Michael Nesler, having taken off alone on Friday, March 16th from the Rifugio Paolina at Passo Costalunga, successfully completed a flight (87 km FAI triangle) never attempted before. Below is the detailed chronicle of the flight.
The takeoff took place at Passo Costalunga with a Wings of Change Predator wing in size M, a wing classified DHV 2/3 in standard configuration. After takeoff, Michael gains altitude under the Parete Rossa, reaching 3050 m of altitude. Insufficient altitude to cross the Val di Fassa, so he continues toward the Catenaccio, passing 50 meters below the summit without finding the slightest trace of thermal, then he crosses over the summit of the Gesellenspitz in the Tires valley and there he finally finds a thermal up to 3100 m.
After a turn over the peaks of the Scillar, he passes again over the Vajolet towers and there he takes a few photos, then he returns to the Parete Rossa where he finally gains altitude and climbs up to 3200 m, this time enough to cross into the Val di Fassa. From there, he points directly toward the passo S. Pellegrino, doing a few turns in the valley to recover 350 m. Having then arrived on the other side of the Val di Fassa, he follows the ridge that leads directly to the Marmolada. A few more turns in a thermal and he's at 3200 m. Just before the summit of the Marmolada, a generous thermal brings him to 3700 m and, with this altitude, he flies over the summit of the Marmolada. He reaches the end of the south face, takes a few photos and returns toward the passo S. Pellegrino, exploiting the same lift he had found on the way out. Having then come low at the Cima 12, he landed near the passo Costalunga.
An exceptional flight if you consider that: max altitude 3704 m with -11°, minimum altitude 2100 m. On the way back, he arrived over the ridge of Cima 12 so low that he had already entered the valley wind at about 40 km/h, having therefore to push on glued to the ridge with the accelerator pulled in the direction of Predazzo to reach the ridge where the wind comes head-on, then dynamically from 2100 m to 2700 m and again in a thermal up to 3650 m. Altitude enough to arrive on glide exactly at the passo Costalunga. Other facts worth noting: medium-high turbulence though not prohibitive, deadly cold and an absolute prohibition against “landing out” in the Val di Fassa, because if you enter the valley wind, it's trouble. If you consider that 50% of the flight was done with a headwind, the difficulties faced along the route are easily understood.
Congratulations to Michael Nesler who, once again, demonstrated to us his undeniable qualities as a great pilot.