We went rushing down from the Alps to the atlantic pyrenees and St.Jean Pied-de-Port, our starting place, in about two full days, in two parties. Werner and I in a Chevy pulling a trailer full of technical equipment. St.Jean on sunday night at 20h. Monday we went looking for a take off field and permission from its owner.
By chance I found Dr. Hurmic, a 91 year old retired surgeon, who owns a phantastic huge field opposite of the Intermarché and is living in a beautifulk old stone mansion just behind of it. He offered us to camp near a garden section of the property.
On monday evening, Ales and Hanka arrived in the 2nd Chevy.
It took the major part of the night to prepare the gliders and the trike plus the track log, which will allow watchers of the trail to follow us by Internet.
Tuesday we got up at 5am very tired and still the preparations went on until 8h30 am.
I was very tired, had no sleep and was feeling the heavy weight of the paramotor and my devices.
Our field was flat and about 600 mts long but surrounded by huge trees.
No wind at all and wet ground with a light inversion layer in the sky at around 700 mts asl (550 mts from grd).
I did my best but due to wrong adaption of the harness I messed up two launches, nearly ruining one prop, but launched in a desperate third attempt at 9h 30 trying to gain height.
Hanka followed on the trike alone about 15 min. later and then Ales. For me it turned out to be a test flight only and we circled around for about 40 min. before landing again.
The idea is now to launch for definite crossing of the Ibaneta saddle towards Pamplona by around 7pm. The weather forecast for wednesday, july, 4 is not too good. I am afraid we will have clouds hanging over the ridges which will not allow us to pass.
The crossing of the Pyrenees is a serious task as we fly very small gliders on engines with only 13 horsecraft which will require time to climb the 1000 mts of altitude gain required.
We will see tonight if luck and belief were on our side......
Please check the Tracklog of our journey at
http://www.livetrack24.com/tracks/username/ales,hanka,oliver
By chance I found Dr. Hurmic, a 91 year old retired surgeon, who owns a phantastic huge field opposite of the Intermarché and is living in a beautifulk old stone mansion just behind of it. He offered us to camp near a garden section of the property.
On monday evening, Ales and Hanka arrived in the 2nd Chevy.
It took the major part of the night to prepare the gliders and the trike plus the track log, which will allow watchers of the trail to follow us by Internet.
Tuesday we got up at 5am very tired and still the preparations went on until 8h30 am.
I was very tired, had no sleep and was feeling the heavy weight of the paramotor and my devices.
Our field was flat and about 600 mts long but surrounded by huge trees.
No wind at all and wet ground with a light inversion layer in the sky at around 700 mts asl (550 mts from grd).
I did my best but due to wrong adaption of the harness I messed up two launches, nearly ruining one prop, but launched in a desperate third attempt at 9h 30 trying to gain height.
Hanka followed on the trike alone about 15 min. later and then Ales. For me it turned out to be a test flight only and we circled around for about 40 min. before landing again.
The idea is now to launch for definite crossing of the Ibaneta saddle towards Pamplona by around 7pm. The weather forecast for wednesday, july, 4 is not too good. I am afraid we will have clouds hanging over the ridges which will not allow us to pass.
The crossing of the Pyrenees is a serious task as we fly very small gliders on engines with only 13 horsecraft which will require time to climb the 1000 mts of altitude gain required.
Please check the Tracklog of our journey at
http://www.livetrack24.com/tracks/username/ales,hanka,oliver
No comments:
Post a Comment