I was invited at the last minute to an event celebrating 50 years of gliding at the Munster airport airport in the central Swiss Alps. About 60 of the best sailplanes were there, including two electric Antares. Also in attendance was our friend from Buttwil, Hans Uli, with his Stearman biplane.

We owe Hans a debt of gratitude for flying our camera man Floyd Fronius during the Sunseeker Alps crossing on April 14th.

Taking off in Munster, the first stop was my old hang gliding stomping grounds of Fiesch, now populated by hundreds of paraglider pilots.  I had to take care to avoid colliding with the many flyers (there’s five of them in this photo.)

After recharging my batteries while soaring there, I had to climb against the wind to Zermatt, where the Matterhorn was in the clear.

I carefully went around to the upwind side, where I found smooth slope lift.  Several people were on the steep summit.

Return to Slovenia

After our enjoyable visit to Lesce Bled in May, we decided to return for more flying with my new friends during the Women’s Sailplane Workshop.

During May I flew the SUNSEEKER during their National Glider Championships, finding the airport and surrounding mountains perfect for flying.

The first day an Austrian pilot flew in with his SWIFT rigid wing hang glider. He was so interested in seeing the SUNSEEKER that he flew back the next day with a small motor attached.

The cloud bases were lower than in May but I was able to easily climb over the clouds, searching for wave lift.  Although the clouds looked promising no lift was found, but the view was worth the trouble.

After descending below the clouds, I found a very steep mountain with three climbers on top, half in the clouds.  I had to wonder how they could get up there.

Slovenian flying friends

Thanks again to the Lesce Bled Glider club for hosting the SUNSEEKER in their hanger for a second time.