flying
sites (mainly Switzerland plus western Europe)
flying
sites in southeastern U.S.
flying
sites (mainly U.S.)
flying
sites with thermal maps for GPS (free download) (mainly Europe)
flying
sites (Italy)
Afnor:
description of test procedures
Hang
gliding server (HGMPS)
European
Hangliding Server (FLISS)
I'm still
working on it, please send me your comments to dschepp@writeme.com
General view from the air (take-off is right next to the antennas):
"Cerro Grande / Campo Cuatro", Coquimatlán, Colima, MEXICO
Despegue demasiado pequeño para parapente, con rampa para ala
Delta.
North of Colima, in Colima head towards Villa de Alvarez and take the
road at the "Casino", follow the road for 12 km passing the junkyard, after
crossing the river Armeria follow the same road uphill for a few hundred
meters, then after a right turn at the "bus stop" take the gravel road
for a few km. The take off is marked with a huge bolder.
If you follow the dirt road for another 10 minutes you will see a black
gate in a road to your left which leads to the take-off for paragliders.
The take-off for paragliders:
The landing zone (soccer field):
Virgen del Agua / 26 de Junio, Colima, MEXICO
About 65 km from Colima, 1 h 40 min. by car, (you need a pick-up).
In Colima take the highway to Manzanillo, then after about 25 km turn left
to Ixtlahuacan. In Ixtlahuacan at the end of the town turn right and then
left on the second block. Follow the road for about 20 km to "Virgen del
Agua", always on the main road / path straight ahead. In Virgen del Agua
its all straight ahead uphill on a dirt road which winds through the hills
towards "26 de Junio" for about 15 km. Before you get to the small village
on top of the mountain, the path crosses underneath a small power transmission
line and to your right there is the take off right off the road.
Take off is only for Deltas due to the glide angle to the next landing
area and the many small trunks and stone at the take of in which the lines
of the paraglider get caught.
Landing area is in Virgen del Agua.
Tapalpa, Jalisco, MEXICO
Take off: 2200 m, East (70º), take off between 12:00 and 14:00,
later often tail wind.
Landing area: 1400 m, huge green field straight down from take-off,
or go cross country (many options).
Take the road to Tapalpa. Some km before Tapalpa when you get to the
Microwave antennas turn right at the sign "Cerro Rabon". Enter through
the yellow gate and follow the dirt track through some more gates (about
2 km, preferrably with a pick-up truck). Don't forget to close the gates
!!!!!
Please visit the Guadalajara Hangliding Club's webpage for more information:
/Pipeline/Ramp/1940
San Marcos, Jalisco, MEXICO
Take off: 1800 m, West (watch the winsock for tailwind!).
Landing area: 1350 m, San Marcos, or go cross country (many options).
49 km South of Guadalajara
Season: from December to July (August until November is rainy season)
Coming from Colima (South) on the "Cuota" Highway turn right just after
the sign "Guadalajara 49 km" on a dirt road or across the lagoon towards
the village "San Marcos" at the bottom of the hill. In San Marcos at the
center square "jardin" turn right one block then left up the hill, keep
always left for 4.6 km until you are at the pass where you see down the
other side of the hill. At the highest point just at the beginning of a
right turn, turn left on a path for 2.4 km which leads to the take off
(you need a pick-up to drive this path).
Please visit the Guadalajara Hangliding Club's webpage for more information:
/Pipeline/Ramp/1940
Tequila, Jalisco, MEXICO
Please visit the Guadalajara Hangliding Club's webpage for more information:
http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Ramp/1940
Chapala 1, Jalisco, MEXICO
Please visit the Guadalajara Hangliding Club's webpage for more information:
http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Ramp/1940
Chapala 2 (San Juan Cosala), Jalisco, MEXICO
Please visit the Guadalajara Hangliding Club's webpage for more information:
http://www.geocities.com/Pipeline/Ramp/1940
Nevado de Colima, Jalisco, MEXICO
From Fresnitos drive up the dirt road (pick-up truck recommended) to
the antennas (about 2 hours).
Take off next to the antennas (3800 m) or walk for one hour to right
underneath of the summit (4200 m).
