Right after the big asado evening, the grill hadn´t cooled down yet, the first members of the group had to start planning their return trips. Our chief meteorologist, René, was the first to leave. In true devotion to his profession he had arranged the Lows and Highs in such a fashion, that for the next couple of days the forecast would be fairly straightforward - the wind was going to blow!

Shortly after he had boarded the Southern Winds Jet, destination Last Tango in Buenos Aires, we received a call from the S10 crew: at 26,000ft and climbing!

On Friday it was Michael who had to take the early bus along the scenic route to the airport San Carlos. Martin and Klaus dropped him off at the bus terminal and launched a free out and return to the south around 11am. We decided that Klaus had explored enough and it was about time to get down to real cross country soaring. Our record-minded pilot must have felt the pressure, too. As the Stemme taxied up to its tiedown spot 9 hours later, one couldn´t but notice the big grins under the canopy: 1040km OR. Klaus had beaten his old record and set a new mark for the longest flight in South America.

A new day, a new adventure!

Despite the fact, that the German and Argentinian forecasts differed in some crucial aspects, eg. the strength of the low level westerly flow, Wolf and Klaus decided to try for another long flight on Saturday. The hot spot in the Chapelco wave worked and 30 minutes after take off they were in 12,000ft heading south. The next message caught everybodies attention: after only 5 hours they reported in 20,000ft over the field after rounding a turnpoint 300km down south, heading north now. With little phantasy one could identify a line of developing lenticulars pointing northeast to the Catan Lil mountains and the teasing lentis over their lee slopes, 150km away. It surely was going to be an interesting day.

By 5pm the tension rose. Moist air from the approaching coldfront began to seep into the valley of San Martin and shortly after, 7 octas in 3000ft AGL threatened to cut off our high altitude pilots. The crew had just reported 120km out in 15,000ft, but wouldn´t disclose how far north they had turned.

Shortly after 7pm the S10 appeared on long final below the grey and wind-torne cloud deck and 15 minutes later the big cheer: 1222km free triangle.

Time to celebrate! The Stemme had set two new marks for the longest flights in Argenina beyond the magic 1000k tick on two successive days!

Martin, who was to leave the next day, would carry the message of success back home to the Stemme factory in Berlin.

Now it was only Carsten, Klaus and Wolf. Two days of rather gray skies helped to catch up with dirty laundry, routine inspection of the S10, writing reports and planning the activities of the remaining week.

2 logros y más por venir..