August 2023 monthly meeting was held at Little Black.  Light winds, pleasant temperatures and Jersey Mike sandwiches.

New faces attending:

1. Mohid P2 working on P3 at TP
2. Kiro P2 working on P3 at Marshal
3. John P2 working at P3 at TP
4. Andrea P2 works at TP w/ the falcons (Say 'hi' if you are at TP)

Site Info and Updates

• Palomar and Big Black now marked on aviation sectional maps w/ glider symbols.  15 year process, but Steve tried again 6 months ago and someone responded.  Good job Steve!
• Palomar Outhouse:  Diamond not servicing anymore so Steve looking for alternatives since in our use agreement requires a facility at launch..
• Weather Stations:  Palomar has new firmware
• Laguna Reminder:  Read site guide, print out permit and make sure you call Norb Ruhmke (Supervising Ranger at Anza Borrego Desert State Park) to let him know you are flying.  https://www.sdhgpa.com/laguna.html 

Repack Clinic:  TDB

​Q&A From Telegram:

         Any recommendations for 1st Pod harness?

1. If you are testing one, make sure you sit in it for 20-30 minutes to determine pressure points
2. Lightweight hike and fly harness are appealing but consider difficulty getting into at launch and less protection.
3. Brands people liked:
   1. Advance (for dual density protectors)
   2. Woody Valley
   3. SupAir

        Where do people go for glider trimming and porosity testing?

1. SuperFly - Gin, Nova, Advance (Glider Trim & Full Service)
2. Eagle (Santa Barbara) (Glider Trim & Full Service)
3. Torrey Pines   ​From Milly, "At Torrey pines gliderport we do porosity, inspections, line repairs, fabric repairs, reserve repacks and misc gear repairs needed. We are with-in driving distance in San diego County."

       How to start XC flying?

• Baby steps - Read books.  Get comfortable thermalling and assessing weather conditions at several Sites and expanding your flight envelope.  You need to reliably thermal up then be able to read conditions and terrain for where to go outside of familiar terrain.
• Once topping off thermals, start to extend glides out front progressively to learn your gliders glide and performance into the wind, then back down wind. Build your confidence on knowing what terrain features to glide to and back to to get back up.
• Get comfortable flying the local triangles at sites like Palomar and Blossom along with building your flight duration stamina. 
• The more you come out and build your skills, more than likely you will meet others that will feel comfortable inviting you out with groups who are going XC and on days that might be appropriate for your skill set.
• Key thing: if advanced pilots are willing to take you out, you must respect their advice/ guidance. If they asses that you should stand down for the day or a period of time. They do not need the added stress if you don't follow their advice.

Photos from LB:

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwGd23og6WX/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
​
​

Updated Radio Etiquette slide from last night's talk is a good reminder for XC and all pilots even when Site Flying:

SDHGPA Spring Fly-in Fiesta 2023
&
XC Awards Ceremony for 2022:  
April 22th @ Palomar!

(WX back up date April 29th)

Come on out and share the sky with the San Diego free flight crew.  Dinner & soft drinks will be provided by the club serving at 5pm. Please bring a Fiesta worthy appetizer, side dish, salad, fruit, dessert, or drinks you'd like to share throughout the day (BYOB).

​SDHGPA Membership is required to participate in the Fly-in Event and to Fly Palomar.
Please take care of Memberships and print parking passes BEFORE driving out if not current.

Check Current Membership Status here.

All memberships are available online, here.  Please make sure you're paid up and print out your Parking Pass before you arrive. Let's work together to keep these wonderful sites available to the free flight community!

Check back to this page for updates up to day of fly-in

This will be a great event!!!

Site: Palomar
Where: Palomar Main LZ  
SDHGPA Palomar Main LZ - Roberts Ranch, 15482 CA-76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061  map

Gear Swap:

Post Flying Fiesta & Awards Ceremony:
By popular demand, we will be having a Taco Cart in the LZ.

Main Course (Taco Cart) will be provided by the club but this is also a potluck event; therefore, plan to bring a Fiesta worthy appetizer, side dish, salad, fruit, dessert, or drinks you'd like to share throughout the day and post flying (BYOB).

Also Bring out your favorite Yard Games! for post flying fun & socializing: bocce ball, corn hole, ladder toss . . .

