We had been planning for months with Nesler and Gudrun to do the first SIV of the year in Malcesine on Lake Garda.
Everything was organized down to the smallest detail: hotel booked, five-meter rubber boat with personnel qualified for rescue, automatic self-inflating life vests with a salt-tablet trigger just bought… in short everything was perfect, everything was ready to begin. But the weather, otherwise always unpredictable on Garda, played a nasty trick on us; in fact, of the four planned days of the clinic, only on one did it seem possible that it wouldn't rain. Nothing. All to be redone… we couldn't guarantee a regular and productive running of the clinic under those conditions. I call Michael and together we look for an alternative solution.
The weather tells us that at the literal opposite end of Italy, in Maratea (in Basilicata), there's a forecast of good weather for at least 3 of the 4 planned days. We don't get discouraged. We start again from scratch: we book hotel, rubber boat and personnel on site thanks to the availability of a few old-student friends who live in the area. Then on the phone to convince the participants not to give up, even if they had to swallow 500/600 kilometers more than planned. Luckily, those signed up came for the most part from another basic SIV organized by us and they showed, by accepting the sudden transfer, an excellent spirit of adaptation and a very great desire to learn. Good, finally a bit of enthusiasm.
We arrive on Wednesday the 21st during the night at Acquafredda di Maratea.
The next day, as forecast by the weather, it's not good and we take the chance for the emergency check as well as for the setting and adjustment of the respective harnesses with the help of an improvised simulator. Then we go to the landing field (an immense beach) where the particular approach to it is explained to us. So we arrive in the afternoon, by which time the weather has improved markedly and a timid sun has come out… but the takeoff is in the clouds. We all go up to the takeoff anyway to observe and gain confidence with the terrain conditions. Most of us bring our wing to be ready for anything, others, less optimistic, don't. The takeoff has little slope, there is little or no wind and the terrain doesn't allow easy runs. This won't do, damn it!
Then the miracle (we had deserved it): the sky clears and the splendid scenery of the region opens up, incredible, before our eyes. There's a general shout, those who had the wing behind them run to fetch it, the others curse their pessimism. But how could they imagine it? It was truly unpredictable. Only the dreamers had the wing and, despite the forecast, hadn't given up on it. Michael recommends to everyone not to do any kind of unusual maneuver, just a first acclimatization flight to get to know the flying and the landing. We do little more than a glide, but this flight stolen in this superb setting sends everyone's morale soaring.
Second day, Friday the 23rd: 8 a.m. breakfast, 8:30 briefing. There's incredible sunshine, the day is fabulous, we're charged up like batteries… off we go. Michael explains that the day is dedicated to asymmetrics, frontals, B-stalls and, for those who have the right wing, C-stalls. Obviously, since for many it was an advanced SIV (the second or third done with us), the asymmetrics had to be like the real ones (70%-80%) and the frontal collapses were requested first without, then with the help of the accelerator pulled and the brakes in hand. We managed to do no fewer than 3 flights and the collapses, under the attentive supervision of Nesler, followed one another all day without any problem for the return to normal flight after the maneuvers. Obviously, the 5-meter support rubber boat circling beneath us, together with our self-inflating vest, guaranteed great margins of peace of mind in case of emergency.
Saturday the 24th too, a radiant day, I'd dare say summery. At the takeoff there was a bit more wind and everything was easier. Most performed the Full Stalls, skillfully guided by Nesler. It's incredible how this big guy manages to bring out people's character. The results are always beyond all expectation. I, who have been collaborating with him for a few years on the SIVs together with Lucia, am every time amazed and incredulous at the events I witness. But the truly astonishing thing is that he manages to have demanding maneuvers like the full stall, the SAT and others managed in a simply natural and safe way. The day went by without a hitch and despite the long series of demanding maneuvers, we had only one emergency, due to a bad stall exit. The pilot just took an unscheduled dip (his own schedule), immediately recovered, immediately sent back to the takeoff with another wing and another emergency, and he immediately repeated two Full Stalls, this time perfectly. In the evening, great general enthusiasm for the results obtained. Nesler's debriefing with the screening of the maneuvers performed by the participants and filmed with high-definition cameras. Then an abundant dinner and superb company. One of the nicest and most close-knit groups we've ever had. It was a fine and positive experience for us too: Michael, Mirco, Gudrun and Lucia, who were there for work and not for pleasure.
Fourth day… the last, alas. Another superb day with a sun fit to split stones. Takeoff with little wind but enough to leave without problems. The guys are pumped. They're now aware of their real possibilities. They now have their own certainties, dictated not by a stupid idea of being good but by the real and tangible realization that they are becoming so. The change in flight has something incredible about it. They're no longer the frightened chicks of the first day but conscious and confident pilots. They face the maneuvers with determination and the assurance of “I can do it”. On the fourth day, we saw the results of this splendid and very successful clinic. Series of demanding maneuvers performed with the perfection of the veteran, without the slightest doubt or hesitation about what to do. Beautiful, truly beautiful for us, for our students and for the goals achieved.
I take the chance to thank the friends from Maratea: Roberto, the other Roberto and Enrico, who, through their availability, lent themselves, being locals, to solving the logistics. I thank Valentina and Giulio who, although they don't fly, offered themselves as drivers for the countless trips back and forth by minibus and 4×4. I thank Nesler for being Nesler, I thank Gudrun for the footage and the show of high acro she gave us, I thank Lucia for her assistance at the takeoff and for the child she's about to give me, and I thank all the SIV participants for the kindness and gratitude they showed and offered us during this clinic.
All the members of the Mucchio Selvaggio: Brazzini Roberto, Biagiotti Marco, Biagiotti Claudio, Ballarin Edoardo, Consigli Massimo, Cuomo Antonio, Cuomo Mauro, Garzelli Gabriele, Martinelli Iuri, Mugnaini Giancarlo, Mori Giovanni, Niccolini Marco. The clinic was managed and organized by: Michael Nesler, Mirco Bardelli, Gudrun Ochs, Lucia Giannetti and the collaboration of Miki, test pilot for a famous wing brand.
Hoping this read seemed interesting to you, I wish you with all my heart an experience like ours.