when to visit

When deciding the best time to visit please take into account your ambition and experience.

Lower airtime/beginner pilots wanting to improve their thermal technique or pilots simply wanting a relaxing flying holiday can join us on the Thermal and Ahorn XC weeks during the Summer months.

 

Intermediate + pilots who are XC orientated (20hrs+) should join us on an XC Course in either Bassano or Zillertal/Tux in Spring, this will ensure that you are with pilots who after the same thing.

A good idea when wanting to complete the 50km XC tour around the Zillertal or pushing for that elusive 100km in the Alps. Bassano is a great place to hone your flat-land skills too, ideal for UK XC training.

Also for the more adventurous pilot joining us in Dolomites in Autumn for the Dolomites XC week is a "must do", one of my favorite places to fly anywhere.

Whatever course you choose you can be sure that the conditions are most suitable to acheive the course objectives.

January:

When normally the Northern Alps is in it's winter sleep the thermals are still going in the South in Bassano del Grappa. As of winter 2010 I intend to run a thermal training weeks there maybe even be some small XC's.

February:

Stronger thermals 500m+ ato. wide & smooth with the possibility of top landings.

Short 20-30km XC flights in Bassano are starting to become a real possibility CP+

March:

The BIG days are here.
Strong thermals, high bases, light valley winds, top landings.
Thermal training + Good distances(30 - 50km).

Both Bassano & Zillertal are both very good this time of year. CP+10/15 hrs

April:

Excellent conditions for huge(100km+) XC flights and thermal training, top landing etc.
Zillertal and Bassano both excellent for long XC flights, CP+20 hrs.

May/June:

BIGGEST potential for XC(anything up to 150km+), good for thermal training /top landings and evening soaring flights are very possible in Zillertal. CP+20hrs

July:

Still excellent potential for XC in the Zillertal, most of this month will be spent coaching novice and intermediate pilots on our 'Ahorn XC' courses.

Perfect for thermal training, evening soaring and Glacier flights. CP+

August:

Local XC flights, evening soaring, thermal training and Glacier XC flights.
CP+ (CP+ 30hrs for XC courses from Glacier.)

September:

Easier conditions, light valley winds, thermaling and Glacier XC flights(30+hrs)
Unstable airmass comes back big time to the Alps, good for XC. CP+

Excellent conditions for Glacier flights in Zillertal.

Huge potential for great XC flights in Bassano & Dolomites.

October:

Good thermals, good potential for longer XC's around Z.V., top landings and flying on the Hintuxer Glacier.
Excellent conditions for the Dolomites & Bassano.
CP+ recommended