| Right Time of Year: | Excellent potential for good, wide thermals and incredibly low-saves out in the flats. |
|---|---|
| Grasp the Theory: | Learn why we're flying the route we are. Not just "follow the leader" XC Tours. |
| Defined XC: | Simple XC flights along the main ridge and out to the flats. Routes around 20 - 60km. |
| Flat-land Flying: | Understand how thermals form & trigger in both the mountains AND the flatlands. |
| Less Stress: | Large flat Landing areas everywhere. Landing out is never a worry. |
| Retrieve along chosen routes. |
XC Courses in bassano del grappa
I've been visiting Bassano since 1998 and have run trips here very successfully since 2003 in the early spring and autumn. These times of year have great potential for thermic soaring training & XC flights in most directions.
The times of year we've chosen to fly here reflect the ease of conditions for the type of flying pilots want. Whether it be the reliable & smooth thermals in February & October or the stronger climbs in March & April.
These courses are very similar to the ones we run in Mayrhofen. We'll attempt to make pilots thermaling more efficient.
The cornerstone of XC flying. And at the same time explaining the where's, why's & how's of flying in the mountains with the chance to improve your flat-land skills as well.
Aimed at pilots wishing to soar in beautiful surroundings & attempt to improve their XC skills in a safe and extremely forgiving environment.
The Run Down
In the day's brief/debrief I will be explaining how the Alps/local area work and try to build a clear picture in pilot's minds about thermals, valley flow and reading the terrain & clouds.
With better knowledge of the air systems, pilots will be more likely to find lift and less likely to fly into danger. With air-to-air guidance I'll help pilots get around pre-choosen turnpoints(on detailed maps provided) and always be within safe gliding distance of a large, flat field. These will be task/route-orientated courses, not just being dropped off on launch with a weather briefing.
I believe that with XC flying anywhere it helps enormously to have a plan and to know why we'll be going that way.
Also it helps to have other pilots going the same route, as thermal markers. I normally set a launch time when it's easy to stay up, as we aren't trying to break any records we don't need to launch when it's too early & maybe weak.
All of the routes I have flown countless times before so we can be sure to be going the right way for the particular day and it's varied conditions.
prices
Pure XC Course: 650€
This price includes 7 nights bed & breakfast in Tilly's. It's also possible to stay at the Garden Relais.
Transfer from Treviso Airport.
Plus 6 days air-to-air guidance/coaching around the Bassano del Grappa area.
Numbers are strictly kept to a maximum of 8 pilots only.
logistics & dates
Pilots wishing to attend will need at least 15hrs plus a small amount of thermalling experience is helpful. And, of course, all pilots will be expected to be able to launch and land out on their own.
For all the courses here we'll be staying in Semonzo at the foot of the main mountain, it is a very small village on the outskirts of Bassano del Grappa. The accommodation is very close to the landing field. There are many inexpensive restaurants to eat out and my favourite by far is L'Attica Abbazia.
Getting to launch everyday is easy with our minibus, plus getting home after a long XC flight is also no problem as we'll have a local driver. Just call in your position and he'll come and pick you up.
An important part of the course is a detailed look at our flights using SeeYou software, so don't forget you cables for your GPS (if you use one).
Flying into Treviso (Venice) is very convienent and simple.
