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Our
'house site' in Jamaica is located in Kingston, above Hope Estate
next to the viewpoint on Skyline Drive, a mountain ridge 1,500 ft ASL.
This launch is on the lee side of the 7,500 ft high Blue Mountains and
usually well sheltered from easterly trade winds. Due to the lush vegetation,
thermals tend to be soft (2-4 m/s) most of the time. The site offers
all year round flying with some XC
potential on good days! Due to high humidity levels in the tropics,
cloud base tends to be low between 3,000 and 4,000 ft ASL.
Launch:
drive-up on Skyline Drive from Papine
Note: the launch is short and steep, and the site is unfortunately NOT
suitable for beginner training. For visiting pilots, we recommend intermediate
skill levels because of a restricted landing field. Confidence in reverse
launching is an asset!
Landing:
there are several potential LZs in less than 1 km distance (glide ratio
4:1). Our preferred LZ is the sporting oval of UTECH. This
LZ can normally be made in a 'sled ride' and if not there are 'bail-outs'.
(NOTE: Unfortunately the Nature Preservation Foundation
- responsible for the Hope Estate - has expressed their concerns for
paragliders to land on its premises. We urge pilots to respect this
decision and avoid Hope Gardens as a landing zone. Thank you for your
cooperation.)
UTECH
LZ (east Kingston) with bail-outs as seen from Skyline launch (#1
map)
Flying
site St. Elizabeth - Malvern Hill (aka John Crow Hill)
Discovered
Dec. 2009, drive-up, 1,800ft ASL, vertical: 1,600 ft.
Vicinity of Malvern (15 km N of Treasure
Beach, South coast). Grassy launch, wide & easy,
ample landing space, XC for beginners, beach in 15 km distance,
friendly country people.
LZ
Malvern Well with Santa Cruz mountains in the back (#2
map)
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Other potential flying sites (not maintained) |
| Murphy
Hill, 1600ft ASL, drive-up
an old time tourist destination in the hills overlooking Ocho
Rios (North coast). Closest LZ is a sporting field at Pimento
Walk (250 m ASL) within a glide ratio of 4:1. The site is
currently not maintained and exposed to easterly trade winds.
Top landing seems feasible. (Special thanks to Paul East for
allowing us access to his property.)
#4
map |
Free
Hill, 1800ft ASL, drive-up
a small mountain community in St. Ann (North coast), 3.4 km south
of the Llaughlands Airstrip. The air strip is not easy
to reach without lift or in windy conditions. Claus Vischer flew
from here in 2001 and had to land a few hundred meters short in
the Chester school yard.
#3
map
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