SDHGPA Update
Dear SDHGPA member,
This update is provided to alert you about upcoming events in the flying community.
Site Updates
Palomar - Palomar has had some great soaring conditions over the past few weeks. On March 7, 5 pilots PG pilots submitted XC flights to the leonardo database. You can view Steve Rohrbaugh's flight here: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/165841
This site is shaping up to be a major XC starting point. With a private airstrip available for HG landings, We hope to see more HG flights at this site. Hang Pilots can call Bill Helliwell as well as a few other HG's that have flown there for details regarding the HG LZ. For new pilots (HG and PG) to the site, you may contact Charlie Jancic as he has been appointed the Pilot in Command for this site. Many other pilots fly this site too, please get a site briefing prior to flying for the first time.
Big Black - When Horse goes North, Big Black may be your alternative site to fly. Summer is coming and the days are getting longer. After the last county fire, no one has really explored the potential of Big Black with no trees. This is on my list of sites to explore and fly for the 2009 season. If you are interested in joining in, please let me know. **Please note that there are restrictions for flying this site. Please consult the SDHGPA website for the details.
Tecate Peak - As Dave M. was the first one off, he was appointed Pilot in command for this ancient HG site. Rumors hold that HG pilots flew Tecate Peak 15-20 years ago. A few PG pilots last October, hucked off in search of a new East facing site. Tecate Peak may the place to go on those east days when you dont feel like Laguna. Contact Dave for more information. You can view a flight and photos of the area here:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/145307
Little Black - Little Black has been great flying for the past 2 weeks. Its getting a little rowdy around noon, but later in the day has been nice. Yesterday, I flew my first Tandem passenger there and had a great 40 minute flight (though hiking all that gear up is a challenge). Mike launched at 2:30 and flew till 5:30ish and Regina had the hill all to herself in the late afternoon. Come check out Little Black!!! Pleas review the airspace restrictions on the club website and a sectional to familiarize yourself with the area. View Josh G's XC flight from Feb 14th here: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/161188
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Blossom Valley Report
If you haven't heard, the Sunrise Powerlink is destined to be placed directly in the path to El Cap. This will cause a significant risk to flying in the area. Please spend some of your morning coffee time, writing emails, letters and keeping up-to-date on issues for this site. It only takes 10 minutes out of your day...
Some links to review:
http://sdhgpa.freeforums.org/blossom-and-sunrise-powerlink-t3.html http://saveelmontevalley.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reserve Repack
Repack clinic is still on hold for lack of a proper space. What used to cost us a few hundred bucks now costs us a few thousand. So please please please help us find a new spot! We need at least 25 foot ceilings, heavy rafters or beams near the middle from which to swing, and at least 50 feet of swinging room (think basketball courts, climbing gyms, any other kind of gym... etc.) Please call Roger Marsh with any ideas or contacts.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March Calendar - Tailgate Fly-in
The first "Tailgate Fly-in" will be Saturday March 21st at Blossom Valley. The SDHGPA will provide some food and beverages for members.
Note: Each site has an USHPA rating recommendation, please fly responsibly.
For the SDHGPA calendar of events, please view the SDHGPA calendar link.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Soaring Council - Update
Jim Wright met with soaring council members and some people who recently produced a wonderful historical film about hang gliding. They have decided to pursue production of a film version of Gary Fogel's incredible story of the history of soaring and free flight in San Diego, for use as both a (longer) documentary for those directly interested in the subject and a (shorter) brief history for the public to learn about our sport. The products would be given away (or sold at cost) for purposes of promoting both free flight and the preservation of San Diego's amazing, unique, AND historically important flying sites. Jim and crew will need to collect donations to support this ambitious effort, and the club appeals to YOU to donate to this very valuable effort directly. Gary's knowledge of free flight history, San Diego's key role in that history, and his specific knowledge of the historical value of the Torrey Pines flying site are exhaustive (though not exhausting), and his storytelling is vivid, visual, and very compelling. We cannot rely on him as the sole vehicle for propagating his very relevant history of unpowered flight in San Diego - if we had a well-produced film version of his history we could readily share it much more widely. Jim has also asked the club to donate $500, and we will consider this request as soon as they generate a specific financial proposal. If you would like to volunteer your time to this project, please contact Jim Wright.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2008 Awards Ceremony
The awards ceremony was a good event. I think Kamyar now has a 2009 wardrobe due to winning 4 of the HG XC awards. Great Job! Also nice to see Glen Volk and congratulate him on his Epic 214 mile XC flight in Texas and Gary Scillian with tales of a 6+ hour flight at a National event. 2009 is shaping up to be a great XC season so everyone please log your flights and submit them.
