(The Date was pushed out to 6-7 due to Weather, Fires, and other fly-in conflicts )
(Weather conditions look favorable and better then Horse)
Where: Palomar Main LZ
(Pala Roberts Ranch - 15450 California 76 Pauma Valley, CA 92061) (map)
For those that have not been to Palomar in the past 6 months, we have greatly improved the site with the Pala Tribe. We now have two great launches, an improved large HG bail-out LZ, and a great large LZ down in the valley that is PG and HG friendly into the wind with a long run-out that is easily landable even with an ATOs.
(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)
For the Fly-in Saturday: weather conditions for Palomar look favorable with the Global Model being the most optimistic Friday afternoon. Predicted lift at launch is 4-6k with 7-8 possible over the back ridge line with SW winds to 15 mph. Other models show lighter winds. Peak heating and lift is foretasted for 3pm. I would expect a nice glass off in the evening due to the XC predictor emphasizing the entire valley vs ridge lines . I would also expect the day to be slightly inverted starting at about 4-5k.
Conditions on Sunday: look a bit better on Sunday at Palomar with the top of lift being slightly higher & the winds being lighter. For the Advanced Pilots, I also think Laguna is looking good on Sunday. However I am a bit more optimistic then Bill on the top of lift based on the NAM & GFS models. With NAM showing a nice convergence & lift to 10K. |
The weather forecasts from the various web sites are in complete disagreement. Saturday there will be generally Westerly wind, Sunday it may blow West all day, that is if it doesn't blow East all day. Here is my assessment.
Horse should be ok on Saturday. Wind will be Westerly at Horse in the 11-14 mph range. There should be decent lift, 500 fpm, getting close to 7,000'. I plan to go to Palomar for the club fly-in. Conditions should be similar there except for lower top of lift. It should be possible to get a thousand feet or so above take-off.
Sunday will be a Laguna day. Even if the wind aloft ends up being out of the West, the wind at take-off should be Easterly until early afternoon. The desert is going to get very hot, expanding the air, and providing an Easterly push at the escarpment. Thermals should get close to 8,000' and convergence related thermals a couple of thousand feet higher.
It has been rough at Horse the past week. The air at Palomar will be smoother. Have your head on a swivel, it will be crowded.
Bill H
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 Antonella & 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, that would be great. Ideally, we can get these things coordinated by mid day on Friday so that everything runs as smooth as possible on Saturday. Please contact Antonella ([email protected] ), & Angela ([email protected]) to help and coordinate on the event planning side. |
Pala Roberts Ranch, 15450 California 76 Pauma Valley, CA 92061 ( 33.323150, -116.99440000 )
Parked cars in Main Pala LZ, Palomar Main Launch, and Smiley Launch must display the SDHGPA Member Vehicle ID/ Gate Pass. Max 4 vehicles may be at Upper Smiley Launch. Main Launch is preferred for both HG & PG pilots.
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 or Shade Structure. Try to keep top landing approach path free of cars. Open, Close, and Lock Launch and the Bail-out LZ access gates behind you as you pass. Access is for club members only. (Reference your membership email for the Current Gate Codes) |
More and Complete Site Info:
SDHGPA Site Guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/sites-guide.html
Palomar Site guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar.html