When I finished the last words of my blog a week ago, Mathias Schunk was already at the field in Koenigsdorf [Germany] to prepare his Quintus M for a long flight. At 9 AM he was on his way to be back at 7.43 PM and a spring-1000 km. was under his belt.
He even had time to make pictures , here is one of them.
Have a look at his OLC trace on April 21 for more.

Another 1000 was flown, now from Austria, from Trieben; 1.120 km. in an ASH 31/21 m. An out and return with the start on a leg.
And absolutely worth mentioning the “Hammertag and Hammerflug” in the LS 8 from Baden Baden in Germany, also on that Wednesday by Roman Hoeflich, 877 km.[600 FAI triangle]

Also here in Holland the weather was good again. 2 Young airline pilots, temporarily out of work, have time to fly and Peter in his ASH 26 flew 748 km [600 FAI triangle] from Hoogeveen and all over flat country in thermals up to 1700 m. at it’s best. He started late as till 11 there was overcast,… the sky was 8/8, but when a “hole” appeared, he went and found enough lift in 7/8 .
Tim from Malden in his ASW 20 flew a distance of 700 km . He aborted the set task but though it was not easy he made it back home.
Just over “my” border in Belgium a flight from also 700 km was flown by Wim Akkermans [, another young airline pilot] , from Keiheuvel.
50 flights from Holland and a lot over 400 k.
NICE spring!

AND….the nice springtime continued during the long weekend.
Friday had 2x 1000 km. flights from Germany in top gliders, Holland had 3 700 km-plus flights in ASW 20, ASH 26 and Discus 2CT/18m.
Saturday was a super wave day in Minden in Nevada [USA] ;1.949 km for James Lee in JS 1 and 1.636 km.in the Ventus 2CM/18m. by Uwe Kleinhempel.
Sunday was even better , but then here in Europe…more pilots as they have the day off…but also more 1000 km. flights; 5 in total…4 from Germany and 1 from Austria ….and NO wave, but only thermals for these pilots.
Of course the Austrian flight had wave as well, even up to 4675 MSL /3373 AGL.
Germany’s best;1.243 km in a Ventus 3 /18m.by Frerk Frommholz; his highest point during the flight 2069 MSL/2028 AGL.
The OLC showed 1502 flights that day, 81 from them flown in Holland and the best again by Peter in his ASH 26E;822 km[782 FAI triangle]
“What a day. Originally planned 918km FAI. Finally started under 8/8 (almost 9/8) octas of nothing. Somehow it worked; the air was amazingly unstable. After about 70km I finally felt the first ray of sunlight, then it went great. Amazing conditions in Hamburg TMA with unlimited visibility and -12,4 degrees at 2200m. It should have been possible to extend the flight to Denmark. The way down south went super quick with 20km/h tailwind.”
Another former junior Robin Smit flew in the LS 4WL, a distance of 732 km. He mentioned that the start was difficult, as he was ready but the thermals not yet. Later clouds popped up , and what clouds; good ,better ,best, to use our old Sportavia slogan.
To achieve 750 he added a bit ,but the weather thought different again so he was just “out”, but had a great day out.
Also Denmark had great conditions and Arne [Boye Moeler] used them 619 km in the JS 3;
“Freezing Artic cold air, strong thermals and incredible visibility from 2.000m. Had a nice warm up flight to Kolding before starting on the task with the National Team from Arnborg on the 4 hour Assigned Area Task. The task made for good challenging decisions and it was great to hear the many excited pilots on the radio today.”
More great flights from Denmark as 753 in ASH 26, 656 in LS 1-c ,653 in St Libelle and 712 in the ARCUS T.
44 Pilots added their flight to the OLC.
And many on WeGlide as well; weglide.org
A total of 1029 flights worldwide, so VERY good for this new platform created by young pilots.
“Join the next-generation gliding platform. Built by Pilots for Pilots.“

