Friday
September 21st 2007 - Originally we had planned to take a day off
today. We really looked forward to flying around a bit. But a reporter
is no reporter if he doesn't use each opportunity that comes his way.
„Can you provide an autumnal picture, preferably showing a mountaintop“,
our pictorial editor asked when hearing I would go for a flight into
the cloudless sky.
With my flying mate Georg as a faithful Copilot sitting next to me,
just a little after 1 o'clock p.m. I am taxiing at Buochs airfield
towards runway 07 L . We want to make a tour around some mountaintops.
After take off we make a wide turn eastward and head for the famous
Rigi. Operational altitude for my pictures is about 6000 feet. Near
the top of Mount Rigi lots of daytrip travellers are gathered. I make
a turn with my Taifun 17 E II (callsign D-KRRK) leaning downward on
my side so I can focus my camera at the scenery. Georg takes over
and continues the curve at the same altitude. „Fotomission Rigi
completed, proceeding now to Stanserhorn“, I report to Buochs
Tower soon afterwards.
Mount
Rigi
We cross Lake Luzern and the Bürgenstock at 6000 ft. and head
for the Stanserhorn, experiencing only very small aerial flows. „Request
climb to 7000 Feet for another Fotomission overhead Stanserhorn“.
„7000 Feet is approved“, the radio responds. At arrival
another crowded sun terrace shows up. After making some turns around
the top we cruise for the Engelberg and the 7500 ft. Surenpass, still
remaining the same altitude.
The
Stanserhorn
Next goal was the Fronalpstock near Brunnen. The picture above was
the one that appeared in a prominent size in the newspaper on the
day after. It also contained an invitation to the Bergbahn (mountain
railway company) to make a postcard out of it, which they agreed to
with great enthusiasm.
The Fronalpstock
I
knew right away that this would be the picture of the day. But somehow
I was still looking for a real autumnal picture. Assuming that with
dawn approaching the haze would be thickening again, I thought that
would be a nice opportunity to capture the atmosphere of autumn. Therefore
we returned for a break to Wangen-Lachen airfield and had a refreshing
drink near the lake. One hour later we circumnavigated the Säntis-Massiv.
But: no haze.
Säntis area
It
was only when flying back to Buochs when at last another autumnal
object showed up in front of my lense. Both Mythen Mounts in a haze
and further behind several other mountaintops and the lake. A mystical
image that doesn't arise much enthusiasm with a large audience. But
I myself like it a lot and that's what counts.
Both Mythen Mounts and Lake Luzern in the distance
After a flight of about two and a half hour I switched off the engine
at 7000 feet. Barely 15 minutes later we landed in glider configuration
at Buochser runway 07 L, having collected 6 suitable subjects.
The Kronberg
And
here for the endresult as published in the newspaper on the next day.
A little
bit enlarged:
Niklaus Wächter
translation powerglidertaifun.de