aart wrote:
Then again, your Spanish is probably at a level where you would be able to charm that lady to make a drive to a nearby fuel station for some Diesel.
Sure 
I always find Spanish people very friendly and knowing the language is highly appreciated.
aart wrote:
Which brings me to about 125 hours of flight time so far this year
Yes, I know, I’ll be punished in hell, but I guess it’s worth it.
Of course you will, and well deserved! You should obviously fly at least 200hr so you can get closer to the Heavenly and orderly Goods and leave the [sub]earthly punishment-deserving practices be hind low , ha ha
Nice write up, thank you!
And what a pity, seems like I landed in La Morgal only hours after you left…
However that flight was more about arriving than to enjoy landscape. It was like this:
Most exhausting about that flight was to find that magic hole to climb on top, because the weather was the same from Germany all the way to the Atlantic coast at the border to Spain. I found a hole, due to some orographic turbulence, after about 160nm into the flight already way over France. Did not have the capacity left to make fotos from that part of the flight, cloud base was 1700-2200ft MSL, hill tops in clouds and me searching the way, visibility often around 5 km.
An IR would have eased it a lot, cloud layer was maybe 300 meters thick. This was my farthest flight so far, nearly 800 nm. Due to 1.5 hours of scud running in the beginning and the lack of forecasted tailwind the flight took nearly 6 hours. But still had about 3 hours of fuel left in the end.
UdoR wrote:
Due to 1.5 hours of scud running in the beginning and the lack of forecasted tailwind the flight took nearly 6 hours. But still had about 3 hours of fuel left in the end.
In general, but especially when flying VFR in this wx, this would have been a completely different picture if you had only 1h (vs 3h) fuel remaining. The reassurance afforded by that extra fuel is priceless!
Well done for managing what appears to have been a challenging trip! Would you care to post further details?
Not sure whether to post this here or start a new ‘what did you do with your aircraft this weekend’ thread. Maybe here, so that tips for aviators, in particular UL/experimentals who wish to visit Spain find some inspiration in one place..
Departed last friday and came back today, and I have just a short time to post before Spain beats the Brits this evening 
3 ULs: a Skyleader 200, CTSW, Savannah. And myself in the Bristell B23. Flying is about freedom, so no hotels booked, go where the wind blows us, and certainly no chatting with ATC.
Day 1.
First leg from our island to Mollerussa, a field in Catalonia near Lleida. We crossed the coast at the Ebro estuary which offers a very un-Spanish scenery:
.. which soon changes into the proper Spanish landscape:
Mollerussa offers some needed shade. And food and gas of course:
Next leg to the ‘Pre-Pirineos’, a wonderful area with lots of reservoirs which fortunately have been filling up a bit over the past month. We went to Coscojuela aerodrome, such a special place. Long enough rwy for certifieds. Had a nice swim in that reservoir, next so the half-submerged church:
Off to Jaca/Santa Cilia LECI after lunch. Also very suitable for bigger aircraft, 95 car fuel and Avgas available. Lively field, lots of glider activity. Had the pleasure to meet a very kind ‘other Peter’ on our forum who lives in Spain, has fun with his Taifun motor glider. He was flying around with his 90-year old father, who has a track record of cross country glider flying. Wonderful..
Stayed the night in Jaca. A nice town. They did a very good job to make the centre a car-free zone. Pictures are from the next day, when people still slept off the previous night’s partying..
Day 2.
Got up early to enjoy the calm and crisp air to first make a short hop over to Lumbier LEUM. Completely deserted. With humans that is. We were warned about other creatures being around. It really was like a Vulture Oshkosh. Tens of them, especially in the circuit. Needed to slow down quite a bit.
We decided to make a picture of us still alive. Yes, some of us could not be called ‘Ultralights’ I guess. As to weight and balance, the weight part may sometimes be on the limit for some of the crew. The balance is fine though, except later in the evening.
Then again, they managed to get across 7.000 ft ridges at ISA + 15.. Must be owing to the fact that going South, gravity goes down..
Off to Matilla de los Caños LETC, South of Valladolid. Such a welcoming and lively field. Non-stop paradropping. The manager refuelled us, brought us to and picked us up from the hotel, knowing we would do the same for him when he would visit our island. Upon my question how much to pay for landing he said “are you trying to insult me?” 95 car fuel and Avgas available.
For Spanish aviators, flying is nice, but eating is more enjoyable:
Some invading species detected:
Day 3.
Off to Robledillo de Mohernando LERM, a good field North East of Madrid, 95 car fuel and Avgas available. Long runway, very suitable for certifieds. And from there to Castellon LECN, meeting our ever joking Lorenzo. He tried to pull our leg that we could not have lunch because everything was closed because of some terrorist attack two days ago and was shocked that we didn’t read the papers.
Trip home this afternoon was uneventful.
Flying in Spain is just wonderful, and especially the UL/Experimental scene is a close-knit and accomodating community.
What a super setup you have down there
After one has been flying for some years, the social part of it is so important.
Buenísimo don Aart gran viaje y una ecología de aviación en muy buen estado de salud!
Hi Aart,
Lovely write-up and piccies! Was great to meet you in Santa Cilia, looked like you guys were having a lot of fun.
See you in Mallorca some day ;-)
(Another) Peter