"Las Brisas", San Juan de Alima, Michoacan, MEXICO
Take-off facing South for Hanggliders and Paragliders, auxillary take-off
facing West for Hanggliders only.
Landing area: on the beach
Season: The best chance to encounter winds from the south is in winter
(December). The rest of the year often the wind is coming from the west
or north which is okay to launch for hanggliders from a small ramp but
not for paragliders. With winds from the south there is good ridge soaring
on the hills where the take-off is at. Don't worry if the wind is not coming
from the right direction, just on the bottom of the hill (take the first
dirt road) is a wonderful beach with a restaurant and hotel where you can
have a cold beer.
The take-off is right on the Pacific coast highway which leads from
Manzanillo to Acapulco. About 50 km from Tecoman only a few minutes after
the village called San Juan de Alima, the road winds through the hills.
You will find a "virgen Maria" and a lookout point right next to the road
which is the take-off.
"La Torre", Valle de Bravo, México, MEXICO
Volar en la mañana hasta las 13:00 y después de las 16:00
en primavera y verano, el resto del año también en la tarde.
El tiempo casi siempre está bien, durante el tiempo de lluvias (septiembre
y octubre) hay que volar antes de las 13:00 porque normalmente después
hay nubes bajas y a las 14:00 empieza a llover.
Contact the local club at the landing zone at the "Club de vela Santa
Maria" for registration and to pay the fee.
"El Peñón", Valle de Bravo, México, MEXICO
Despegar a las 10:00 o 11:00 de la mañana en primavera y verano,
aterrizar a las 12:00. En la tarde termales violentos, solamente para ala
Delta.
Contact the local club at the landing zone at the "Club de vela Santa
Maria" for registration and to pay the fee.
Iguala, Guerrero, MEXICO
800 m de diferencia de altitud, posibilidad de cross country a Tequesquitengo
(40 km).
Puede ser turbulento en la tarde. Volar antes de las 12:00 o después
de las 17:00.
Buscar termales sobre las "costillas" del cerro a la izquierda del
despegue.
Volando hacia "adelante" de la montaña es fácil y hay
muchas posibilidades. Volar hacia "atrás" de la montaña solamente
se recomienda para pilotos avanzados, hay cierras con rotores y convergencia
de thermales.
Puebla, Puebla, MEXICO
Season: October through May, after that starts the rainy season.
Big take off for paragliders and ramp for deltas.
Carretera libre (not the toll road!) from Puebla to Atlixco. As the
road climbs a few meters, you see hills on your left with antennas. Take
the dirt road to Chipila, taking the bridge over the toll road, cross the
small-town, then uphill always towards the antennas and the chapel.
Warnings: It can get very strong in the afternoon. During summer paragliders
should fly before 12:00 or after 17:00.
General view:
The take-off for paragliders:
(delta ramp is a few meters further, right behind the antennas)
The landing zone for deltas (note that the landing field is declining!)
Chapa de Mota, Hidalgo, MEXICO
Take-off: SW. Do not fly with "norte" (N-wind) because of rotors and
generally bad weather conditions in Mexico.
Landing area: at the camping ground or go cross-country
Season: thermical flying is best from December to July, but even during
the "rainy season" you can make good flights.
On the highway (tollroad) from Mexico City to Queretaro take the exit
at Jilotepec towards Chapa de Mota. The take-off is a few minutes after
the town on a dirt road which passes the camping ground and winds up to
the observatory. The take of is a concrete ramp for hanggliders, but there
is enough grass behing it to lay out your paraglider.
Tulancingo, Hidalgo, MEXICO
Después de Tulancingo dirección Tuxpan / Poza Rica bajando
con muchas curvas la carretera hay un cliff a la izquierda (power transmission
line).
Volar posible durante el tiempo de lluvias (agosto a noviembre) en
termales con top landing. El resto del año el viento viene muchas
veces de atrás (del norte).
Coxmocalpan, Puebla, MEXICO
El viento normalmente viene de cola a las 14:00, hay que despegar antes
de las 12:00. Cerros son "lisos", una vez en el aire no hay mucho rotor,
pero es difícil para despegar.