HANG GLIDER CLASS
Straight line flight originating from within San Diego County
This award is for the top 3 pilots who have made the longest flights (Straight Line) originating in San Diego County
Kamyar Haghani - 107 Miles originating from Laguna on 9/6/2008
John Burke - 80 Miles originating from laguna on 8/30/3008
Dave Whitehall - 74.1 Miles originating from Laguna
No tandem flights submitted for this class
Out-and-return flight originating from within San Diego County
This award is for the top pilot who completes this task.
Jeff Brown - 103* Miles originating from Laguna on 9/6/2008
*Based upon 1.2 multiplier for this class
Triangle flight originating from within San Diego County
This award is for the top pilot who completes this task.
Kamyar Haghani - 71.55* Miles - Originating from Laguna on 9/3/2008
*Based upon 1.5 multiplier for this class
Straight Line distance from anywhere on the planet.
This award is for the top pilot who completes this task.
Glen Volk - 214 Miles - Originating from Big Springs, Texas on 8/4/2008
2008 50 Mile Club
This award is for pilots who have XC flights of 50 miles or greater originating in san Diego
John Burke
David Whitehall
Bill Helliwell
2008 100 Mile Club
This award is for pilots who have XC flights of 100 miles or greater originating in san Diego
Kamyar Haghani
Jeff Brown
2008 Grand Champion - Hang Glider
This award goes to the top pilot who has the best combines score of Straight Line, triangle and out-n-return flights in San Diego county.
I am pleased to announce that Kamyar Haghani is the 2008 Grand Champion for the Hang Glider class with the following flights:
Straight Line: 107 Miles
Out and return: 45.6* Miles
Triangle: 71.55* Miles *class multiplier included
PARAGLIDING CLASS
Straight line flight originating from within So Cal (San Bern + Elsinore south) This award is for the top 3 pilots who have made the longest flights (Straight Line) originating in San Diego County
Jason Kinch - 34.9 Miles originating from Elsinore on 5/17/2008
Charlie Janic - 20 Miles originating from Horse on 4/18/2008
Roger Marsh - 10.2 Miles originating from Laguna
Straight line flight - Tandem award
Erik kiolberg - 1.8 Miles at Marshall 6/15/2008
Triangle flight originating from within So Cal (San Bern + Elsinore south)
This award is for the top pilot who completes this task.
Jason Kinch - 6.6 Miles Blossom Valley 1/11/2008
Straight Line distance from anywhere on the planet.
This award is for the top pilot who completes this task.
Gary Scilian - 51.9 miles - Owens Valley 9/17/2008
2008 Grand Champion - PARAGLIDING
This award goes to the top pilot who has the best combines score of flights from each site in Southern California.
Jason Kinch flew Marshall, Soboba, Elsinore, Palomar, Torrey Pines, Blossom, Laguna, Horse and Otay for a total combined score of 389.9. Great Job!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Suggestions and comments appreciated. Thank you for your continued support.
Best regards,
Bret Daniel
2009 SDHGPA President
About Me
- SDHGPA
- The San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association is a hang gliding and paragliding club dedicated to the promotion and preservation of foot launched soaring in San Diego County. We work together to keep our primary flying sites open by insuring, maintaining, purchasing, regulating, and monitoring our launch sites and landing zones. Our guiding principle is that all foot launched pilots, of hang gliders and paragliders alike, share common goals and interests best served by a united effort to promote flying safety, education, and good community relations in San Diego County. We support hang gliding and paragliding at the national level through the United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USHPA) and concurrent membership in that organization is the one and only club membership requirement.