Cost: 
SDHGPA Members: Free for SDHGPA Members (included as Membership benefit)
Non-flying guest:  $10 BBQ/ donation for Taco Cart is appreciated.

SDHGPA Membership is required to participate in the Fly-in at Palomar and covers the taco cart as a membership benefit. (Full Annual Membership, or Visiting Pilot membership is valid for this event. For non flying guests, $10/ person BBQ donation for taco cart is appreciated)

Note that all Cars must have a parking pass in the LZ & Launch (& no parking out on the road).
Please take care of Memberships and print parking passes before driving out if not current.
All memberships are online and easier with a strong connection. . . 

Check Current Membership Status here

The Rich Matros Memorial X-C Contest
a rich history of XC free flight in Southern California

The Rich Matros Memorial X-C Contest is a chapter member XC competition based on open flight with non-specified tasks for pilots to make XC decisions on how to fly the day. There are both season long competitive and personal milestone Shirt Awards. The competition rules are different for HG & PG,  but the milestone shirt awards are the same for each class of wing.

Rich Matros Memorial X-C Contest History: The SDHGPA was originally known as the Ultralight Flier's Organization, or UFO. The UFO was formed in 1973 and changed names to SDHGA in 1987. In 1994 the name was changed once again to the San Diego Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association or SDHGPA to better represent our growing paraglider pilot membership.

Rich Matros was one of the earliest members of the UFO, and one of its strongest supporters for over 15 years before succumbing to cancer. The cross country contest was renamed the Rich Matros Cross Country Contest in 1988 to honor Rich and to recognize his years of contribution to our club and his passion for XC.

​For more information and how to participate in the XC comp as an SDHGPA membership benefit, see the Rich Matros Memorial X-C Contest page under the More navigation section.

Please RSVP
The Social Committee would like some help from some volunteers to help coordinate, set up, and break down.

Social committee would like some help from some volunteers to help coordinate food pickup, set up and break down. Also, if you have a Portable Table that you would be willing to bring, that would be great. Ideally, we can get these things coordinated by mid day on the Friday before the event so that everything runs as smooth as possible on Saturday.​

 1. Club Info and Updates

   a) Laguna Permit Status is in process.

   b) Laguna and Big Black Site Guides.
     Looking for site reps.  David Norgren to contact Paul Markham as possible site rep for Big Black.

   c) Weather Station Updates (Joseph)
        https://www.sdhgpa.com/weather-stations.html

• Palomar station battery dead.  Joseph working on fix.
• El Cap station needs firmware flashed to be more efficient w/ battery usage.
• Laguna Holfuy station should be considered unreliable and will be turned off.  Anemometer started to fail in January giving unreliable wind speed readings.  In the future this will be replaced by one of Joseph's stations. 

   d) Club USHPA renewal and safety review update (Steve/Rob)
  Deadline to renewal our USHPA chapter was Feb. 15th. Rob updating incidents and assessments. 

   e) Palomar point series update 
       https://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar-point-series.html 

• Brad and Katherine won the Serial and Fledgling classes respectively in January - congratulations!  The February tasks will remain the same as January -- no change.

      
    f) Reminder is renew you 2023 Membership.  Thank you to everyone that has renewed! Here's the link to renew:  
​       https://www.sdhgpa.com/store/p6/SDHGPA_Annual_Full_Membership_dues.html

   h) Call for future meeting presenter.  Looking for presenters on the following topics:
            Using Flyskyhy for Tasks (Palomar Point series)
            Using xctrack for Tasks(Palomar Point series)
            Using XC Soar  for Tasks(Palomar Point series)
            Techniques to build your flying skills

2. New Items / Roundtable / Stories from Mexico/Columbia

• Stan from Crestline Soaring said the Redlands Airport Advisory Board is meeting and considering banning launching and landing within Redlands city limits.  This would impact Hanger 24
• Fly-in still being targeted for March/April.

