Monday 9 March 2015

Jaca Week 2 - Day 1

A day of 2 halves.

It is difficult to explain the weather over the last couple of days. We are currently in the centre of a high pressure system with absolutely no isobars in Spain and with almost no surface wind but there has been very good usable wave.

Yesterday the week 2 group arrived at Santa Cillia to find a huge lenticular overhead the airfield and to hear tales of flights up to flight level 195. So when this morning's briefing was for more of the same, our expectations were set high. The only problem was the complete absence of any indication of what was happening aloft apart from a thickening layer of cirrus making thermals unlikely.

The result was that we delayed launching until after lunch when Merv and Stuart took a long tow to stage 3 where they contacted weak wave climbing eventually to 16,500'. Bob and Ian also took a long tow but failed to get established so did a short inspection of stages 1 and 2 instead.

The success of the second sorties were reversed with Dave and Bob getting to 14,500' whilst it was Richard and Merv's turn to have a shorter than planned flight.

A total of 6 hours 40 minutes flown but with the benefit of hindsight we should have launched earlier.
Many thanks again to Morag and Mike for looking after everyone as we have just had a second excellent meal in the comfort of the apartment.

The forecast is looking promising for the next few days with the high pressure still in charge.

Bob.


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