XC debriefing for 19-20 september 2026

Saturday was the day not to be missed.

The Jura and the Fiesch region offered superb opportunities for autumn cross-country flights.

Let's start with the Jura ridges. No fewer than 81 pilots attempted flights from various take-offs across the region. Despite relatively low cloudbases, 8 flights exceeded 100 km, including 6 flat triangles. I think it's fair to say that such conditions are exceptional for this time of year.

The take-offs that worked best were not those located on the first ridge, such as Weissenstein. This is something that often happens when the plateau is more stable. The best flight of the day was achieved by Reto Hemmi, who completed a 126 km flat triangle from Obere Wengi.

The Fiesch region  In Wallis also provided its share of aerial adventures, 90 pilots flown from the area, with 11 flights over 100 km and cloudbases above 3,500 m.

A group of 10 pilots connected the Chur area through the alpine airways. It was Giusep Gliott who flew the furthest, with a beautiful 138 km flight.

Matic Obid also achieved one of the most impressive flights of the day. After completing the classic Goms out-and-return, he pushed further north with a beautiful crossing towards Interlaken via the Lötschental. He chose to launch well above the usual Fiesch take-off, probably to stay above the inversion layer highlighted in the forecast. A smart move that clearly paid off and allowed him to take full advantage of the exceptional conditions.

For my part, I enjoyed a really nice flight around the Anniviers Valley, as expected. The photos featured throughout this article highlight some of the stunning scenery encountered during the flight, including Lac de Moiry, the Moiry Glacier, part of the spectacular Imperial Crown, and the village of Vercorin.