3. Rob talked about his recent trip to Columbia.  Conditions were fantastic w/ flights almost 100K every day.

• Getting to Columbia:   Rob flew SAN-MIAMI-CALI. Two hour cab ride to Roldanillo for $70. Cheaper bus options available.
• Where to Stay:  Rob booked an air bnb in town. There were lots of taxis in the town square every morning competing for your business to take you up to launch for $10.
• Where to Fly: Primary launch is Aguapanela that most use. We preferred to use the private Trevol launch which is a bit lower and out front. Aguapanela launches you a bit higher, but requires long glide to house thermal and you arrive only slightly higher than the Trevol launch. The Trevol launch puts you straight into the house thermal, has nice shade structure with tables and clean floors and bathrooms for setup. Costs $2 to use the launch. All launches in Roldanillo are behind high tension powerlines and I would probably recommend P4 skills for them. Conditions typically turned on between 930-1030 each morning. Run the ridge in the anabatic east flow in the morning. Once the sun gets high and clouds pop in the valley, push out and fly the flats. Expect the “Pacifico” to come in around 3pm each day, which is what they call the seabreeze. It will blow down hard on launch and everything on the east side of the valley will be in rotor. Land in Zarzal if the Pacifico is too strong to make it safely back to Roldanillo.
• Retrieves:  For retrieves, a $1 bus to get home from there. No matter where you land out, it is super easy to get retrieved. There are buses between every little town along the highways and they will stop in the middle of the route to pick up pilots. There are taxis in most towns. And if not, there are people on motos everywhere that want to give you a ride home for pesos. The people are very friendly and seem to like the pilots.

1. Club Info and Updates
   1.  2023 Membership Renewal is now open to not have a gap in your membership if you have not already renewed for the 2023 annual year.  Current status: https://www.sdhgpa.com/current-membership-status.html
   2. USHPA is rolling out new Chapter Renewal & Insurance rate changes.  Details coming

   2.   Site info Updates:
           Reminder that 2023 parking passes are needed at Palomar.

​    3.  WX Station updates:
    Laguna station having sporadic on/off issues, similar with Little Black, where batteries run   
    down.  Discussed a couple possible solutions:

1. Put one of Josef's new stations at Laguna
2. Move Holfuy station from Palomar  to Laguna
3. Plan is to upgrade current stations to have 2-3 battery cells vs 1. The current Holfuy stations have 3 cells in them.
4. Joseph also has  updated FW that should help reduce battery drain when the station loses signal an spends a lot of power trying to frequently reconnect. The new FW will have reconnect timeouts with progressively longer pauses between reconnect attempts. 
5. The logistics for Upgrading and fixing the El Cap Station will be a Challenge due to the remote location. We will likely need to build another and then swap it out. The question is if we have enough confidence in our prototypes to keep sending them out to this location until they are proven to be robustly stable.
6. Next steps to work on WX data Network feeds.   Joseph could use some help programming the data feed.  Specifically, help w/ Typescript from back-end Google Firebase.  During the meeting, we had an awesome volunteer from Kevin Sweeney to help out.  Thank you Kevin!!!!

    4.  Windsocks - Ordering some more windsocks

    5.  Chapter renewal and Annual Safety Review is due to USHPA Feb 15th to not have a gap in coverage at our Sites.

•         Round up of Accident Reports
•         Start of Risk Assessment & Site Guide Review.  Steve updated site guide for Palomar
•        Are our Safety Officers going to come back to ground & SD in time to work on renewal tasks?

    6. Calendar for the Year:
        2023 Fly-Ins Dates:

•             Tentative March/April 2023 for Fly-in and awards
•             Fall Fly-in ~October 2023 or early November

       
     7.  Palomar point series registration and scoring page is up!
          https://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar-point-series.html

The SDHGPA Palomar XC Point Series is an educational, task based, out and back style race-to-goal held at the Palomar Mountain paragliding site. The inaugural season will be held from January through April of 2023. It will run in two more seasons each (May-August and September-October) if there is continued interest in a year round contest. The series is free to enter for all SDHGPA Members as a membership benefit. Launch is the standard Palomar Mountain launch.

Scroll to the bottom of the page above and give it a test if you fly one of the tasks this month.

Kudos to Cam, Ana and Robb Milly for putting this together!  Awesome job!

    8.  For future meetings, we are looking for awesome topic presenters who would like to share their knowledge/lessons learned/tips.  Possible topics areas are listed below.  If you would like to share some knowledge, please email the board. 

•             Using Flyskyhy for Tasks (Palomar Point series)
•             Using xctrack for Tasks(Palomar Point series)
•             Using XC Soar  for Tasks(Palomar Point series)
•             Other instruments?  (Flytech . . .)
•         Things to work on to build your flying skills
•         The Classic SD XC routes:
•          SD Thermaling Clinic topics

​​

7:30 General Meeting via Zoom:
1. Club Info & Updates:

• 2023 Membership Renewal is now open.  Don't let your membership lapse!  

