First Flights 2011 - Jan 9

We did our first flight of 2011 on the warm and sunny Big Island! Third time lucky (after two sled ride days in 2009 and 2010) both Pete and I got well above launch (400 meter) and had nice thermic flights. Good to crank a few turns. But despite the thermals I left it a bit too late, didn’t make it to the nice grassy church LZ and put down at the beehives instead (no bee to be seen though!)

For the second flight of the year and first flight back in Canada we had to wait for a break in the clouds. When I was in the air it started snowing lightly – how appropriate for a Canadian winter flight! Not much airtime but a great hike&fly adventure in the snowy Coastmountains.

The picture below is from our third flight from snow-free Woodside. Pete and I lucked out and got to soar for about one hour in pleasant temperatures (no frozen fingers or toes). Pretty good airtime for January so far. Now we just have to catch up on the skiing!