Bassano del grappa xc - year round reliable & fun flying

Bassano xc courses - Monte grappa - in brief

Extremely Reliable - Protected by a complex micro-climate ensures that it's one of the most reliable sites in the Europe.

Right Time of Year - Excellent potential for good, wide thermals with incredibly low-saves possible out in the flats.

Understand the Theory - Learn why we're flying the route we are. Not just "follow the leader" XC Tours.

Defined XC Routes - Over a mix of Alpine and flat-land terrain. XC flights can be between 20 - 60km+.
Click here to see one of my favorite routes.

A mix of Mountain & Flat-land Flying - Understand how thermals form & trigger in both the mountains AND the flatlands.

Way Less Stress - Large flat Landing areas everywhere. Landing out is never a worry. With 'Radio Controlled' retrieve along chosen routes.

bassano del grappa xc - all details

I've been visiting Bassano since 1998 and have run trips here extremely successfully since 2003 throughout the Spring, Summer and Autumn months.

These times of year have great potential for thermal & soaring training and XC flights in most directions.

The Monte Grappa area is thermic all year round. However we choose to visit here when the thermals are stronger and the days longer. The strongest climbs are in Spring but we can fly xc distances here pretty much until November.

October is the most relaxed month we operate here. Don't be fooled by the calendar, there are thermals here when most of the Alps are shutting down for the Winter sleep!

The courses here are very similar to the ones we run in Mayrhofen, Zillertal. So we'll attempt to make pilots thermaling technique more efficient too, helping immensely to stay in the air when things get slow.

In the day's briefing we'll discuss how I believe the day will develop. Whilst building a clear picture in the pilot's mind, how the terrain will locally affect thermal & cloud development.

At the same time explaining the where's, why's & how's of flying in the Alps in the day's debriefing. There is also a huge chance to improve your flat-land skills as well.

Flying in Bassano del Grappa appears similar to UK flying, so flat land pilots will feel at home here. Except it's much bigger, has much less wind & is flyable well over 300 days a year!

It's unique micro-climate allows us to fly defined routes in all directions, even in the flats.

With air-to-air guidance I'll lead pilots around pre-choosen turnpoints (see map on right). Always 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. Aimed at pilots wishing to soar in beautiful surroundings & attempt to improve their XC skills in a safe and extremely forgiving environment.

logistics & prices

Pilots wishing to attend will need at least 10-15hrs plus a small amount of thermaling experience is helpful. And, of course, all pilots will be expected to be able to launch and land out unaided.

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, no queueing up for the over-crowded navette. 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 interesting 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 or Venice is very convienent, simple and inexpensive at the moment.

Bassano XC Course: 625€

This price includes 7 nights bed & breakfast at a local guest house. It's also possible to stay at the Garden Relais.

Transfer from Treviso or Venice Airports.

6 days air-to-air guidance & coaching around the Bassano del Grappa area.

Plus all transport to launch and retrieval along chosen route.

Numbers are strictly kept to a maximum of 7 pilots only.