And then it was Monday!!
The Czech Rep. was added to the list of “HAMMERWETTER” and Radek and David flew from Hranice and Velke Porici [never heard of this field] 1.230 and 1.253 km in JS 1/21m. and JS 3/18m.
Radek, a young top pilot and son from Petr Krejcirik, I met both at several comps, mentioned;
“Probably the best weather in the Czech republic what I ever flew.
1250km declared was possible today!“
SkySight said about this weather;
“Cumulus at almost 2000m at 8.30am yesterday? Some would not believe it is possible – those who did were justly rewarded!”
A total of 6 x a 1000 k. this day. Not too bad for spring!!!!
A father-son combination is worth mentioning;
“Super geiler Flug! Schön den ersten 1000 mit Vatern zu machen.“
A great flight and so special to fly the first 1000 with dad.
Flight was from Hoepen in Germany; 1.017 in the ARCUS by Uwe and Arne Kerlin.
Frerk is wearing his Ventus 3 out,… haha,…after the 1.243 km. flight today a 1.120 km. flight.

And …AGAIN, Holland shared in the soaring happiness; 667 km by the Corporaal-family in the Duo Discus XLT from Terlet and Peter had another good one from Hoogeveen; 723 in his ASH 26E.
“Another awesome day.
Started with in mind “a quick 500km triangle”, while sight seeing in the north (thank you Wittmund ATC!) and be home by 4 o’clock. Turned out to be truly one of the best conditions I’ve ever experienced in western Germany. Regularly skipping potential 3m/s thermals because there would be a better one (4-4,5m/s) next. Crazy conditions: I saw 5,4m/s integrated over a swamp…
The last leg back home was a bit more tiring, I had to settle with 1,5m/s climbs again in the blue…”

Yesterday Poland enjoyed the special weather conditions as well and Jacek Flis flew in his Discus 2a 898 km!
667 From Leszno in a St Jantar is pretty good as well!!!!

So everybody here in Europe is excited about this special month of April in 2021. I could see already on the satellite map on TV that there were cloud-streets from here to nearly Russia.

More soaring related news;
—-Aero Friedrichshafen [July 14-17] cancelled for 2021 due to Covid restrictions.
—-WeGlide;“News: The outlanding information of the ‘Landewiesen’ project is now available on our map, a click on the airfield symbol (green) leads directly to further information and images. We are very thankful that Streckenflug.at made this data available free of charge. Landing areas are not only available for the Alps, but also for Namibia and parts of North America. Everyone can help and improve the available information for as many areas as possible!
—-The Bayreuth German Nationals had to be cancelled again, due to corona. Hopefully finally next season NORMAL German champions.

To finish this great picture shared by Alberto Sironi from him and a mate in the Arcus T as seen through go-pro-facilities.
During the SAP, the high performance stage from Calcinate del Peche, between April 18 and 24 , they every day perform at the highest level with Italian Team pilots there present as well.
“The exceptional weather conditions, the mixture of alpine and foothills flight area, the structures of the Adele and Giorgio Orsi Airport and the organizational skills of ACAO are now known to gliding pilots from all over the world. Spring flights of high sporting value with take-off from ACAO are countless. Among these, some European records, numerous Italian distance and speed records, all FAI insignia up to the 1,250 km diploma, numerous flights of over 1,000 km, including the first 1,000 km in FAI triangle declared with take-off from Italy, up to arrive at flights of over 1,600 km. To allow all glider pilots to take on their challenge flights (insignia, distance and records), from 18 to 24 April ACAO offers its airport with its organization, its equipment and its staff.”
If you like flying in the mountains this way, keep it in mind for next season.
There is a video from Alberto’s flight as well, a 500 k. Italian speed record;
https://youtu.be/-bqDjvcGkHI

CU next week.
By the way this morning the curfew stopped here in Holland, at 4.30 AM after 3 months. At 12 the pubs OUTSIDE open again….the terraces have been closed for nearly 6 months. Only open between 12 noon and 6 PM, at this stage.
Shops open their doors again, nearly back to normal, though the numbers in hospitals and IC’s here, are not good yet.

Sorry I am late,…had for whatever reason…NO INTERNET…hence no publishing.
cheers Ritz