Sven is still flying at 92!

My friend Sven has had some major changes in his living arrangements lately but still
found a way to get to the gliderport to fly in the DG-505 on a nice clear day.  Here he is with the parachute on sitting in the front seat and ready to go:

I'm using this old pic of a launch as I don't have one from yesterday!  Here Sven is in the front and Stan is in the rear being launched by wing-runner Quest.  

At 1000' after take-off Sven took the controls and flew smoothly just like always:

 We went east over the Diablos looking for that lift that Ken reported yesterday over the "tin roof".  After releasing at 6000' Sven flew all around over the Quen Sabe Valley seeking out that elusive lift.  The San Joaquin Valley was covered with Tule fog and the snow-covered Sierras were visible to the east:

It was very still air and dead-calm, a perfect day for gliding but we wanted to SOAR!  Alas, all we could find was some very weak "bumps" just above the ridges.  There were two golden eagles flying but we, being much heavier, couldn't exploit the meager lift like those pros could!  Sven flew us back into the Santa Clara Valley towards Hollister thinking we might get some lift over the big black fields but they weren't working either.  

We were too low for aerobatics so the loops and wing-overs will have to wait for a day with thermals! 

Even though we didn't have good soaring conditions we thoroughly enjoyed our hour peacefully and silently gliding over some beautiful scenery in the "Cadillac" of sailplanes.  Sven said he'll be watching the weather and will be back when the spring "thermal" season starts soon!