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

When:  Meeting in Main LZ around 11 for set-up and dropping off supplies. We'll start driving to launch around 12:00.   The late afternoon flights have also been fantastic, and many pilots will be showing up later in the day.

Rough Time Table:
11:00 - General Meeting Time & Set-up in LZ:  
12:00 - Drive to launch
12:30 - Site intros on Main Launch
1 - 4:00 - Launching 
​~3:30 BBQ Set-up & Start Cooking
~ 4pm - BBQ starts          
~6:00 - 2017 XC Awards Ceremony

Contest of costumed hang glider and paraglider pilots: exciting, hilarious, original, fantastically creative and daring… ***

​*** Costumes must not restrict vision and or flying in any manor nor unnecessarily impede running. Masks will not be permitted during takeoff or flight.

Other Contests:
- Spot Landing
- Bomb Drop
- Time Aloft
- Fastest Sled

Post Flying Activities:
Taco Cart and Soft Drinks will be provided by the club!    
(Must present SDHGPA Membership Card) . . . 

- BYOB & Please also bring any appetizers you would like to share.
​- Taco Cart in LZ serving from 3:45-5:45

- Contest Judging & Prizes!

• Summer Mexican Fiesta in LZ with Taco Cart!
• Targeting evening glass-off . . .
• Midday flying not recommended!

Rough Tentative Time Table:
2:00 - Set-up & General Meeting Time / Check in at LZ opens
2:45 - Carpooling to launch starts
3:30 - Site intro on Main Launch
3:30 - 7:00 - Launching (H1-H2 & P1-P2 should be launching later . . .)

​~ 6:00 Appetizers &  LZ festivities Start
~ 6:30 Taco Cart Arrives 
~ 7 pm - Tacos in LZ starts  

By popular demand, we will be having the same great Taco Cart from the Fall Fly-in in the LZ.

Main Course (Taco Cart) will be provided by the club however it is primarily a potluck; so plan to bring a Festa worthy appetizer,  side dish, salad, fruit, or dessert to share. 

If you have an Ice Cream Maker , bring it on out & make up your favorite summer recipe to share!  

Please review and read Full Palomar Site Gide for updates: ​​

Key Points for the Fly-in

• All Vehicles must display Current 2017 SDHGPA Vehicle ID/ Gate Pass
• Carpool to launch to minimized Cars on launch
• Main Launch is preferred for this event
• Keep all access gates locked and closed behind
• Active Launch Windows: Use mountain etiquette - Only enter the Launch Windows with your gear if and when you are ready and intending to launch hooked in and hang checked  (set-up and prep including hooking in and hang check in non active window areas.) Be mindful that there will be a lot of pilots on launch. Do not wait for the perfect Cycle, but rather take the 1st good safe cycle. ​
• 
  

• If in Launch Windows or Top landing Approach areas, be cautious and aware of flight activities in all directions.
• Do not enter Orchards . . . non-authorized Picking of Fruit is strictly forbidden and illegal.

Location: Palomar Main LZ

Site: Palomar
New Date: Feb 4th 2017
​Where: Palomar Main LZ - Robert’s Ranch (Pala) 
​15450 California 76,  Pauma Valley CA 92061

SDHGPA 2017 Membership is required to fly Palomar & this event + BBQ.

Please Take Care of Memberships and Print Card/ Parking Pass before heading out.
(This will save time at the fly-in with a better connection)
​
(Full Annual Membership or Visiting Pilot membership is valid for this event. However Visiting Pilots will not receive gate codes & must fly with Full Annual Members for access)

Please review and read Full Palomar Site Gide: ​

Key Points for the Fly-in

• All Vehicles must display Current 2017 SDHGPA Vehicle ID/ Gate Pass
• Carpool to launch to minimized Cars on launch
• Main Launch is preferred for this event
• Keep all access gates locked and closed behind
• Active Launch Windows: Use mountain etiquette - Only enter the Launch Windows with your gear if and when you are ready and intending to launch.  (set-up & prep in non active window areas.) Be mindful that there will be a lot of pilots on launch. Do not wait for the perfect Cycle, but rather take the 1st good safe cycle. ​
• If in Launch Windows or Top landing Approach areas, be cautious and aware of flight activities in all directions.

• Note new Portable Head at Main Launch
• Do not enter Orchards . . . non-authorized Picking of Fruit is strictly forbidden and illegal.

