Hampshire South Downs · Paragliding site
Live seven-day flying weather with launch direction, altitude and local site information for Butser West.
Managing club: Sky Surfing Club
Site briefing
Rigging: Hang gliders (H.G.) rig at top of the slope immediately to right of the top stile. Paragliders rig slightly down the slope – you will see the patch we use as it is well trodden. Requires a good solid run immediately down slope from the rigging area, over the fence and footpath.H.G. and paragliders (P.G.) share the same take-off run and so it is essential to be aware of each others activities
Top landing, particularly for H.G., is for experienced pilots only and will always be hazardous in fine weather due to the inevitable overcrowding of the site by the various users.Front face landings for H.G. need just the right height and approach from the southern end. Hill top (behind the fence line ) landings suffer a particular hazard from kite flyers, and H.G. require a minimum of 200 ft. setting up the approach from the southern end over the kiosk, beware of rotor in the last 30 ft. from the tree line and Rake Bottom (stay well over to the crest). NEVER FLY INTO RAKE BOTTOM , turbulence is extreme. Main bottom landing fields are immediately below take off in the bottom of the bowl and all are quite demanding for H.G. Field B1 slopes up towards the southern fence approach from the north and avoid running on into the valley. Field B2 falls away to the west. Retrieval, from field B1 is by car down Harvesting Lane. An “escape” landing B2 area is for paragliders only. Retrieval from here is through the gate, opposite the style back into the launch area. This is marked on the map. The gate is locked with a padlock, combination 6969. Please ensure the gate is chained and locked behind you, with the chain running below the latch so it cannot be lifted off. If landing in the bowl. there is a gate back onto the chalk lane. This is marked on the map. The gate is locked with a padlock, combination 6969. Please ensure the gate is chained and locked behind you, with the chain running below the latch so it cannot be lifted off. Please do not leave the gates unlocked! Consider This is an extremely small and congested slope. Avoid mixing paragliders and hang gliders in the air at the same time. Try to alternate usage, if necessary by use of the half hour rule. Aeromodellers favour the north of the slope, avoid overflying or inflating canopies in front of them. DO NOT infringe the modellers airspace (to the north of the windsock as seen from their point of view) when at a height of less than 150ft ATO and preferably not at all unless well away from the hill. SET your vario to QFE!!The MVSA have accepted that at times when conditions are minimal, paragliders will need to fly in low from the South just above hedge height to land which requires entering the MVSA airspace. This is to avoid a bottom landing and walk up or possible tree landing. If you do land in the MVSA airspace then gather the canopy and walk back to the launch area DO NOT pop canopy up or launch from there or attempt to soar!! When conditions ARE minimal is usually only safe for ONE pilot to be in the air at a time. Any problems are best dealt with at the time. The MVSA have been asked to raise any problems on the day so expect them to approach us if we are breaking the rules. Cross Counry Butser West is harder to get away from, but is our best XC site in terms of downwind distance. Leaving the Hill You have to be very committed to get away from Butser West. There are very few opportunities…
Pilot requirements — HG: CP PG: CP. From the car park, head through the trees and through a gate to the grassy launch area. Parking Parking is controlled by number plate recognition cameras. The official car park is expensive! (and rates go up regularly). If you are tempted to park further away and walk to launch, be aware that the road up to the car park is a designated clearway, which is not always clearly signposted. Tickets have been issued here, so be warned. OS Map × Site OS Map Click to open Details Location LAT/LNG 50.976708 / -0.987311 Grid Reference SU 712 203 Sheet 197 What 3 Words cone poorly sublime HG Pilot Requirements CP PG Pilot Requirements Wind Direction 265 to 325 degrees WIND direction Height 250m (820ft) Top To Bottom 92m (302ft) Nearest Phone The Hampshire Hog If the aeromodellers are present, they must be talked to before flying. Committee members on site will check that this has been done. Cars are NOT to be taken into the bottom landing fields.
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