Tecamaluca, Veracruz, MEXICO
Meeting point: "Merendero Mary" on the left side right on the highway.
Carretera libre from Orizaba to Tehuacan, 30 km from Orizaba, road
climbs the hills, then as it gets flat at the beginning of some curves,
take a small foot path to your left.
Fortín, Veracruz, MEXICO
Close to Orizaba. Please send me a site description.
La Escalera: (copyright by CLUB DE VUELO LIBRE DE MORELIA A.C., http://ate.oikos.unam.mx/cvlm/)
150m de altura, 3 km de lift, orientación sur. Se vuela de noviembre
a mayo.
Se encuentra a 30 minutos de Morelia por la carretera de Mil Cumbres.
Como a 3 km pasando el Parque Nacional José María Morelos
(mejor conocido como km 23) se encuentra un un letrero que dice "La
Escalera". Hay que dar vuelta a la derecha por una terracería. Se
avanza como 1 km, se pasa por un pueblito, saliendo hay una "Y", se toma
a la izquierda. Poco más adelante se pasa junto a una cabaña
de madera y 200m después está el despegue, junto a un kiosquito.
Una de las ventajas del lugar es que se llega en carro al despegue y se
aterriza ahí mismo (top landing). Es propio para parapenteros intermedios
y avanzados o principiantes en la últimas horas de la tarde con
viento tranquilo. A medio día las termales son muy duras por lo
que no es muy recomendable volar a esas horas. Los aterrizajes son pequeños
pero suficientes si uno cuida de no comerselos. Normalmente hay un viento
muy constante que permite surfear todo el tiempo que quieras (vuelos de
1 o 2 horas son muy frecuentes). En abril hay que cuidarse de no pasar
cerca de los nidos de los halcones porque les dá por atacar al parapente
y lo pueden razgar. Los papaloteros tienen que ser avanzadones ya que hay
que hacer un cross de mínimo unos 5 km para encontrar aterrizaje.
La hora ideal es a medio día para garantizar ganar altura.
Cerro del Estribo: (copyright by CLUB DE VUELO LIBRE DE MORELIA A.C.,
http://ate.oikos.unam.mx/cvlm/)
450m de altura, orientación norte. Se vuela de junio a noviembre.
A 10 minutos de Patzcuaro saliendo por la central de autobuses, siguiendo
el letrero de "Estribo Grande". El despegue está junto a un
kiosco con una vista panorámica inmejorable al lago de Patzcuaro.
Se llega hasta ahí en carro. También se llega en carro a
la zona de aterrizaje a unos 3 km de Patzcuaro siguiendo la carretera libre
a Uruapan. Para los parapenteros es un buen lugar de vuelo apto para
todo público con muchísimo aterrizaje y si te lo comes cuando
mucho caes encima de un maizal. El despegue es muy corto por lo que es
impresindible dominar una buena técnica de despegue de espaldas
y esperar a que sople el viento en la dirección adecuada. Para los
papaloteros también es un buen lugar pero el despegue requiere de
buena técnica o de esperar una buena racha de viento en la dirección
adecuada.
Cerro del Quinceo: (copyright by CLUB DE VUELO LIBRE DE MORELIA A.C.,
http://ate.oikos.unam.mx/cvlm/)
850m de altura, orientación sur. Se vuela eventualmente de noviembre
a mayo.
A 20 minutos en carro y 30 a pie, al norte de Morelia. Se entra por
Chiquimitio (no es albur) y se continúa por una terracería
hasta acercarse lo más posible al Quinceo. A partir de ahí
se camina hasta la cima. El despegue es en la cara sur. Para los
parapenteros es una bonita experiencia el combinar el montañismo
con el vuelo libre, aunque a veces uno desaría tener un arnés
más ligero. Ya llegando arriba la vista de la ciudad de Morelia
es espectacular y el despegue es muy facilito. Debido a la inclinación
uno inicia la levantada de la vela a 45 grados. En vuelo el panorama es
bellísimo y aunque te toque pianar vale la pena. Lugar
no apto para papaloteros a menos que cuenten con helicóptero o un
ejército de aminguanas para subir su ala.
