Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Feasibility Study: From the environs of the Kagel soaring envelope to the In-n-out of Canyon Country.

Start: Towers appears to be the closest, tallest, and most reliable thermal trigger to the goal LZ. The idea is to be within easy glide to either LZ.

Goal LZ: Wash behind the burger joint. Large, no trees, no telephone poles. Wash aggregate is pea size rock. Pretty good LZ.



Path: Distance if found: (Woops, image shown is the distance on the ground, not as we fly)


Math:
Glide Assumptions: Sport 2, Ignore tail wind for this calculation, Sink/rotor from our hill side.
My guess is 7:1 Glide

(4 miles) 21,120 feet in distance / 7:1 Glide = 3050 Feet
Altitude of Wash LZ 1550MSL + 300 feet AGL upon arrival, for LZ reconnaissance and DBF.

With these assumptions and numbers...
MSL of 4850, or 1050 AGL above towers makes it on glide.

Now consider a tail wind....
Assumptions: 5mph tail wind vector component directly towards goal. Same glide through apparent wind, and the Sport two's best glide speed is 33mph.

That increases the effective glide ratio 15percent or an entire point to 8:1.
That reduces the needed MSL to 4450 and the AGL 700.

It is feasable without a doubt. Ken Andrews and I did it a year or two ago on Falcons. It was a better than average day. As I recall we left the 22 at about 6,000 ft. We went out to Deney's and got there about 1,000 agl. We found another thermal there and climbed about a thousand feet. Then we prceeded up the freeway toward Acton. We landed about a half mile past the In/Out at a known LZ we call the Quarry. The Quarry is big but it does have on telephone line across it that is hard to see.

I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.

BJ has been dreaming of that flight for years.
here is his writeup on his first attempt at it
http://www.shga.com/forum/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1338

Getting out of the wash after landing is tough right behind In-N-Out. It is better to land west of the bridge as access is far easier to retieve your glider and equipment. I know as I have landed on both sides.

-Fred-

Adam- Yes, this was BJ's idea. I want to give it a try. I'm sure a burger never tasted so good unless you have flown there.

Fred- Thanks for the advice. My plan is to walk the LZ before making an attempt.