Mt Broughton (Thistle Hill)

Description

Large grassy hill. A weather station is available. There is no SMS, phone or radio access to this weather station.

Takeoff

In summer this take-off is covered with thistles.

Landing

Paragliders

The PG landing paddock is located directly at the base of the hill. GPS: 55 H 0358715 UTM 5888504 Google Maps. Access to it is off Newell Rd via Switzerland Rd. Follow the laneway from 200m along Newells Rd where it turns right, directly toward the base of the hill. This is an easy glide for PGs providing they head towards the landing paddock once they descend to the tree-line, the best thermals are often found around the landing paddock itself! This site is suitable for novices but they are warned to avoid the strong thermic conditions that occur during the peak of the day in the summer.

There have been herds of nervous steers which get spooked by paragliders and even pilots walking through the paddocks. Land as far away from the cattle as possible, and avoid walking near them.

The LZ property owner has requested the following requirements for use of the LZ:

• No landing on the property owner’s driveway.

• No landing near the property managers home or walking near the premises.- see landing/ no landing areas.

• Parking on Newells Road . (Vehicles are to be left 200m along Newells Rd where it turns right).

• You must post to the Inland Logistics Telegram Group, your intention to fly here.

Hang gliders

The landing paddock is located south of Switzerland road (See map).

There is an area on the north side in orange, sometimes some of the lower performance gliders can get caught short & land on the north side of the road. This paddock must remain an emergency landing.

The main landing used by paragliders can also be used if needed.

Please post to the Inland Logistics Telegram Group your intention to fly here.

Conditions of use

• All Gates are left ‘as found’.

• There is no smoking permitted at any time on the properties.

• No fires are to be lit on the properties.

• No litter is to be left on the properties.

• Visitors may not camp overnight.

• Flying operations shall only be conducted by current SAFA members.

• No pilot vehicles can enter the LZ ( gate is locked ).

• Pilots are responsible for keeping the Site clean and will leave nothing behind at the cessation of operations for the day.

Flight

Ridge soarable in a moderate south westerly, thermals can be expected during the warmer months. Flights from here on XContest

Hazards / Comments

Turn around from the car park to launch is approximately half an hour by car.

The hill can be hiked via the landing zone (around 1h), please don’t use Newells road to access to the top.

Many single wire (SWER) powerlines are in this area.

Be careful scratching below the tree line off launch in a paraglider. Sink can be brutal and there is a risk of not making the landing.

Retrieve Note for landing east of launch if you bomb before Molesworth: Switzerland Rd ends at a locked gate about 1.5 km east from Newells Rd. So if you land on the north side of the river, and less than 4 km to the east, walk west, and the retrieve vehicle can continue east along Switzerland Rd to get you, and meet you at the locked gate. But if you are more than 4km east along the ridge, especially further down the east end of the ridge, walk east until you connect with Fullertons Rd, which starts at a farmhouse and heads east, and joins up to the Molesworth-Dropmore Rd. The retrieve vehicle can get there via Highlands Rd, or via Yea and Molesworth.

Map information