Flying Sites Around Town!

The Sandia Mountains.
Launching from the Crest launch
This is "the big one". The Sandia mountains east of Albuquerque are some of the most spectacular geography you will ever fly over. The mountain stretches for some 20 miles north to south and has two beautiful launches. The weather at this site is a demon to watch out for. During the summer flying season I have had my keel come down to my legs and my heart come up into my throat . This is to be expected in the middle of the day, in the middle of the desert, at 15,000 feet ASL I guess. We have had flights to the east over 200 miles, and a couple of years ago Ward Hinsen flew to Colorado from the Crest launch and Burt Bazan flew almost to Texas!

The Sandia Peak Launch: This is the launch for Hang 4's being guided by a local. You take the Sandia Tram up the mountain with your glider strapped on top of the Tram car. We have a great relationship with the Tram operators (Thanks George), and love showing off the site to qualified visitors.

The Sandia Crest Launch: This is the launch for Hang 4's AND qualified Hang 3's guided by a local. The road to the top is paved and maintained year round, but the launch itself is about a quarter mile north of a locked gate, and the road from the gate to launch is not always passable after a heavy snow storm.

Embudo / Rat’s Nest - P3 or P2 with instructor – Local Guide HIGHLY recommended This site is at the foothills of the Sandia.  Conditions here have the potential to be VERY dangerous.  Please contact a local pilot before flying here.  The preferable wind is from the W.  Though it looks flyable in other directions other directions (ie N or S cross) can produce severe turbulence in the area.  Thermal activity can create “severe turbulence” here so flying mid-day is not recommended.  Pilots flying here need to be aware of winds aloft since it is possible to have ground winds seem reasonable but only a few hundred feet up it can be blowing 30 knots thus blowing a pilot back into the mountain.  The launch is only about 300 ft below controlled airspace.  Though this site is flown, other sites like Farly’s in Grants (scroll down) have a higher level of safety.

BEFORE making plans to fly the Sandia mountain sites post up on our Bulletin Board for more detailed information and also to arrange for a designated Guide during your visit. This is a regulated site so please respect our rules. During the summer months a guide can easily be found for a nice evening glass off during the week and of course for mid-day action on the weekends.

Other Sites We Fly

soaring over the launch at La BajadaLa Bajada Mesa: This is a great ridge soaring site about an hour north of town. This is where we go when the wind is blowing between 15 and 25 mph from the West. We have been warned that we should NEVER land on the tribal land directly in front of launch, so the trip is not always worth the effort. Once again, you should call one of us BEFORE you haul your glider out here so that we can update you on any land use issues (read that as conflicts with the natives) that may get you cited or your equipment confiscated.

La Jara Mesa: This site is 80 miles West of Albuquerque near the town of Grants and is a nice ridge site in South-West winds of 15 or more. The landing zone is almost a 7 to 1 glide so if you don't get up right off launch (or worse sink more that a hundred feet afte launch) then your tree landing skills will be put to the test. This site is not regulated at all, but the place is damn hard to find. I still get lost going out there after four years.

Grants East Ridge (Farley’s): This is a VERY cool hump o' dirt facing west to a little Northwest just accross the valley from La Jara Mesa. Farleys is also better when the wind blows, but is still a nice sled ride too. The LZ extends from the foot of the hill (about 700 feet below launch) to the freeway in to the distant West.

Blue Springs: This is a beautiful site as shown. About one hour to the South of Albuquerque and ten miles West of Mountainair in the pass. I recommend you go with someone for the first time. Stay on the roads as this is private land. About 600' AGL and 6300' ASL with an extra long glide to the main LZ. Launch is to the Northwest. When Sandia conditions are light and un-soarable, the conditions are perfect for Blue Spring. There is a postage stamp bail out near launch.

Rowe Mesa: Rowe is an East facing site North of Sante Fe which is rarely flown probably mainly because the necessary E winds tend to come on cold days. This site is top landable.  The lower landing is around the corner to the left (North).

 

Sun Mtn – Santa Fe Sun is a PG site whit a couple launches.  Go on the Bulletin Board to get more info.

 

San Antonio – 3 Hrs NNW of ABQ – San Antonio is a large bump in the middle of very large flat.  Tends to be flown by PGs though HGs are certainly duable.  A couple of launches available.  Mario is the local expert on this site..  Go on the Bulletin Board to get more info.