flying and all had to work hard to keep the launch point and winch going. Thanks to all.

We handed over to the evening group a party of friends and family of Julia and Rob and hope they enjoyed the good weather we left them. - John Si

Tuesday 23rd June - Ad hoc Flying Day

With a call to action on Sunday by Pete B - (keen to spot a good day now he has finished his exams), a small group assembled  at North Hill this morning. 

First launch was just gone 11:00 as the very early cumulus clouds became within reach with Pete B in the K6 HEB leading the way. There were some discussions as to whether Silver distance to the Park or Club 100km would be best but Pete settled for the Park out and return - and he nearly made it back landing just short near Honiton. Well done Pete on your Silver distance, longest flight so far of 150kms, second field landing and just a pity that he couldn't squeeze another 12 minutes to get the 5 hours as well!

Pete's field near the mast (Pete)

The task was set as Club 200kms NHL - Cullompton, The Park, Blandford - NHL. Tom in DG1 changed his mind at Merryfield and ran for home. Adrian in FDX got to the Henstridge area, but then turned back. Liam picked up the sea breeze convergence and turned Blandford but got stuck on the wrong side as the convergence moved inland and landed near Chard. 

Pete St 230 completed the task in 2 hours 47, and Pete & Jill in OL (last to launch) decided to go to Cullompton on the way back, completing in 2 hours 44.

Jeff T in 380 didn't fancy the task but flew up to the foothills of Exmoor.

Pete and Liam back from their retrieves (Jill)

It was an interesting day with high cloudbases , low cloudbases, spreadout, convergences.......

Start of the sea breeze run home, South of Blandford (Jill)

 and in places some very good thermals. Thanks to our Tuggie for making it happen. - J&P

La Motte 22 June - Another BSD

Another BSD (Boring Sunny Day) in La Motte.

Despite potentially the best forecast since we arrived and a twinkle in Christian's eye at briefing, JB decided to have a day of rest, in preparation for the promised epicness to come. I suspect this was a mistake. Admittedly the day started with bands of high cirrus damping the thermal activity. This 'made for some struggles to get away but then "boom". Matt and Phil were off like 'robbers dogs' leaving Matt Deux (H5) to experience his first flight in the Alps. We'll leave him to relate his experiences later. Needless to say he went nearly everywhere we went, only faster and lower, with the expert guidance of Christian.

In reply to the question "where did we go?", the simple answer is, we didn't go to Mont Ventoux. Phil will have to leave that particular target 'till next time as he is homeward bound tomorrow.

If you are going to end a gliding holiday on a high then this was the way to do it. Superlatives all round. 250 km triangle, if you're counting, and over 350 k on Matt's cheating OLC meter. The point is, we romped and soared around the familiar area. Matt's attempt to draw Phil into the dragon territory failed due to the severe turbulence in this area and Phil's desire to protect his gel coat. 

611 heading south towards Mte de Feraud

At the north western extremity looking down toward Grenoble and the long ridge which always look so tantalising as we stop for tea on the drive down. Toward the evening, when the sky everywhere, particularly to the south east, looked like something out of a text book. The duo pushed south into uncharted territory (for Phil at least); finally turning north for home at the southern end of Lac de Sainte Croix, halfway to Cannes! The flight finished with a calm evening cruise at 7.00pm for a slow decent to home. Six hours of fantastic fun and fear. Roll on 2016. - Phil

Lac St Croix

Matt Deux

Towing out MC La Motte's K21

After a car, a plane, 2 trains, a cancelled train, a bus, another car and 16 hours of travelling H5 Matt finally got to La Motte and was met JB,  M5 Matt and Phil. The site is surrounded by fantastic looking mountains, making the hills in the UK seem like mere bumps in the road. Phil cooked a lamb bhuna and then it was straight to bed to be fully rested for excellent forecast for the next day!

A fantastic first day of flying! I launched just after lunch with the instructor Christian, immediately remembering just how intimidating mountains are when you are flying only feet from them. We worked our way around all of the local mountains, Christian keen to show me the area, the local clubs and emergency landing fields.

We climbed up to a 60km long ridge called Parcour, which runs North / South across the alps, at 10,000 feet the wind was blowing directly on to it created lift so strong that the needle of the variometer got stuck on maximum and needed a tap to free it!
I quickly found that Christian is a hard task master, the whole flight I was interrogated on our position on the map and French mountain names, after 4 ½ hours they all began to start looking alike! A great first days flying and brilliant introduction to the alps. - H5 Matt

Sunday 21st June

There was a very long list with some partial hangovers, but flying got going quite quickly with several Instructors joining in to help out  the flying list.

First launch was the Mendip Falke which had flown in early to collect R37, Ian M aerotowed it to Mendip GC to help them out with their Open Day and evening flying this week. (One of their K13's is still being worked on after the major inspection.)

The clouds were fairly low at times but they were cycling every half hour, the ridge was sort of working at times. By lunchtime cloudbase had started to go up and by mid-afternoon it was quite soarable under 2500ft cloudbase. 

Pete St 230 and SM completed the Club 100.

Thanks to Richard H and Mike H as they have now renovated the wiring rat's nest in the LPV and got the solar panel working to charge either battery without the previous interference. This enables us to operate more efficiently during the long summer days and evenings (the LPV still needs charging overnight though). - J&P

Saturday 20th June

Longest Day flying was planned........but called off, as there was fog forecast early morning, in fact the forecast was not very good for the whole day.... it just started to get flyable late afternoon, but unfortunately the beer for the evening had already been sampled!

What a super evening at DSGC tonight.......

Orderly queue for the hog roast (Heather)

........unfortunately some members couldn't join us for the Hog Roast and they were all missed, but those who came seemed to have a good time. 

Jaz (looking guilty) (Rowan)

What a great Club we have, and thanks to everyone for making it so special! - Chairman Lisa