Crestline Soaring Society

Horse Canyon CA Fly In December 15, 2007

Invitation to the SDHGPA FLY IN at Horse Saturday December 15, 2007.
The San Diego Hang Glider Paraglider Association is holding its annual December Fly In at Horse. Free Beer will be provided sponsored by management of Torrey Pines Glider Port. Bar-B-Q and other food will be provided by SDHGPA. Pot Luck dishes are welcomed. Come join us and enjoy the vistas in the clear air at this great soaring site.

Horse is a WSW site with two main landing fields marked with windsocks. The largest LZ is a two acre flat sandy field with a clear approach and plenty of room to land a high performance hang glider or accommodate a new intermediate pilot. This HG LZ is located directly in front of launch on the south side of route 8. The PG LZ is 100 yard clearing surrounded by chaparral located at the base of the hill. Launch is an sloping take off which can accommodate a 30 degree cross from the South (left) and a 15 degree cross from the Northwest (right). Launch is approximately 1000 AGL in the middle of a half mile of straight 70 degree sloped ridge giving dependable ridge lift in light breezes. The valley in front is large with Intestate Route 8 bisecting many cultivated fields and pastures. The opposing ridge is about two and a half miles distance from launch forming a large valley that opens wider to the south and narrows to the northwest. Because of protected valley fields and the large rock out cropping on the WSW facing ridge Horse is a great thermal producer even in winter. Access to launch (Sheepshead Road) is a graded dirt two wheel drive road just off the 8 freeway Buckman Springs exit beginning at the Paraglider landing field with a quick 15 minute travel time to launch. There is plenty of parking for vehicles available at both landing sites and launch. Travel Time to Buckman Springs Exit is about an hour and a half from Interstate 15 Elsinore Exit and two and a half hours from San Bernardino.

Horse is a good site for your first real cross country flight and for the experienced record chasers.
The US Site Record at Horse Canyon is listed as 132 miles in a flex wing by Steve Koji. See http://www.sdhgpa.com/ for other records and club information.