Time to look back on the year a bit. The season is not really over, but the major flights are. All the more so since Sasso di Ferro is closed for the time being.

January saw a couple of short flights, still getting used to the Litesport, certainly the 2nd flight was limited because I was still getting the handling sorted.

February: great start on the 1st with a flight to San Martino, 1700m, effortless but freezing. But then I nearly hit a warehouse doing 200m in ground effect, bent two ZOOM uprights and bruised my ribs.

That had me not using the HG 'till March, because I needed two uprights (plus we went skiing, etc.). I had a good preparatory flight, then a shortish flight with another whack - more due to conditions than glider, I think. Nevertheless, by now I was beginning as usual to get anxious for the year's big flight(s).

Which of course came in April, on the 13th everything comes good and I go to Tamaro and back, at last. 2h45 makes it also my longest time in the air, as well as distance (75km OR). Basically it was technically straightforward - exposure at 2400m under a large Cu over the Swiss border, alone, was more the issue. Five days later I do 50km with ceiling at 1850 (blue?), then a few days later anotehr 47km OR and a 35km triangle over in front, out to Bogno. Four flights each of >2hrs. Excellent.

May saw us in Annecy, but the weather was crap, and so was the flying. Felt I did OK on the last day when all the other HGs went down except me and Phil. Got three decent flights in at Laveno, of course, including getting out over Besozzo (first time).  

June was still OK - can be dodgy, and although Tamaro never seemed on (for me) I had some good ones, nearly three hours one day, going everywhere (local). July had me going out a bit further, but my best opportunity was spoilt by feeling sick over Sette Termine at >2000m. Things never got that good again, I didn't fly at all through August due to holidays 8-( and so things as they are today with a couple of decent flights in September; of course the day (6th) I was getting back into it (after the six week break) I just did Sette Termine and Cardana, everyone else did Monte Generoso, Cento Valle etc... 

On the Litesport then, 34h14min flying for 24 flights, with another 2h50 on the PG (3 flights so far), a Relax, and a Target. I might just scrape 40 hours this year, last year was 43 flights for 41h40; this year a better flight to time ratio.

Personal bests: yes, this year, like each one so far, was a step forward. The glider is great, but here people can't quite understand why I bought it. The performance increase was really noticeable. The flying style I like. Landings great, although approach is very flat.

9:32:58 PM