Old Guy Flying-Paragliding Tour of Torrey Pines Gliderport

Yes, I know it’s been a while. But to paraphrase Mark Twain, “News of my dropping out of the aviation world were greatly exaggerated”!
As I mentioned in the video, there has been lots of coastal marine layer days (usually happens during May and June) and/or little wind for any ridge soaring.
I was also concentrated on adding my glider rating and as of March 19, 2022, I am now a commercial glider pilot. But NO, I will not be charging anyone to go glider flying anytime soon! I have had some good thermalling days but it can be fickle.
On this Memorial Day, the weather and winds were perfect for a great day flying. It was not nearly as busy up in the skies as it was on the ground with student pilots kiting and spectators watching all the fun. I did depart before the tandems really started to launch and crowd the skies.
I will fly mostly my paraglider and gliders (at Warner Springs) for the summer season and then really think about paramotoring again during the winter. I lost all my local launching sites (though I MAY get one back on private property), and will just need to travel inland to the desert or over to Andy Jackson Airpark were PPG is allowed. I will also see if a fairly close airport will allow paramotoring. They have allowed Part 103 ultralights in the past (rigid wings) but will see about paramotors specifically.
I sold my Paramotor several months ago so I am really thinking about what my next PPG purchase will be somewhere around the fall. ***Anyone have experience with the Open PPG SP140 Electric?
I hope to be reporting from Andy Jackson Airpark soon (or Soboba)!
Thanks for watching and leave any comments below.

[@AlGaivotoPfarrhaus-Altersberg]

Speaking of old guys? I flew a hang glider on this site in 1977 as part of my course. We had the same blow the whistle rule and once you went south you could not go north again. I unfortunately went down to the "nudist beach" at the bottom. To my great disappointment a dozen naked soldiers from Camp Pendleton ran up to help me pack the glider. Still haunts me to this day....

[@loums52]

Must have been an elite branch of the marines! Yeah, you can’t unsee that sort of thing…

[@hellhound59]

Love the narration!

[@jasonpacific5661]

Great video. I've always loved Torrey Pines. I got to do a sailplane winch launch there when UCSD used to have it available off and on. I always feel high happy energy near Torrey pines 🌝

[@loums52]

Thank you! Yes, I remember sailplanes at Torrey years ago before I started flying paragliders. It was almost all hang gliders then along with the occasional sailplane (I did a tandem hang glider flight). A LOT less crowded back then also.

[@ripmanridin7092]

Beautiful flight...........thanks for sharing! Really enjoyed it!!

[@loums52]

Thanks so much…it was great being back in the air on such a beautiful day!

[@lauriejones3198]

As a kid hang gliding in New Zealand in the mid seventies, I saw this site in US magazines and was so envious. It was the place to be, it seemed. A lot of new concepts and designs were flown there. A historic site in my view. Many thanks for this view of this special place.

[@loums52]

Thanks for watching! I am fortunate to have such a beautiful area nearby to fly. And it’s about the only patch of green grass available! Perhaps you’ll have a chance to visit one day. I also hope to visit your beautiful country sometime!

[@peterelliott2914]

Good to see you again Lou :) The planet has a harmonic resonance. If you're sensitive and connected to the planet, as you are when you're flying, often you resonate with it. According to my old psycholgy teacher. It's a sign of a deep connection with the planet that few people have. Lucky you! So don't try to stop it lol.

[@loums52]

Very kind words…thank you!

[@kee7678]

After you've been at Torrey a while, you learn the tandems 20 min pattern and can tell what, where and when they're flying at a glance actually. Like flying in class B airspace if your'e not used to it, Torrey can appear busy but, as your familiar and experienced there, it's very relaxed, simple and easy.

[@loums52]

I’ve been flying there for over 5 years (and class B for over 20 yrs.) and I’ll still give the Tandems a wide berth and always be alert for the unexpected from the other pilot and the “what if” scenario. That’s just the way I look at it and fly. Thanks for watching.

[@flyforfun3604]

Wow, nice flight and video. I’ve been flying paramotor for a year now and this really got me thinking that I might try this out day. Thanks for sharing🇸🇪

[@loums52]

One really helps the other. Fly when there are thermals and good winds and then Paramotor when things are calm and steady. Best of both worlds. Best wishes!

[@flyshacker]

Great to see you flying again, Lou! Really nice video. Relaxed! My wife and I moved to North Idaho (from NorCal) since I last communicated. We have several large navigable lakes nearby, so my recreation time will probably go toward sailing ⛵️ than flying. Looking at getting a trailerable trimaran sailboat that I can tow to all the lakes here and Montana. Best wishes and happy flying!

[@loums52]

That’s sounds fantastic. I went to graduate school in eastern Washington and would go to Idaho a lot. Had some friends in Sandpoint and McCall. Beautiful country and lots of open space…really miss that! Sailing is the next best thing to flying. Thanks for watching!

[@ajiggs]

Enjoy the videos. I fly the SP140. Great machine, on the heavy side and short flight times. Let me know if you have any specific questions or want to come to Joshua Tree to try it.

[@loums52]

Happy that you are enjoying the SP140. I am seeing more and more on You Tube. I am highly considering it and appreciate the invitation. I am concentrating on the paragliding along the coast until inland cools off and then will see. Chad Bastion in Santa Barbara even has a trike that accepts the SP140 so who knows. Thanks!

[@jamesgerwing2249]

Thanks for the virtual tour of TP, Lou. It looked like a perfect day. It would be a dream come true for me to fly a coastal site such as you have here. Laminar air? what's that?

[@loums52]

Thanks! I don't want to make you feel even more envious but sometimes it can get even better with heights to 600-700 feet! It is a nice spot and very fortunate to live close by. Best wishes!

[@davefoord1259]

How does the whistle help if you only hear out of one ear and have no idea what direction sound is coming from?

[@cabanford]

Nice vid 🙂. Have always wanted to spend some time doing beach soaring (I own a tandem company called FlyZermatt, here in Switzerland, so lots of mountain flying). Smooth, laminar wind. Warm air. Bikini girls on beach if one bombs out 🙂🤪🙂

[@loums52]

And I would love to fly in Switzerland! Perhaps one day both our wishes will be fulfilled. Thanks for watching!

[@skyridersean]

Why aren't you allowed to fly further along the ridge north anymore ?

[@loums52]

The point is an area called “bathtub rock” and beyond that is the start of the Torrey Pines Preserve. Since paraglider make no noise, the only time one would notice one is if you looked up. But they are prohibited from flying north along the ridge in this area. I have to look up the original “reason” and if I find something I’ll post it. Perhaps they feel people pilots would fly inland over the preserve if they caught a thermal? But how would that disrupt anything I don’t know. Aircraft can fly along the coast, and they do all the time, and the noise is obvious. It’s FAA airspace and I’ve flown my paramotor along the coast (but just off shore away from the actual beach) and no problem. If I looked up and saw a graceful and silent “flying wing” I would be thrilled, but that’s just me. Thanks for watching!

[@johnwagenhals881]

It’s an exciting thing with the shaky foot .. it’s nerves … your not entirely relaxed

[@loums52]

Hmmm…maybe. Though a certain amount of “alertness” is probably a good thing, so maybe some extra norepinephrine circulating. Thanks for watching.

[@johnwagenhals881]

Also the posture of the leg .. can also go back to being excited “