VHPA Site Guide - Queensland

Queensland

Beechmont - Rosin's Lookout

Open to club members and visiting pilots. Spring & summer best XC conditions, sea breeze influence most afternoons in spring and summer. The weather talker can be accessed on UHF Channel 26, Tone Squelch 97.4 (6 clicks) or via phone on 0439 540 975 (partially funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund). Please also check the area information.

Takeoff

Landing

• Main bombout straight out from launch dissected by a fence running east-west. Upslope landing from SE-NE. Note power lines to the north of the Bombout paddock. Main bombout can be accessed by taking Beechmont Rd north towards Nerang. Turn right at the bottom intersection and look for Pocket Rd on the right hand side. This will take you to the Bombout. (Approx 40mins) or alternatively walk back. Walk up the far side (west side) of the spur until you encounter the track then follow it. There is one tricky spot halfway up where there is a sort of crossroads in a grassy area and the correct path is not apparent in the grass. The correct route is straight up, after 20 metres this track becomes visible again. At the crossroads the obvious track leading to the right is the wrong way. If you get lost backtrack, it is not worth trying to forge through lantana. Very muddy after rain. Pleasant one-hour hike at a leisurely pace.
• Cricket pitch only on weekends when there is no activity on oval. Dangerous turbulence from trees on ESE side in the winds you would commonly be launching in at Beechmont, some experienced local pilots say it is too dangerous to ever use.
• Munsters only in emergency. Dangerous in E and NE winds because of rotor from hills on the E and NE side.
• Face landings intermediate and above. Restricted Pilots only under supervision of Instructor or Club Safety Officer, as serious injuries have occurred.

No Landing:

• Anywhere between launch and the main Bombout.
• Anywhere on top plateau except designated bombouts.

Flight

CTA: above 6500ft. Dirk provided this nice aerial panorama shot of the view from the edge of the Beechmont plateau to the West, which will come handy to find your bearings on the first few XC flights.

Hazards/Comments

• In northerly winds, windsock may indicate a more easterly airflow. Check wind talker for more accurate reading.
• In southerly winds, potential for rotor on northern side of the southern ridge.
• Be aware of Valley wind effect in bombout when coming into land. Can be quite North or even NW.
• Be aware of power line north of launch running down into the valley.
• Be aware of power line to the north of the Bombout paddock.
• In Southerly winds, be aware of your glide back to the bombout if in the Northern bowl.
• There is commonly a wind gradient on landing, which can be severe in the last 50 feet.
• Over-the-back downwind XC landings: In moderate winds there is no safe landing until Hinchcliffe bombout, in strong winds it is probably not safe to land until towards Beaudesert.

Queensland

Dalby Aerodrome

Dalby Aerodrome is an unlicensed aerodrome (CTAF 126.7). It is situated in CLL FL125 airspace. Our effective ceiling is at 10'000'amsl or 8869'agl.

UHF 19 Tone Squelch 97.4 or the HGFA channels are used.

DHGC are an Aerotow Hang Gilding Club (the only known one of its type in the world). Due to the flat land black soil plains, the XC potential is enormous and offers some of the most consistent year round soaring available that you may ever find.

The Club is open to aerotow endorsed pilots. A yearly Competition has been held for many years and all who may wish to come and fly this soaring Mecca are welcome.

We have no knowledge or experience of any restricted/no landing areas at all. Though the 'dump Wedgie' does lay claim to some airspace.

The only other known restricted flying areas we have are those that relate to the typical airspace restrictions: and the designated military airspace at Oakey Military CTR, D652, R665, R643A, R643B, R643C being in closest proximity to the Dalby aerodrome with Toowoomba (TWB) CTAF R and the Amberley Military CTR and associated airspace also further east.

Queensland

Eungella

Ridge- and thermic lift at the end of a U-shaped valley.

Takeoff

Landing

Various paddocks along the valley road, depending on crop. Top landings at the oval may be possible - watch out for rotor and obstructions.

Queensland

Flying Fox

Members only. Easy access to the bombout for spectators but no spectator access at all to the launch! You must contact either Phil Hystek or Brandon O'Donnell when you want to access the site on any given day. They will notify the caretaker that pilots will be on the hill. You must aquire a key from one of the key holders: Brandon O'Donnell, Phil Hystek, Rob Wilton, Ian McFarlaine, Shirley Lake, Shane Hill or Mark Gamer. The gate must be kept as found. No speeding on the roads, and be aware of increased traffic on that road. Please car-pool to limit the number of vehicles on the site as much as possible and make sure to park cars at the bottom clear of the road. No pets are allowed at launch, and no members of the public (with your vehicle's driver excepted, but that person must be fully briefed on ALL site protocols!). No Smoking on the site (unless in your car) and all butts, rubbish and scraps must be removed from the site. Pilots to land only in designated paddocks! If you see someone, treat them as if they are the landowner. Tell them you are a Member of the CHGC; In case of problems please immediately advise the President and hand out the President's phone number for follow-up. Exit shed and dam bombout via cattle track to the south of dam, not past the shed!

