Another check in my bucket list

As I was writing in my latest post, I had to go to Red Bull HQ on Monday morning without knowing what is about to happen. We drove from Ljubljana to the east with me having no clue or what so ever of what we will be doing on that day.

Even when we turned at a big sign of the Slovenj Gradec airfield I still could not put the puzzle together.
A guy who came to sit at our table started to talk about this day arrival of The Flying Bulls, that is when goosebumps came in to the action. They where about to come with two helicopters from the fleet of Red Bull Flying Bulls.
I feel so privileged already with having a taste of Zero G flight, now I was going to fly the helicopter upside down which not so many people in the world had a taste of.
I remember many years ago in Bassano when we where there with my parents when there was a helicopter doing some wingovers, but this is most likely to be a wilder ride than this one in Bassano.
Two helicopters landed, legendary Cobra and German BO105 CB.
I was there to fly with a great pilot Rainer Wilke. Even if I am so much more used to have wings and rotor
blades don`t give me so much confidence, I felt totally safe in hands of such a machine and such pilot.
We took off and soon started with a small wingover, everything goes so smooth, the G forces are strong from time to time, but they are developing slower than in fixed wing aerobatics. One of the most interesting things was to get the helicopter banking back, slipping back slowly and then go for a front tumble with a bit of zero gravity moment. Not something a hang glider pilot would like to feel on a hang glider but here it was sooooo much fun. I truly enjoyed every part of the flight, from looking at how they heat up the engine to the flying it self. With one word, unbelievable!

I have to thank to Red Bull for this one of a kind experience and of course to the Flying Bulls team as well, for letting me have a taste of something so extra ordinary.
You can have a taste of it trough the video that I made, 1080p please ;)

Trofeo Carlo Zanchetin (Day 2)

Little bit late as we had to drive back yesterday and there was no time in the evening to do the blog work. On Sunday last day of nice Trofeo Carlo Zanchetin we flew another 94 km task with lower cloudbase. They choose another take off over Revine, I remember that place from two years ago when we also flew from here. I did a bad start and was soon quite behind the first group but things changed later on during the race so I catch up with Davide who was third from the first day. We crossed the valley quite low but got a thermal that made us cross the plateau to Aviano. In the last thermal we where together with Davide and Arturo who where a bit higher than me and the long glide out to the flat was calling for proper height as there was a lot of sink the day before there.
Thermal died, they both left and I just had to get that extra 50 m to do the glide out so I took my time to find another thermal and secure third place with a nice glide to the goal.
Alex won both tasks with decent lead, Davide Guiducci came to second place and I finished third.
RESULTS HERE
Looks like I finally made two days of flying with less mistakes. Glider is superb, every thermal is a place to relax and think of the flying ahead.
I need to thank the Rova familly here for their hospitality every year, they let us sleep at their place in their wonderful garden. Thank you for everything.

So, I rushed home, as they where planing some stuff with me at Red Bull for Monday morning which I was not told about. Here is a picture to see what was happening today, story and the video tomorrow :D

Troffeo Carlo Zabchetin

First day I nearly stayed at home as I still did not felt ok with my neck. Alan told me to go and see what happens during the day. We went early in the morning on the road to Revine.
Two day competition with 30 pilots, mostly from Italy, but as always in Italy, strong pilots as you would expect from World team champs.
Little bit over 100 km long task that went trough nicely for me as I ended up second behind Alex with Davide behind me.
Looks like neck will survive this test, we will see on Monday :)

Sent from my wonderful Nokia Lumia 920

You spin me round round

Last three weeks where not spent in the way I would like to be spent. Problem with my neck muscles and nerves came to this stage that I felt quite some spinning trough the day. Some days I felt better and went for flying with feeling that it is getting better but it just got worse. Few stressful visits to the doctors and we found out where is the problem that causes my problems. Now massage at sport therapist made me get back in shape and ready for flying. I have to say that weather was cooperating with me as ti was a bit easier to lay down and wait it trough.
This weekend there is postponed competition in Revine. 6 competitions cancelled after our Winter race here so I am really looking forward to get in the air with other pilots.

Yesterday we had a small seminar with Red Bull at Red Bull ring in Austria. It was nice to meet all athletes from the team and spend real fun day at the track. Driving off road buggies and the cherry top KTM screaming machines. I tend to drive normal on the road but this was just amazing to drift 400 kg with 250+ horse power, but,... racing in the air is racing in the air.
I guess I better not tell my therapist about yesterday :D