ZA: Climate change in the Provence...

[thermal]

It's May 2010.
We are beginning to see the effects of over a 100 years polution.
Once a soaring paradise, the climate in the Provence changed dramatically the past few years.
But, because it's difficult to change good habits, you still went on your yearly soaring expedition.

No, you are not in the Netherlands, even when it rained almost continuously for 2 weeks.
In the Netherlands there is now a desert climate.

Anyway, the Meteo guy was observed singing and jumping this morning, because there finally might be a small weather window this afternoon.
Low cloud base, strong thermals (remember those ?) and snow showers are expected over the high relief.
Unconfirmed rumours are, that even the Glacier Noir turned white again!
Let's go check that, but don't forget to take your outlanding catalog with you.

The club's chief instructor advises to plan some alternative routes, just in case, and advises strongly against taking water ballast because of the low temperatures.
Have fun and fly safely!

**added**
The task may be difficult, but is flyable.
Prepare for some nasty weather in the high mountains...

[thermal]

I've seen lots of pilots trying this task, but sofar no-one completed it.
Most pilots seem to be scared off after having seen the threatening skies here and I can't blame them. Others did try, but failed to find lift after the start. However, there is good lift available and yes, I did a succesfull test flight.
Some hints, because things are a bit ... different, because of the changed climate.

In the vicinity of the start line, there are a few good thermals.
After start, use the ridge where La Motte du Caire once was. Half way that ridge, there is some lift to the cloud base.
Then, go north to Mt. Colombis, west of the lake, to find some excellent lift there.

Don't go to the "Parcours" as usual, because the area around the Seyne airstrip is one huge swamp now.
There are no thermals there.
The Seyne aeroclub relocated to the shores of the Serre Poncon basin recently and are modifying their entire glider fleet with retractable floaters.

From the Colombis, head to the NE, direction St.Crepin.
You may even find some wave in the valley to Briancon.

Gain maximum altitude at the first TP and head for the Barre des Ecrins, the second turnpoint.
If necessary, be patient to catch a glipse of it.
Take a look at the growing glaciers while you are there.

At TP2 you are on glide path, but the choice of routes is yours.
Watch out for some violent snow showers.

[thermal]

Well, we had our chance to see in the future for about a week now.
The "ZA: Climate Change" task is closed.

276 pilots from all over the world had a peek at the circumstances in the year 2010, and most of them landed back, shivering.
I can't blame them.

The task was far from easy, specially the first part across the now swamped area's.
56 pilots passed the start line, but most didn't manage the first 30 - 40 kms.
They landed out, and were towed back... by Zodiacs!.
That was easy, because there is plenty of water in the Durance river these days.

Only 6 pilots completed the task, all of them with penalty points for cloud flying or passing through thick snow showers.


Pilot: CN Speed pp's **)

P.Hoeve 3A 153.3 379
K.Leuker KL 126.9 9
R.Reinholtsen RR 108.8 29
D.Seemann LB 104.1 75
D.Stewart NZ 101.7 47
"yours truly" ZA 124.8 16

Some made more than one attempt, and so did I.
On the second attempt, trying to complete the task with 0 penalty points, I also ended in a Zodiac...

Good flying guys, hope you had fun.

**) Sorry, couldn't get the TABs right.

[MosGuy]

I did write down all the details and made myself a copy of the task so I can try it again later. I'm determined to complete it and with zero penalty, I don't like letting any task beat me . If I'm able to do it I'll post my results.

[thermal]

MosGuy, I appreciate your tenacity.
However, having written down the details is not sufficient to rereate the scene.
For this task, Condor's weather engine has been... well, tweaked a bit to get this type of ugly weather, which cannot be done through the Task planner's GUI.
If you want, I can post the flight plan here.

[terry1954]

I would appreciate it if you could post the flight plan, I was going to attempt it again this morning (once the wife had gone to work so I could have peace and quiet).

It would be great if you could set another similar task.

Regards

Terry

[ddunwoody]

If you want, I can post the flight plan here.

I didn't get a chance to fly this online, as I was gliding for real. I'd love a copy of the flight plan so I can try out something a little less easy than normal.

David

[thermal]

Here's the original "ZA: Climate Change in the Provence" Flight plan.
Enjoy.

A new task was in the making, but will be postponed for two reasons.

First of all, I have some RL flying to do.
Then there is this "super tilted thermals" problem left in the current Condor Patch level.
This makes it very hard to design "certain tasks" that combine high cloud base and strong wind over flat terrain, with mountainous area's.

Before I release a task to the ZA: Servers, I want to make sure it is flyable and fun.
I always do a test flight with "thermal-helpers" on, to see what it looks like and make some corrections if necessary.
Then I leave it alone for a couple of days, put it on a Server and fly it again, now without helpers.
If I can finish it, the average pilot can and that's OK.
Speed is generally not my priority, unless the task's name says so.

The task "under construction" isn't flyable in Condor v1.08, unless you were very lucky. Therefore I wait until patch 9 comes out.

I added an avatar to my profile as a reminder of what thermals look like.

[mac]

Thanks!

[JEP]

Thanks for the task, I try it now

[Frits Schneider-senior]

Thanks for the task, I try it too.