ISLAND FLYING SITES
The notes on this
page are only very brief. Refer to the site guide for detail, and do
check the state of the tide on coastal sites. If there is no beach - do
not fly!
Who's on the hill? If you're new or visiting, then you want to know
where the best place to fly is likely to be. We are planning to add an
easy to use contact list of regular flying pilots. If you're planning to
go out for the day, these are the people to call. For now, all the
committee members are regular pilots, so
give one of them a call.
VISITORS PLEASE NOTE: If
you are visiting the Isle of Wight to fly for the first time please make
sure you call a committee member to inform them. Like anywhere some of
our sites are sensitive and the rules change regularly, so you will need the up to date information and
a sites guide.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE VISITOR INFO
01 ALUM BAY
02 EAST AFTON
03 COMPTON WHITES
04 COMPTON REDS
05 BRIGHSTONE
06 LIMERSTONE
07 CHILLERTON
08 BLACKGANG - CLOSED DUE TO NEW OWNERSHIP
09 DOWNCOURT
10 ARRETON
11 LUCCOMBE
12 YAVERLAND
13 CULVER
14 ST.CATHERINE'S
15 ATHERFIELD
16 IW PEARL
Please use common sense when flying. Don't land in fields where there
are animals if it can be avoided and remember that all fields are crops
of some sort, so if you land in a field carry your glider to the edge to
pack away. If there is an incident on any of our sites, fill in an
Incident Report form and send it to the BHPA.
01 ALUM BAY
SITE PHOTO (Courtesy:Tim Pentreath)
LOCATION: G.R. SZ304 849
WIND: NW/NNE
EXPERIENCE: Experienced pilots only.
STRENGTH: LIGHT TO MODERATE
NOTES: Venturi is strong on top, with 450ft sheer cliffs behind!
Beach landing - beware the chair lift.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
02 EAST AFTON
Here's a photo of the site showing the landing zone
Click Photo to Enlarge
LOCATION: G.R. SZ368 859 Near Freshwater
WIND: NW/NE
EXPERIENCE: CP+
Park in the car park by the road and go back through the entrance and
over the style. Walk up to the right of the hedge when facing the hill -
NOT the left!!!
NOTES: Thermic site. Beware of rotor from trees to left of t/o, although
these have recently been mostly removed. Do not overfly,
or land on the Golf Course directly behind t/o. Note to skygods: There
is a 2000ft airspace restriction over this part of the West Wight.
Slope landing on the hill should be easier since the trees have been
cut, but we have also negotiated a bottom landing. It is in the top corner of
the field on the left below t/o as you look away from the hill. Land as
close to the left side of the hedge, and as high up the field as
possible. Do not land in the right hand field if at all possible, as
this is a grass crop for silage. Please also avoid trying to fly
down to the car park.
03 COMPTON WHITES
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ365 856 and SZ360 856
WIND: SSW/SSE
EXPERIENCE: CP+5hrs, Low hours with supervision.
NOTES: There is vicious rotor behind the car park cutting so keep west
of this area. Top landing or Beach landing. PG pilots - if you get below
the cliff top, then run for the beach ASAP. Life jackets are
recommended. Bottom TO closed 1st March-15th July. During this
nesting period, pilots may launch from the Top TO, but must maintain
100feet above cliffs, and must not skim the cliff edge.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
04 COMPTON REDS
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ372 848
WIND: SSW/WSW
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: No slope landings. Top land or beach only. Life jackets are
recommended. The main t/o has mostly fallen away, making
launching tricky - take care.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
05 BRIGHSTONE
CLOSED BETWEEN FEB 15th and JULY 14th
LOCATION: G.R. SZ432 842
WIND: SW flyable from S to W
EXPERIENCE: Experienced pilots only.
NOTES: There is no bottom landing here. Slope or top land only.
If you do land at the bottom. Get to the side of the field, bundle-up
and get out ASAP. This is a very sensitive area.
06 LIMERSTONE
LOCATION: G.R. SZ438 837
WIND: SSE flyable S to ESE
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: Bottom landing only in emergency. Do not fly if sheep are about.
Read Barney's report on flying at
Limerstone
IF DRIVING UP FROM SHORWELL SIDE, PLEASE KEEP
TO THE TRACK - DO NOT DRIVE ON THE GRASS
07 CHILLERTON
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ475 834
WIND: ESE
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: Bottom landing NOT ALLOWED: Land on the slope. Beware power cables.
DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH THE FIELD TO GET TO THE PARKING AREA !!!!!
08 BLACKGANG
CLOSED DUE TO NEW OWNERSHIP
09 DOWNCOURT
LOCATION: SZ 494778
WIND: NE
THIS IS A SENSITIVE SITE. IF YOU ARE A VISITOR, PLEASE DO NOT FLY
WITHOUT SPEAKING WITH A COMMITTEE MEMBER FIRST.
Access from the Chale road. There is a padlocked gate, with a
combination lock. Contact a committee member for the code. Make sure you
re-fit the padlock.
Park at the top of the lane on the grass verge, on the left making sure
you don't block the gates. DO NOT DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. Follow
the footpath down towards the t/o and go through the Australian gate.
SITE PHOTO
10 ARRETON
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ546 871
WIND: SSE/S
EXPERIENCE: CP+
NOTES: Take great care parking. T/O is close to the road. If the wind is
off to the West at all, do not fly, as there is a lot of rotor from the
trees.
11 LUCCOMBE
[Do not fly to right of t/o Mar 1st - July 14th]
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ586 802
WIND: E/ENE
EXPERIENCE: Experienced only.
NOTES: Beach landing only, which can be crowded in Summer. Best
wind direction is E. Don't fly NE or SE due to rotor.
Phone Sandown Airport before flying: 405125. Life jackets are
recommended.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
12 YAVERLAND
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ616 853
WIND: SSE [Must be at least 12mph to soar the cliffs].
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: Call Bembridge Airport before flying 873331.
Life jackets are recommended. Beware quicksand in the bowl to NE.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
13 CULVER [Closed Mar
1st - July 14th]
LOCATION: G.R. SZ635 856
WIND: S
EXPERIENCE: Experienced
NOTES: Call Bembridge Airport before flying 873331.
Life jackets are recommended.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
14 ST.CATHERINE'S [FULL MEMBERS ONLY]
LOCATION: SZ 492776
WIND: NW
THIS IS A SENSITIVE SITE AND IS FOR FULL CLUB MEMBERS ONLY. IF YOU
ARE A VISITOR, ASSOCIATE OR TEMPORARY MEMBER PLEASE DO NOT FLY HERE.
RULES:
FULL CLUB MEMBERS ONLY PLEASE
MAX 6 GLIDERS IN AIR AT ANY ONE TIME
SCHOOLS NOT ALLOWED
TRY TO TOP LAND WHENEVER POSSIBLE
DO NOT LAND IN FIELDS WITH LIVESTOCK
Access from the Chale road. There
is a padlocked gate, with a combination lock. Contact a committee member
for the code. Make sure you re-fit the padlock.
Park at the top of the lane on the grass verge, on the left making sure
you don't block the gates. DO NOT DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP. Follow
the footpath down to the t/o.
15 ATHERFIELD
SITE PHOTO
LOCATION: G.R. SZ445 799
WIND: SW/W.
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: This is a Butterfly Paragliding site, under new ownership. To fly
this site, pilots must provide Butterfly Paragliding with their details
once a year. This includes Name;BHPA#;Wing type/colour. Contact
Butterfly (tel:01983 731611).
The Holiday Camp has closed, so
park on the grass verge opposite the entrance to the camp site. There is
a footpath to the West of the Holiday Camp which takes you to the take
off.
When flying, do NOT turn if you
get below cliff height!!!. All pilots must carry a cut-away knife.
Life jackets are recommended.
Land only
back on top at Atherfield or on the beach - DO NOT TOP LAND ANYWHERE
ELSE.
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
16 IW PEARL
LOCATION: G.R.
SZ 413 820
WIND: SW/W.
EXPERIENCE: All.
NOTES: This is a narrow field just to the East of the Isle of Wight
Pearl. Do not enter the IW Pearl property. Park on the grass verge
by the road. There is a footpath that runs along the hedge to the
cliff edge. At the end turn left, and you're in the field. Take
off is best at the far end of the field.
Do NOT turn if you get below cliff height!!!. All pilots must carry a
cut-away knife. Life jackets are recommended. Land only
back on top at t/o or on the beach - DO NOT TOP LAND ANYWHERE
ELSE. There may be Buffalo in the field and it's OK to fly - but we are assured that they
are friendly !!!
Check the tide - No beach = Do not fly!
