San Diego's Torry Pines Glider Port.

[John Baker]

Yesterday I took my dog out to the glider port at Torry Pines. I had not been there in many years. I was pretty disappointed to discover that they no longer launch sail planes from there. All they had was para sailer's, ultra light kites and the like.

I watched them glide up and off the cliffs, then sort of dangle about at various levels. I don't know if it was because I was once a paratrooper many years ago, or what, but the whole thing looked downright boring.

What did get my attention was when a Robinson helicopter actually flew right below several people in parasailers on his way south along the cliffs. Then someone told me they do that all the time. Now that would not be boring, having a helicopter less than a hundred feet right below you.

I went into what appeared to be their FBO and asked about taking para sailing lessons. I guess, due to my age, the guy thought I would be a waste of his valuable time. He snapped off $150.00 a day, I think is what he said, and went back to whatever he would rather be doing.

I decided it would be more fun to let big ol Murf (Murf is a Tibetan Mastiff) (sort of) chase rabbits and squirrels, so we walked north of the glider area and I let him off his leash. I was right, it was a whole lot more fun watching him bounding after the impossible. He struck out, but we had fun.

John

 

[vontresc]

From what I understand is that the AGCSC still flies there over the winter months. They only fly for a few months when the wind blows pretty good.

Check out their website for more details

 

[steingar]

I never saw them launch gliders there twenty years ago. The hang gliding thing always looked fun until I got a pilot's license. Now it does look kind of boring.

 

[John Baker]

From what I understand is that the AGCSC still flies there over the winter months. They only fly for a few months when the wind blows pretty good.

Check out their website for more details

I asked a young woman while I was there. They are building a huge multi story building at the approach end of the old dirt runway. The runway itself has been pretty much destroyed by heavy equipment and erosion from all the rain we have had this winter.

It is used as a check point by a lot of people on their first call to KMYF, and from the air, it looks like a good emergency landing strip. After walking it, you would be landing the insurance companies airplane, you would not want it anymore.

I am pretty darn sure from what I saw and what she told me, that the last sail plane has long since been launched from Torry Pines Glider Port.

John

 

[tonycondon]

from the AGCSC website:

Unfortunately, the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), rather unexpectedly and suddenly, canceled our much anticipated and well-prepared Torrey Pines flying season. The reason given was their “risk assessment” associated with their construction cranes at the east end of the gliderport.
We assured UCSD’s real estate department that our flying activities would not and could not pose a risk to UCSD or the construction activities. Anyone familiar with our decades long flying activities would understand that since the great majority of our take-offs would be to the west and landings to the east, there would be no over-flights of the construction site or cranes, and thus no risk. Even an approach from the east during a rare strong west wind day could just involve a downwind leg over the golf course and no construction area over-flight.
​

 

[John Baker]

from the AGCSC website:

Unfortunately, the University of California at San Diego (UCSD), rather unexpectedly and suddenly, canceled our much anticipated and well-prepared Torrey Pines flying season. The reason given was their “risk assessment” associated with their construction cranes at the east end of the gliderport.
We assured UCSD’s real estate department that our flying activities would not and could not pose a risk to UCSD or the construction activities. Anyone familiar with our decades long flying activities would understand that since the great majority of our take-offs would be to the west and landings to the east, there would be no over-flights of the construction site or cranes, and thus no risk. Even an approach from the east during a rare strong west wind day could just involve a downwind leg over the golf course and no construction area over-flight.​

Tony, thanks. I know little or nothing about sailplanes. I did not know they landed downwind from the west. Even so, right now, there is not much that could be called a runway. I hope they start up again someday, I'd like to go out and see if I could rent a ride along.

John

 

[rottydaddy]

That's a bummer; hope they can get it going again. I thought of going up there when I was in SD in '08; kinda wish I'd done that, now.

But as long as they're flying something from there, it's better than more golf fairways or a bunch of condos.

 

[John Baker]

The day I was there, it looked more like a bunch of ornaments just dangling there. The day had a nice sea breeze and I guess there were about 7 or 8 para sailers dangling about. There were a few hang gliders that were actually moving, some pretty fast, and there was some sort of a home built ultra light glider that looked like it would actually do some flying. When they got it airborne, it just hung there with the parachutes, gliding about slowly.

It looked like the hang gliders were the only ones actually doing some flying. That did look like fun. The rest of them, I'm not so sure. You could probably get a similar experience sitting on a porch swing. I guess to the uninitiated, it would be quite an adventure though, gliding up and off a hundred or so foot cliff. I think after a few times at it, the thrill would soon be gone.

John