http://www.facebook.com/tom.weissenberger?ref=ts&fref=ts

Thomas Weissenberger <<tomtom>>
writes:

Part I is over: it was an extraordinary time, extraordinary flying - but the
ridge is not easy to conquer at once! Last week it was flyable but not taskable.
So we focused on filming to catch these incredible scenery here in full HD.

During our trip I could fly mostly every day, spent 34 hours in the air and flew
1.150 km in all. For good XC weather the main facts are: altitude of the
inversion layer, direction of sea breeze and its strength later the day. The
ridge has a winding line with many lee corners, not a straight face to race. It
offers thermal flying first, then with increasing sea breeze dynamic lift later
the day. Flying altitude is between 300 to 900m asl pending on the inversion
layer. This low inversion is effected by cold pacific water around 16 degrees
Celsius. Therefore sea breeze is a 'cold' wind.

XC preparation: without proper flying forecasts you actually have to get ready
every day and each day has different flying conditions. It's a never ending game
and you must start playing this game every day! No timing possible for choosing
the right days in advance. The only tactic is go and try...

Conclusion: after three years of planning it is already cool being here ready to
fly with my Moyes gear and my supporter Geri. We explored 300 km of the 500 km
long ridge - a great adventure itself - I made maiden flights in out-and-return
distance - an even better adventure! A record is just a bonus then... Many
thanks to my family, my supporter Geri, my sponsors, the film crew AND for all
YOUR support making us feel not as lonely out there as we really were! Now I
just can say: ' I' ll be back / Hasta la vista baby'

Part II will happen next year. We will decide when later pending on logistics
and timetables. The goals are record flights in out-and-return distance. As I
experienced now the ridge is not as speedy as expected but adventure and
challenge higher than expected!