           Current status: https://www.sdhgpa.com/current-membership-status.html

• Site info Updates: 
  1. Palomar:  Reminder from Steve to always have your parking pass displayed.
  2. Blossom:  No new updates from Brad on the development.  Map finalization still in process but development seems to be a 'done-deal'

• Awards and Contest Rules  Refer to  https://www.sdhgpa.com/xc-contest---sdhgpa.htmlJeff  said there were two contest categories - 1 for Hang Gliding and 1 for paragliding.

1. PG: 9 sites to fly from.  Best flight counts as longs as you don't break airspace.  The 9 Sites in San Diego County or Southern California Basin are: Laguna, Horse, Blossom, Little Black, Big Black, Palomar, Elsinore, Soboba, Crestline/Marshall. (Note that Otay was removed from the list of sites starting in 2017 due to complications of Boarder activity, Airspace, and no place to go except over tiger country to avoid airspace). We can reevaluate Otay if pilots want to argue a case for adding it back in due to changes.
2. Contest Nov. 1st to Oct. 31st from Leonardo.  30 Days after Oct. 31st to get your flights in.
3. Shirt awards and based on passing the following milestones for your furthest flight of the year (Based on Maximum straight line distance between two points in Leonardo.)

• 10 miles - From one of the 9 sites for your first year achieving
• 25 miles - From one of the 9 sites
• 50 miles  - launching anywhere
• 75 miles    - launching anywhere
• 100 miles  - launching anywhere

Please check the Score sheets to make sure we have correctly captured scoring for all of your flights. If not, please contact Jeff Brown.

• Telegram Question:  Why we don't fly in Santa Anas?  

Palomar and Elsinore can be an option for 'mild' Santa Ana if gust factors within .  Gust factors should not be more than 2x base winds. Anything with an East component, the base winds should be less than 5 mph.  Hazard is the upper sheer winds

1. Ex) 5mph West meets 5 mph from East = 10 mph sheer.  This is doable.
2.  5 mph West meets a 15 mph from East = 20 mph and will turn your wing inside out.

Ref article on flying in Santa Ana conditions

 7:30 General Meeting:
Club Info & Updates:

• 2023 Membership Renewal is now open.  Don't let your membership lapse!   

​                 Current status: https://www.sdhgpa.com/current-membership-status.html

• Site info Updates: 
  1. Palomar:  Reminder from Steve to always have your parking pass displayed.
  2. Blossom:  No new updates from Brad on the development.  Map finalization still in process but development seems to be a 'done-deal'
• WX Station updates
  1. Holfuy stations  - Horse, Laguna and Little Black all working.   El Cap and Palomar seems to have intermittent connectivity issues w/ 2G.  Per Jeff, TMobile will sunset 2G  at end of the year but not 100% sure.  For example, AT&T 3G sunset didn't happen until ~6 weeks after their end date.
  2. Two Prototype stations are up and running at Palomar and Little Black.  LB had a small glitch but reset itself.  Palomar station seems to read high on high winds days.  Overall the stations are working fine.  Josef needs to contact Nik to install 3rd station at El Cap.  Holding off on 4th prototype station until after January to see what happens with 2G end-of-life.

                                 SDHGPA WX station page: https://www.sdhgpa.com/weather-stations.html 

             Next steps:  

1. We want to develop a mobile app (similar to Holfuy app) so you can pull up favorite weather stations and view individual readings without having to navigate the SDHGPA web page.
2. We also need help getting the data feeds to other networks (eg. Mesa West, Weather Underground, etc).  With Holfuy, we are feeding about 5 different networks.  Want to feed Josef's information to 3 main networks.
3. Volunteer Coding Opportunity in Typescript:  Josef needs data feed help w/ Typescript from backend Google Firebase.  Anyone with a development background want to help out?

