You may only need a small site for lobbing gliders onto a ridge by winch,
but remember that you still need enough space to allow for safe landing
options after a launch failure.

Derek Copeland


At 04:14 15 July 2009, Wayne Paul wrote:

"Frank Whiteley" wrote in message =
...
On Jul 14, 7:30 pm, Don Johnstone wrote:

The major difference between the UK and the USA is that with the =
exception
of the Armed Services Gliding Clubs almost no gliding club operates
=
from an
established airport.
In the case of my club, and many others, we own an Ex Mighty Eighth
airfield. Many clubs use greenfield sites that they have developed
themselves so winching for us is easy. We do allow powered aircraft
=
to
operate from our airfield with rules to ensure de-confliction.

Any flattish field will do, at a flat site a run length of 3 times =
the
proposed cable length is about right. On hill sites the cable length
=
can
be very much shorter.

Find a co-operative farmer and trial it. Even better if you can find
=
a
field at the bottom or top of a hill which has a nice ridge facing =
the
prevailing wind, normally avoided by normal airport planners, you =
can
launch into lift for virtually nothing. If you get the right hill =
you can
even bungey launch off it.

That's exactly the approach taken at King Mountain Glider Park (long
an HG venue). Develop the site.
http://www.kingmountaingliderpark.com/

King Mountain Safari, Aug 17-22

Frank Whiteley

Here is a GoogleEarth place mark for the King Mountain Glider Park
http://www.soaridaho.com/Flights/GE/...lider_Park.kmz

Wayne