Feb 15 - 26, 2019 (12 flying days!)
These have been fabulous trips the last 4 years and will be again ! I went there 20 years ago on a recce for the PWC and to teach some locals, it was stunning. The countryside, the people, the wildlife and the flying sites were all fantastic. I came back and said "we should have a comp in Roldanillo" but they thought is wasn't safe enough at that time. Politics and opinions have changed in recent years and two years ago, 2013, saw the PWC Superfinal held at Roldanillo and all pilots loved it, thanks to the great flying.
On a typical day you will be driven up to the take off. There you'll be given a team brief/ de-brief, and lecture. Once everyone is ready we'll set a task to fly and then take off together, flying as far as possible, under radio tuition, as a team. One of us will be with the first group and the other instructors will be positioned throughout the pack, with the last one bringing up the rear. After a few days into the course we may change to position ourselves to look after the pilots who may need more instruction.
Our aim is to have everyone getting personal bests and making the most out of the conditions, so please feel free to ask loads of questions and make sure you sap us of all knowledge. To give you an idea this year we flew everyday and 40/50km was a common average. We have a great deal of information on the flight plan that we will be sending out when you book.
The launches are generally smooth but steep and grassy with a gentle up-slope breeze. As XC pilots, you should all be good enough to fly from there with no problems so there won't always be a take-off instructor there. Please remember that although you are on a course and we are giving you full instruction, where possible, you must be self-reliant and be able to make your own decisions as well. If you bomb out then it is sometimes possible get a lift back up to take-off for another go. With regard to radios, make sure they're 2-metre band. Most electrical equipment these days will take a 110 or 220 volt charge, but it's up to you to check your gear. You may need to get a 110 volt to 220v transformer.
The course will start at 10AM on February 15th and finish the evening of 26th February. After the briefing, we will go up to launch, treating it as a relaxing orientation thermalling flight to get pilots familiar with the area and their kit and blow away the cobwebs. The big Xc's will start on the second day, where we start the day at 09:30.