 

• USHPA Chapter Renews open December 1st.
  1. Time of year that USHPA needs clubs to gather-up of Accident Reports  (Refer to Members Only section on website for Accident/Incident Reports).  These get fed into annual review and reporting, and also help update Site Guides. 
  2. The due date for USHPA renewal is late January to mid-February; therefore, we want to submit early and not wait to until last minute
  3. We are looking for member feedback on site guides to keep these current and relevant.  Any feedback?
• Setting Calendar for 2023 Meeting Topics  to dates 
  1. Greg Hunter suggested that someone from local Ham radio club come out and talk about legal use of Ham radio and how to license. Steve said that a long time ago, Mark Weber did a "Ham and Eggs" series to prep  people to get Ham radio licenses.  Greg volunteered to take lead on this with Club
  2. 2023 Fly-Ins Dates:
     • Tentative March/April 2023 for Fly-in and awards
     • Fall Fly-in ~October 2023

 

• Awards and Contest Rules  Refer to  https://www.sdhgpa.com/xc-contest---sdhgpa.html

 Jeff  said there were two contest - 1 for Hang Gliding ad 1 for paragliding.  9 sites to fly from.  Best flight counts as longs as you don't break airspace.  (Leaves out Otay)

1. Contest Nov. 1st to Oct. 31st from Leonardo.  30 Days after Oct. 31st to get your flights in.
2. Shirt awards for
   1. 25 miles - From one of the 9 sites
   2. 50 miles  - From one of the 9 sites
   3. 75 miles     (anywhere on earth counts)
   4. 100 miles  (anywhere on earth counts)
   5. First XC flight of 10 miles you get a flight (one time one).  Based on Maximum straight line distance in Leonardo.

2. Topics: - with Open Q&A: 

1. Travel and Fly Safety Information:   Working on a refresh of the 2019 "Travel to Fly" safety information and what insurance and services are available for rescue, transport of medical attention.  More to come but excellent links to information and context:
   1. https://www.sdhgpa.com/minutes-news--articles/travel-to-fly-march-meeting 
   2. https://www.cloudbasemayhem.com/unscrambling-insurance-are-you-covered/

 

• Telegram Question:  Why we don't fly in Santa Anas?
• Palomar and Elsinore can be an option for 'mild' Santa Ana if gust factors within .  Gust factors should not be more than 2x base winds.  Anything with an East component, the base winds should be less than 5 mph.  Hazard is the upper sheer winds
• Ex) 5mph West meets 5 mph from East = 10 mph sheer.  This is doable.
• 5 mph West meets a 15 mph from East = 20 mph and will turn your wing inside out.  

Come on out and share the sky with the San Diego free flight crew.  Dinner & soft drinks will be provided by the club; Please bring a Fall Harvest worthy appetizer, side dish, salad, fruit, dessert, or drinks you'd like to share throughout the day (BYOB).

WX back-up Nov 5th

SDHGPA Membership is required to participate in the Fly-in Event and to Fly Palomar.
Please take care of Memberships and print parking passes BEFORE driving out if not current.

Check Current Membership Status here.

​All memberships are available online, here.  Please make you're paid up and print out your Parking Pass before you arrive. Let's work together to keep these wonderful sites available to the free flight community!

​Check back to this page for updates up to day of fly-in

This will be a great event!!!

Site: Palomar​
Where: Palomar Main LZ  
SDHGPA Palomar Main LZ - Roberts Ranch, 15482 CA-76, Pauma Valley, CA 92061  map

Post Flying Fall Fiesta:
By popular demand, we will be having a Taco Cart in the LZ.

Main Course (Taco Cart) will be provided by the club however it is also an potluck; so plan to bring a Fiesta worthy appetizer, side dish, salad, fruit, dessert, or drinks you'd like to share throughout the day and post flying (BYOB).

Also Bring out your favorite Yard Games! for post flying fun & socializing: bocce ball, corn hole, ladder toss . . . ​

Cost: 
SDHGPA Members: Free for SDHGPA Members (included as Membership benefit)
Non-flying guest: $10 BBQ/ donation for Taco Cart is appreciated.
​
SDHGPA Membership is required to participate in the Fly-in at Palomar and covers the taco cart as a membership benefit. (Full Annual Membership, or Visiting Pilot membership is valid for this event. For non flying guests, a $10/ person BBQ donation for taco cart is appreciated)

Note that all Cars must have a parking pass in the LZ & Launch (& no parking out on the road).
Please take care of Memberships and print parking passes before driving out if not current.
All memberships are online and easier with a strong connection. . . 

Check Current Membership Status here

Please RSVP ​

Past Fall Fly-ins at Palomar: