20:02
Now at Vichy with the whole squadron reunited. Rick, Laurie & June and Kevin & Sheila have had a hard day. They've flown from South of Venice, minor ground accident requiring repair, a more challenging Alps crossing and a thundery journey to Vichy. We, too, had uncomfortable weather and I guess this is the way it goes. But all I know is that I had a fantastic Alps crossing and am hoping for some good video. We are now drinking Sangria (Sangria??!! What the hell are we doing drinking Sangria in the middle of France?
A bientot.
12:00
Now drinking Coke at Gap Tallard Aeroport. Lovely weather but probably cooler than Southern England. Now there's a thing! The flight over The Alps was entirely memorable! Still air and just enough cloud over the peaks to make it interesting. The total miles over the mountains was about 60 and every mile was an ever-changing kaleidoscope of shape and colour. The engine purred away contentedly and pressures and temperartures changed hardly at all. At 10,000ft, the outside temp was 7C and in the cockpit 18C. Perfect!
Now at Vichy with the whole squadron reunited. Rick, Laurie & June and Kevin & Sheila have had a hard day. They've flown from South of Venice, minor ground accident requiring repair, a more challenging Alps crossing and a thundery journey to Vichy. We, too, had uncomfortable weather and I guess this is the way it goes. But all I know is that I had a fantastic Alps crossing and am hoping for some good video. We are now drinking Sangria (Sangria??!! What the hell are we doing drinking Sangria in the middle of France?
A bientot.
12:00
Now drinking Coke at Gap Tallard Aeroport. Lovely weather but probably cooler than Southern England. Now there's a thing! The flight over The Alps was entirely memorable! Still air and just enough cloud over the peaks to make it interesting. The total miles over the mountains was about 60 and every mile was an ever-changing kaleidoscope of shape and colour. The engine purred away contentedly and pressures and temperartures changed hardly at all. At 10,000ft, the outside temp was 7C and in the cockpit 18C. Perfect!
We enjoyed almost totally still air and lovely cool temperatures!
Mile upon mile of them. Very pleasing to see the tops clear of cloud!
Italy - one minute plateau, the next high mountains.Different to the French side.
Laurie found a small ditch when he turned off the runway at Speziana this morning and broke an undercarriage stay. It's now been fixed and they are now on their way via Cuneo. Mike and I were lucky because the evening before, we had a wheel go into the same ditch but fortunately without damage.
Late final at Speziana (South of Milan)A toute a l'heure.
06:20
As we flew West yesterday, dark clouds developed to the North and South of us and we were fortunate to have a corridor between both weather systems together with a gentle tailwind to take us to Speziana (South of Milan) without a drop of rain falling on us. Having landed and re-fuelled, the tail wind brought the thunder and rain with it before we could depart. Without a tent, I was going to have to sleep in a clubhouse with missing windows and (I presumed) a full-strength squadron of mosquitoes with voracious appetites.
The weather moved Westwards and as we were going to be flying to the South West and it looked clear, the pilots decided to give it a go (willingly supported by this passenger!).
Mistiness ahead meant low flying and there was real delight in flying over increasingly hilly and beautiful country, sometimes only at 300-400ft above ground when crossing the ridges.
We found ourselves South of a very active weather system with plenty of lightening and again a weather system to the South of us that we were going to have to turn into to make the strip South of Cuneo. One flash of lightening from this system was not repeated but 5 miles out we encountered rain and the landings on a relatively short and wet grass strip were executed in copybook fashion!
We are now in the poshest hotel of the trip so far (and the priciest!) but I only have to think of those bloody mosquitoes at Speziana and I can't get my euros out fast enough.
So I am now sitting on the private balcony outside my room (oh yes!) looking at clear blue skies which have been forecasted for two days. I hope that's right as it is our plan to fly back over the Alps today on a more Southerly crossing than last time which will end for us at Gap.
At Gap we plan to join up with the group coming direct from Icaro Village (South of Venice near Ferrara).
Ciao!
06:20
As we flew West yesterday, dark clouds developed to the North and South of us and we were fortunate to have a corridor between both weather systems together with a gentle tailwind to take us to Speziana (South of Milan) without a drop of rain falling on us. Having landed and re-fuelled, the tail wind brought the thunder and rain with it before we could depart. Without a tent, I was going to have to sleep in a clubhouse with missing windows and (I presumed) a full-strength squadron of mosquitoes with voracious appetites.
The weather moved Westwards and as we were going to be flying to the South West and it looked clear, the pilots decided to give it a go (willingly supported by this passenger!).
Mistiness ahead meant low flying and there was real delight in flying over increasingly hilly and beautiful country, sometimes only at 300-400ft above ground when crossing the ridges.
We found ourselves South of a very active weather system with plenty of lightening and again a weather system to the South of us that we were going to have to turn into to make the strip South of Cuneo. One flash of lightening from this system was not repeated but 5 miles out we encountered rain and the landings on a relatively short and wet grass strip were executed in copybook fashion!
We are now in the poshest hotel of the trip so far (and the priciest!) but I only have to think of those bloody mosquitoes at Speziana and I can't get my euros out fast enough.
So I am now sitting on the private balcony outside my room (oh yes!) looking at clear blue skies which have been forecasted for two days. I hope that's right as it is our plan to fly back over the Alps today on a more Southerly crossing than last time which will end for us at Gap.
At Gap we plan to join up with the group coming direct from Icaro Village (South of Venice near Ferrara).
Ciao!
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