Hello from Laguna Niguel

[jeffareid]

Actually I'm from nearby Laguna Hills, but I primarily fly rc gliders at the Laguna Niguel slope site AKA Lilly Shapell park:

http://www.ci.laguna-niguel.ca.us/%5Cindex.asp?NID=210

[madmax]

Hi Jeff! Owner of this joint, nice to meet you and welcome!!! I'm over here in Costa Mesa, fly at Fairview Park and OCMA at Irvine Lake. Don't be a stranger dude!! best-- Max

[jeffareid]

	Quote: Originally Posted by madmax
	I'm over here in Costa Mesa, fly at Fairview Park and OCMA at Irvine Lake.

I used to work near Fairview Park, and brought my Artemis LT there during week days at lunchtime fairly regularly (I used a strong hi-start to launch), before the electrics took over a few years ago. On the weekends I flew and still fly the slope at Laguna Niguel. It's been a while since I was at Fairview Park. From what I hear, the gliders mostly come out on the weekend mornings, and there's a 400 foot ceiling (no mention of this at the HSS web site, except via the long video there). There are few guys that set up a winch just across from Laguna Niguel at Wood Canyon on the weekend mornings, but I haven't been there yet.

I never heard of OCMA before, other than I recall something about rc aircraft somewhere near Irvine Lake. There's also some slope site where they use to fly combat wings in north Orange County, but I don't recall where that is.

This forum seems interesting, so I plan to be a regular visitor here.

[islandflyer2]

Hi Jeff!
I too used to fly in your area through the 80 (that's right! I am Old!!!).
Sunday afternoon gliders at Kite Hill. Mostly flew power at Mile Square during the week, and off new streets under construction on week ends (like Alton PKW in Irvine).
Too much fun...

[jeffareid]

I went to watch at Mile Square a few times, but never had a model with motor and landing gear (I still have an electric "assist" model, but don't fly it anymore).

Speaking of empty lot fields, here's a short video of my Artemis LT, being launched by a strong hi-start, 60 feet of what is now hosemonsters 4 meter (unlimited) latex tubing (24lb to 27lb tension depending on pull, 300% or 350%) (it was hollydays heavy duting tubing when I bought it), 210 feet monofilament fishing line (60 lb test which tangles less), and a winch type parachute, and landed via hand catch.

If you left click on the "right click here" you'll see the video in it's 640x480 size (or just right click and download if you want):

Click the play button to start.
Right click here to save the video

[Judge]

I sold my Artemis LT, great light air plane. I still have a yellow one NIB that I may finish someday!! Haven't been out to Highlands in ages, good to see it is still going strong.

The guys who fly at the base of the slope are the Aliso Viejo Soaring Society. They do a lot of electrics flying too along with some scale aerotow (using electric tugs). I need to get out there with my electric molded Graphite sometime!!

[Mithrandir]

I flew that area in '88 and '89... before the houses... just a brick wall and graded lots... flew a little further south on that ridge.... used to take clubhouse up and turn right on...??? hmm... can't remember the name... Lost a plane down in the valley.. had to drive over to kite hill and walk thru the gate at the place across the street from kite hill and walk all the way over to the valley where my plane went down.. found it!!!

[Judge]

You take Highlands right off Alicia. There is another slope off of Clubhouse, I'm not even sure if you can get there anymore.

[jeffareid]

A video of Laguna Niguel slope site, taken May 3, 2008 (last Saturday). You can left click on "right click here" to stream the video if you want.

960x540 version of video:

Click the play button to start.
Right click here to save the video

640x360 version of video:

Click the play button to start.
Right click here to save the video

[jeffareid]

	Quote: Originally Posted by Mithrandir
	kite hill and walk thru the gate at the place across the street from kite hill and walk all the way over to the valley where my plane went down.. found it!!!

That's the valley below Laguna Niguel. The name of the valley area is Aliso And Wood Canyons Wilderness Park.

Laguna Niguel Slope Site (Lilly Shapell Park) on mapquest. To the north east is Kite Hill (off the map, you'll have to scroll). To the west is the valley, and further west is a is a south facing slope that can be reached via Wood Canyon (it's here that a few people setup a winch for launcing larger models on weekend mornings). Switching to aerial image may help you visualize this location.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/28737+D...guna+Niguel+CA

For Santa Ana winds, if I remember correctly, take Golden Lantern and turn west on Serenity, then continue on the road till it dead ends. Walk the path around the back of the homes to end up at "Gazebos", with a slope facing east towards the 5 freeway.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/99+sere...guna+Niguel+CA