Today's flying adventure at Raná u Loun was unique – not only due to the autumn atmosphere but also the challenges posed by the weather.
The decision to head out was made late, around 11 AM, as the area was covered in dense fog. The goal was to test new instrument settings for the upcoming season. Upon arrival at about noon, the fog still lingered, with the sun faintly peeking through at times.
The climb into misty uncertainty
During the ascent, I met two hikers who were heading back down disappointed. They couldn’t enjoy the views due to the fog. At the top, I was all alone. However, within a few minutes, the fog started to clear, and the sun broke through, revealing a stunning scene. The opposite hill, Oblík, remained shrouded in mist.
A gentle breeze and the first flight
The wind was light, just 1–2 m/s, which is barely enough for a proper launch. I had hoped for at least 4 m/s, but I still managed to take off. A brief gust lifted me slightly, providing a short but pleasant flight. After landing, I met the hikers again, who were excited to watch my "graceful flight," as they were unfamiliar with paragliding.
Second flight with a friend
Back at the top, other enthusiastic pilots had gathered. I took a second flight with my friend David, who managed to fly over to the next hill. Unfortunately, the area was so wet that his paraglider got soaked, and he had to return to Raná for another hike to dry it out.
Wrapping up the day
I decided not to climb back up again, which turned out to be a good call – the wind shifted, making it unsuitable for a proper launch. The day's goal, however, was accomplished: the new setup worked perfectly. After a quick stop at a petrol station for some fuel and a snack, I headed home, ready to tackle some work later in the evening.
Autumn flying at Raná proved that even in colder seasons, flying can be a fantastic experience. While conditions weren’t ideal, it was absolutely worth it!
Article created by Matu with the help of AI-ChatGPT.