NOAA Pauma Valley:  Today
Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise, partly sunny, with a high near 62. West wind 5 to 10 mph.​

NOAA Boucher Hill :  Today
A 20 percent chance of showers before 10am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West wind 5 to 10 mph.​

NOAA Discussion Clip: A weak low pressure continues to move inland through the southwestern states early this morning. Isolated light showers will continue into this morning...mainly along and west of the mountains. Dry for tonight and Sunday and a little warmer Sunday under weak high pressure aloft. For Sunday night and Monday...another low pressure system moving inland through Southern California will bring greater chances for precipitation.

accu weather is forecasting the same as NOAA
http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/pauma-valley-ca/92061/hourly-weather-forecast/2178442?hour=33 

Saturday October 29th!!  at Horse

Contest of costumed hang glider and paraglider pilots: exciting, hilarious, original, fantastically creative and daring… ***

Other Contests:
- Spot Landing
- Bomb Drop
- Time Aloft
- Fastest Sled

- Taco Cart in LZ serving from 4:30-6:30

​*** Costumes must not restrict vision and or flying in any manor nor unnecessarily impede running. Masks will not be permitted during takeoff or flight.

Site: Palomar ​

Where: Palomar Main LZ
(Pala Roberts Ranch - 15450 California 76 Pauma Valley, CA 92061)  (map)

When:  Meeting in Main LZ around 11 for BBQ set-up and dropping off supplies. Then driving to launch around 12:00-1.   However, we do not feel like there is a rush to get into the air unless you are an XC hound trying to go someplace. The late afternoon flights have been fantastic!  Also many will be showing up later in the day.

SDHGPA Membership is required for Palomar Site access, to fly Palomar, and for this event BBQ.

Please take care of Memberships and print parking passes before driving out if not current.
All memberships are on line and easier with a strong connection. . . 

(Full Annual Membership or Visiting Pilot membership is valid for this event. However Visiting Pilots will not receive gate codes & must fly with Full Annual Members for access)

Photos from last Palomar Fly-in

Park in Designated Pilot Parking areas per the Site Guide. Do not park in front of or block the Roberts Ranch Building Roll-Up Doors, Shade Structure or road/ drive way. ​

Try to Ride share to minimize the # of cars on launch. Maximize each and every vehicle load to Launch as parking is limited. Keep top landing approach path free of cars up on launch. At the same time, do not force top landings mid day and or when the launch is busy. Realize that when you are flying though or trying to set up to top land, you are effectively and selfishly closing launch to those wanting to launch on a busy day. 

Active Launch Windows: Use mountain etiquette and do not setup in the Active Launch Windows. Only enter the Launch Windows with your gear if and when you are ready and intending to launch.

Prime Launching times for Palomar recently have been from 1-5 with flights extending till dusk. (Please choose suitable launching times and conditions to your skill level) (Some P2 & H2s have been heading out and getting in early flights around 9am before  conditions ramp up then having great evening flights) Peak heating will be ~ at 2:30. If you launch early, you should be prepared to stay in the air until some time after 3:30 or 4. Expect the LZs to be thermic and turbulent until after 3:30 or 4.

More and Complete Site Info: (Last Update: 6-7-16)
SDHGPA Site Guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/sites-guide.html 
Palomar Site guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar.html

NOAA - ​Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. West wind 5 to 10 mph.

NOAA Discussion: - a low pressure trough slowly moves through California. Our half-hearted coastal eddy will get a boost and help spread the coastal clouds to fill the coastal basin. Some drizzle might result from this marine layer growth. The trough moves right through our region Sunday morning

Steve's assessment (Friday AM): Models are in fairly close agreement as of Friday AM. Using carnac prediction methods - Expect lift to be to 4-6k in Launch vicinity and up to 7k back near the towers might be possible. Peak heating & max alt potential will be ~ 3pm. Expect there to be a typical June lower inversion that will break down into the afternoon. A softer inversion will persist between 4-6k. Expect flights will be possible till sunset

Bill H's Mt Forecast (Friday PM):  Saturday the club is holding a fly-in at Palomar. Wind looks good, it might be a little strong for some paraglider pilots. But it seems that the wind forecast for the valley is often overestimated by a few mph. The wind will be SouthWest at 11 mph. Lift at 700 fpm will get over 5,000'.  Conditions at Palomar will decrease slightly on Sunday.

Steve's Sat AM Update: Heaver Marine layer and rising cloud layer will reduce heating and max altitudes to 5-6k and peak heating time to ~ 2pm. Per NOAA: Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly sunny, with a high near 70. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph. NAM model is in agreement. However Global and RAP are showing higher surface winds to 15 possible. although the 2k & 4k levels are showing 10.  I think we will be OK. 

For detailed current Weather information and tools, see the SDHGPA So Cal WX Dashboard under What's Happening.

As an added Bonus, the  The SoCal XC League Sprint Class event will coincide with our Palomar Fly-in.

This is a great way to get your feet wet flying GPS comp style tasks in a low stress environment.