Cerro de la Herradura: (copyright by CLUB DE VUELO LIBRE DE MORELIA
A.C., http://ate.oikos.unam.mx/cvlm/)
250m de altura, despegues de norte y de sur. Se vuela eventualmente
en cualquier epoca del año.
A 30 minutos de Ciudad Hidalgo, saliendo por el libramiento. Casi exactamente
en el Km 8 hay una desviación hacia el lado norte de la carretera
entrando por una brecha. Hay que recorrer como 4km para llegar a la cima.
En este lugar se lleva a cabo cada año una convivencia patrocinada
por la Secretaría de Turismo del Gobierno de Michoacán y
el periódico de Cd. Hidalgo "El Clarín". Tanto para parapente
y papalote los despegues son muy faciles y hay mucho campo dónde
terrizar.
SWITZERLAND
Airspace Regulations
In the "Mittelland" (flatlands) no flights above 3050 m (FL 100). Airspace
"E" reaches up to 3950 m, above is Airspace "C".
In the Alps no flights above 3950 m (FL 130) during military flying
times (Monday - Friday 07:30 - 12:05 and 13:15 - 17:05) unless you have
special authorization (to enter Airspace "D"). Airspace "E" reaches up
to 3950 (FL 130) m during military flying times, the rest of the day it
reaches up to 4600 m (FL 150), above this altitude begins Airspace "D".
No matter your altitude, you may fly in Airspace "G" which reaches
up to 600 m height above ground level.
Radio Frequencies
123.425 MHz for School use
130.925 MHz for General Purpose
123.475 MHz for Parachuting jumps
The use of 2 m band radios is strictly forbidden, even possessing one
is illegal (though many people use them anyway, but if you get caught your
radio will be confiscated and you will have to pay a fine).
Weather Forecast
Automatic Weather Stations
Stockhorn, (Central Switzerland): (033) 681 3232
Cimeta, Locarno, Ticino (Southern Switzerland): (091) 743 03 02
Chasseral, Jura, SWITZERLAND
Take off auf dem Pass neben dem Hotel, Landeplatz in Nods am Dorfeingang
neben der Strasse nach Ligniers.
Weissenstein, Solothurn, SWITZERLAND
Montoz, Jura, SWITZERLAND
Fiesch Kühboden, Wallis, SWITZERLAND
Emmetten, Nidwalden, SWITZERLAND
Haldi Grat, SWITZERLAND
Luftseilbahn ist seit 1996 geschlossen, man kann zu Fuss hoch gehen
(ca. 2 h)
Engelberg Brunni, SWITZERLAND
Stockhorn, SWITZERLAND
Take Off: SE-SW at up to 15 km/h, 2000 m
Landing: Seewlen (Erlenbach), 700 m, coordinates: 606 900 / 167 400,
pasture between road and river, cables along the road therefore make left
turn approach.
Transportation: Paragliders CHF 23.00 (Halbtax 11.50), open 17/5 through
2/11
Warning: Do not fly with N-NE wind (rotor turbulence)
Additional information: Automatic weather station: (033) 681 3232.
XC possible to Chateâu d'Oex-Niesen. Nice autumn flights, mostly
fog-free Simmental. Good thermos in autumn.
Sonchaux / Villeneuve
Take-off 1420 MSL
Ideal für Notschirmtraining, Testflüge, etc.
USA
Torrey Pines Glider Park, San Diego, California, USA
North of the city, next to University of California, San Diego.
Cliff soaring on the coast. Flyable with wind speeds up to 23 km/h
(15 mph).
Warnings: Watch out for rotor turbulence over the fingers of the cliff
with crosswinds (even if the wind is coming only a little bit from the
side). For take off and landing you have to cross the RC model plane flying
zone where you have to blow your whistle to advise the model plane pilots.
Lookout Mountain, Golden, Colorado, USA
In Golden, next to Denver.
Take off next to the big "M" on the mountain. Landing next to the road
crossing on the foot of the hill.
It is not that important to become a good pilot, it is much more important to become an old pilot!
If you have any comments or are interested in flying in Mexico please send me an e-mail to dschepp@writeme.com
Happy Landing!!!