Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

What's a pliot to do with these winds?

Head to Santa Barbara when it's blowing hard here. This is the second time in a couple of weeks where it totally looks completely blown out and the SB crew is enjoying themselves in the air. Last time Rob Burgis and I got good flights to about 5300' and flew for 2 hours and evetually landed at the beach.

Sure it's a trip, but landing on the beach is nice after flying the mountains.

Generally if it's east here SB is a safe call.

Oh ...... and I'll back that with data.
Also heard Bloom, Sebas and Jonesy went to SB Sunday (reported 5K)

Sunday @ Sylmar
Wind Data

Sunday @ SB
Wind Data

Blip's


SB Forum from Sat

The charts certainly make your point.

I've heard there isnt much thermal activity at SB. On these days,
do conditions encourage thermals or is it lift from the sea breeze?

What's the mechanics of the relationship between our northernly and their southerly winds? ARe they related to each other, in circulation?

Oh there's plenty O thermal activity there. Having the cooler temperature aloft certainly helps the lapse rate. I should have posted that too.

The lapse rate would have helped cement the picture.

I think when it's East here, most of the energy is directed down the Santa Clara river out through Fillmoore all the way to Ventura. The SB range helps block the wind (unless it's more North than East).

This "likely" puts SB in a wind protected area allowing the heat to build and thermals to form. Up high the drift is still from the NE but the mountains help drive the flow up wards or around SB. XC can be limited going East since you'll run into a headwind around Ventura or Ojai.

Going West takes you over some areas that are OK but getting back can be a bit tough. Flying the SB mountains is really nice on these days because it's usually VERY clear and you have GREAT views from SB all the way to Ventura.

One last thing ...... Camp 9 seems to "always" show NW during blow-down-days

You'll get a better overall picture of what the wind is doing by looking here http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/mwmap. ... ox&limit=1 and here http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mesowest/mwmap. ... gx&limit=1

When checking the Santa Barbara forecast before driving out there, what should we look for as far as predicted wind speed and direction throughout the day? In weather.com or wunderground.com, what city or zip code should we be looking at?