Sprint League Rules (sub set)

1. P3 w/ Minimum 40 hours airtime (20 hours in the mountains) and comfortable flying in turbulent conditions.
2. EN-B glider or lower and flat aspect ratio less than 5.8. By limiting aspect ratio I aim to keep out many of the new B+ wings that are not suitable for actual EN-B pilots.
3. Most tasks will be around 20km in distance which will be about an hour of flying for skilled pilots and about 1.5 hours for newer pilots.

Main Course will be provided by the club however it is primarily a potluck; so plan to bring an appraiser,  side dish, salad, or dessert to share.  Please also bring any drinks you might want. BYOB

Wild Bill &  Angela A. would like some help from some volunteers to help coordinate food pickup, set up and break down. Also, if you have a charcoal grill that you would be willing to bring and or Tables, that would be great. Ideally, we can get these things coordinated by mid day on Friday before the Fly-in so that everything runs as smooth as possible on Saturday. 

Fly-in Update:

Based on the WX forecast Friday AM, there was a general consensus that it would not be a good day to have a fly-in on Sat May 21st.

Although some HG and Advanced PG pilots will be heading out to Palomar to check out the conditions and maybe hang out. 

Most felt that it would be better to push that date out to the next available date of June 11th so that there would be a greater possibility of good air and more pleasant conditions in the LZ for a wider audience of pilots.

Follow the Fly-in Updates and Information on the SDHGPA Spring Fly-in Page:

Forecasts & Models As Friday AM Update:

NOAA Forecast: (based on GSF / Global)
Saturday:
A 20 percent chance of rain before 11am. Patchy fog before 11am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 62. Light southwest wind becoming west 10 to 15 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.
Saturday Night:
A 20 percent chance of rain after 11pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. West wind 10 to 15 mph becoming light northwest in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Models via XCskies :
Global: 11am surface @10, 2K @10, 4K @5, 6K @10, 8K @20
Global: 2pm surface @10, 2K @15, 4K @10, 6K @10, 8K @15
NAM: 11am surface @15, 2K @10, 4K @15, 6K @15, 8K @15  with Surface gust 15-20
NAM: 2pm surface @20, 2K @15, 4K @20, 6K @20, 8K @15  with Surface gust 15-20
​
I would lean toward believing the XCskies NAM Model . . .

Weekend Mountain Flying Report

Palomar is an amazing site. On Saturday, the day of the fly-in and BBQ, the forecast was poor. But Palomar ignored the forecast. Wind indeed was light, around 5 mph, and coming from all directions, occasionally puffing down. The launch thermal was sometimes right at launch, sometimes a hundred yards out. Where it was determined which way the breeze was blowing.

Several PG pilots took off around 12:30 and climbed a few hundred feet. All together I think 40 PG pilots took off, as late as 4:00. It looked like all but the later launchers got above launch and had good flights in the super smooth air. A few of them were able to get 2,000' higher than take off altitude.

Five HG pilots from Sylmar and Greg F flew hang gliders. The first HG pilot took off and went straight out for a hundred yards or more, circled in light lift, and climbed a few hundred feet higher than launch. The second pilot allowed his nose to rise a bit, he could not get sufficient air speed, and mushed into the brush. He was ok, but chose to pack up and not fly. The other three Sylamr pilots and Greg had good strong take-offs. Two of the Sylmar pilots made it at least 1,000' above take off level. All of them had plenty of air time.

​A forecast is just that, a forecast. It is not necessarily reality.

Bill H.

Member Photos Posted on FB

My wife and I had a great time at the fly-in and BBQ!
​
Here's a short video of yesterday's flying and landings. 

HG Division:
1st Place & Grand Champion:     Bill Helliwell
2nd Place:                                       Jeff Brown
3rd Place:                                        Mike Branger​

PG Division:
1st Place & Grand Champion:     Russ Detwiler
2nd Place:                                       Dmitri Soloviev
3rd Place:                                        Jason Kinch

2015 Final XC Score Sheet Page: 

One shirt is awarded to each pilot for his/her longest straight line XC distance passing the following Mile Marks:
A pilot's first flight over 10 miles (1st year achieving).
Flight over 25 miles.
Flight over 50 miles.
Flight over 75 miles
Flight over 100 miles, miles listed

Please consider increasing your donation, or If you have not already done so, Please Donate to The Free Flight Forever Fund. ​

If you have questions and want more information on the Insurance Issues See:

Yes - Martin had just come from a Meeting with the CSS. They were feeling their oats pledging 7K as a club and challenged us as SDHGPA to raise 5K as a club. The SDHGPA Board has since met and and we think we can do better that that by raising at least $20K in total as a Club in whole with SDHGPA kicking in $10K from our reserves. 

For more information see:

When Making your Donation, add SDHGPA as your Chapter Affiliation!