Landing

• Plateau shelf to the north of launch (Recommended for Hang Gliders). Can be mostly cross wind and across slight slope.
• Paddock directly below launch.
• Small plateau with dam and shed to the NE of launch.
• Top landings up toward wind streamer at the rear of launch.

No landing anywhere outside official bombouts.

Flight

CTA: above 6500ft, steps to 10000ft behind launch.

Hazards/Comments

• Susceptible to strong rough conditions.
• Susceptible to valley convergence with NE sea breeze.
• Check streamer on Plateau at rear of launch for true wind direction.
• Any westerly component can result in rotory conditions.
• Narrow launch, 1 glider slot. Proficiency of launching skills required.
• Narrow valley rd for retrieve. Drive slowly and pull off the road when retrieving pilots.

Queensland

Gillies Lookout

This site in the Gillies Range has potential for excellent cross country flights. Tricky launch, nearest bomb-out paddock 4km away. Season from Sept to Dec only. Contact club to fly here - we have a good relationship with the National Parks and don't want to jeopardise that by having people going up there and flying without permission.

Queensland

Hinchcliffe's (Hart's, Flattop)

Contact Phil Hystek before flying that site. Easy access to the bombout for spectators, less so for the launch.

Landing

• Main bombout in front of launch close to valley road. 56 J 0515607, 6893872
• No top landing on plateau behind launch.
• No landings other than noted bombouts.

Flight

CTA: above 6500ft, stepts to 10000ft behind launch.

Hazards/Comments

• Thermic site.
• Alternate launch when winds too strong on Beechmont.
• Power line at western and southern side of bombout area.
• No smoking on launch, except in vehicles.

Queensland

Mt. Tamborine

Open to club members and visiting pilots. A Weather Talker can be accessed on UHF Channel 25, Tone Squelch 97.4 (6 clicks) or via phone on 0408 744 791 (partially funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund).

Takeoff

Landing

• Main area straight out from launch.

  Please note: as of April 08 there's a horse paddock taking up a substantial part of the parkland that made up much of the bombout paddock. The area at the corner is now quite essential for a safe approach and mustn't be used for packing up. See the diagram for details.

  Main bombout can be accessed from Traveling down through Canungra then following Mundoolun rd and turning right into Wagonwheel Rd. Access via first vacant block of land on the left after Fenwick drive.
• Cat motel
• Paddock at Wonglepong / Mundoolun Rd junction.
• Top landing at Long Road Paddock, about 1km behind launch.

No Landing:

• Anywhere between the Wonglepong paddock and the concrete bridge toward Canungra.
• No landing at the Old training hill, now Polo field.
• No landings in the Horse paddocks to the East of the Bombout.
• There is a new No Landing area west of the Model Airfield. On your GPS you might program a 1200m circle around 56 J 508938, 6906688; The Canungra waypoint file has this as XANGRY.

Flight

CTA: 7500ft

Hazards/Comments

• Spring and Summer see strong thermals with the possibility of major sink cycles
• A common situation is a westerly wind in the morning and a SE or NE sea breeze reaching Tamborine launch in the early afternoon. Once you are about to launch a Hang glider it is hard to see the wind streamers behind you and it is worthwhile to be assisted by a sensible person who can watch behind you for the onset of tailwind.
• Be aware of the wind strength and the distance to the bombout areas.
• Beware the level and degree of the sink cycles.
• Launch slope is shallower than ideal and is troubled by turbulence from the shelf in front of the launch and from the trees on the sides of the launch.
• Face landing for Advanced pilots only when there are no public or Hangliders on launch.
• Refrain from setting up landing approach low over houses near main bombout.
• The trees on the north side cause turbulence and wind shadow in a northerly wind.
• Beware of 7500ft height limit. See airspace map.

Queensland

Rainbow Beach - Carlo Sand Blow

Beautiful coastal soaring along nearly 10km of 100m high sand dune.

Takeoff

Landing

Easy top landing for PG and HG or land on the beach. Do not land between the swimming flags if present. At high tide, you might struggle to get a car past the rocks to the right of the access ramp. If you bomb out far S of launch you can try to hitch a ride with a 4WDer.

Queensland

Rex Lookout

Very nice soaring for hangies, ok for paragliders. Flights to Port Douglas and Mossman are relatively easy, but you must be aware of the specific pitfalls if flying north.

Takeoff

Landing

On the beach about 800m to the right at the car park. Strictly no top landing for either PG or HG.

Flight

The ridge is a reasonable size, although the launch itself is quite small. If novice, stay south of the power line, within glide of the beach.

The Cairns Hang Gliding Club is here most weekends when the wind is on. Winter is our best flying time. That's when we get the south easterly trade winds for weeks on end. Winter is bitterly cold up here; it can drop to 24 degrees some days...

Hazards/Comments

Don't let yourself get whited out - watch for clouds forming in front and below you. Many of the local hangies fly with compasses!

Beware the southerly. The site is only flyable in a South Easterly and the further easterly, the better!

Do not fly north from the Rex unless you have flown there a few times previously, and then for at least the first flight north, be accompanied by a club member. There are some serious traps for the un-initiated on the way to Port Douglas. We have had issues with people getting themselves into situations they didn't need to be in, hence the need for caution these days.