Hinchcliffe's

Hinchcliffe's Launch is on the ridge running parallel to Beechmont further inland (West) from the coast. Known as Hinchies, it is often flown when the wind strength is too strong to fly from Beechmont. As it is a few Kms inland from the coast, it is a good site to go XC! Private road access is through a locked gate (conditions apply to obtain the key).

Hinchies bombout is open to spectators awhens it is on a public road, however the Launch area is only open to members. Access to the site is only possible by obtaining the electronic gate opener from John Hinchcliffe. Please car pool by leaving vehicles at the bottom of Toe Holt Road but be mindful of not blocking driveways or access easements. Before driving up ensure contact senior Safety Officer Phil Hystek.

When parking vehicles at the Hinchies Bombout, please park as far off the road as possible. Be careful when doing a U turn at the bombout as that part of the road is a crest and passing vehicles may not see you until it’s too late.

Note No parking at Saddleback; the property the top of the hill behind launch.

The owner of the site (John Hinchcliffe) is hugely supportive of the CHGC but history of difficulties with neighbouring land owners makes this site very sensitive. Please bear this in mind when flying this site.

PLEASE LOG ON TO THIS WEBSITE USING YOUR USERNAME AND PASSWORD TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE RELEVANT PHONE NUMBERS. You will find them at the bottom of the page once you have logged in.

1/. If you plan to use Hinchies launch, please contact Senoir Safety Officer Phil Hystek for prior permission from the land owner, and gate opener device.

2/. The person who collects the gate opener IS RESPONSIBLE for putting the opener back. There is only one opener and it’s the landowners only access to the top of his property. He’s happy to let us use it but he has to have it back at the end of the day. If he doesn’t have it, or it’s lost, then he has no access. If the opener is left in a different location, then this must only be done after direct consultation with John, not hearsay from another pilot.

3/. The person who takes the opener IS RESPONSIBLE.

4/. The daily use fee for Hinchies is $5 per pilot and the cash is to be left under in his meter box. PLEASE be honest with this and leave the money. Hinchies is a great asset to the club and it would be a absolute pity to loose it.

Hinchcliffe's is an excellent thermic site with great XC potential but it is not ridge soarable so it’s less likely to be able to ridge soar and wait for a thermal to come through as is the case on Beechmont. Hinchies is flyable in winds E through S although the launch only faces E and flying there in a South wind will require launching in lee side rotor. The south face works best on winter afternoons when there is a S katabatic wind and can make for some beautiful sunset ridge soaring.

Access:

Rating: Paragliding - PG2, (PG2 or PG3, if under supervision of Instructor or Club Safety Officer.) , Hanggliding - Intermediate

Required Wind Direction: SE through to S
Altitude: 1730ft / 527m ASL
CTA: Above 6500ft, then steps to 8500ft behind launch
Weather Station: None
Facilities: None.
Launch coordinates: [ Pending ]

If you are flying Hinchies because it’s blown out at Beechmont, be careful of rough air in the valley in front of launch, and possible strong sink if heading to the bombout. Don’t drift low over the back chasing a climb as the Canungra Creek valley is incredibly rough in strong E wind. You need to be high enough to get on to Witheren and out into the Kerry Valley. Be aware of power lines in the bombout that run both parallel and perpendicular to Launch (western and southern side of bombout area). The main valley power line runs directly through the middle of the landing field and it’s quite common to not have enough height to get over the line if bombing out. Decide early whether you will make it easily over the line and if you have any doubts that you won’t clear it by more than 50m altitude, then choose to land on the launch side. The air over the landing field can be rough if the wind is strong.

Hinchcliffe's Bombout (click to enlarge)

The only approved landing field for Hinchies is the V shaped paddock directly East of launch and bounded by the road and the V in the creek. There are power lines about North South direction across the flying final approach into the landing paddock (like a big nasty electric fence!) which are best navigated by aircraft circuit base leg along power lines with safe height separation, then turn 90 degrees into East final approach, traveling away from power lines for landing uphill. Note there are a second power lines at South border of paddock, on the opposite side to North border gully and trees. These power lines on the south border of the landing paddock are traveling approximately east west which is 90 degrees elbow to other power lines, and your likely to fly parallel when landing about easterly final to land uphill towards windsock. Smaller landing space over obstacles requiring steeper decent may be demanding for some faster gliding wings requiring good glide slope judgement and energy management to retain safe airspeed near the ground for effective flare and safe landing.

There is absolutely no top landing, no face landing or landing anywhere in the valley other than the official bombout.

With the fresh to strong SE wind, there will probably be some pilots keen to fly Hinchies.

PLEASE take note of the following suggestions in order both avoid a potential accident on the road, and to keep the locals happy.

1/. When arriving at the landing field/bombout by car, please don’t make a U turn at the landing area. The road is getting much busier nowadays, and the landing field is situated on a blind crest and curve. The road is too narrow for most cars to do a straight U turn and most need to make a 2 point turn. It’s only a matter of time before a local comes racing (and yes, they sometimes drive at 100km/h along that part of road) over the hill and “T” bones someone stopped in the middle of the road whilst trying to do a U turn. There is an excellent turning bay about 500m further along the road which is council gravel dump.

2/. When parking vehicles at the bombout, they need to be parked down near the Bus stop. Do not leave cars parked adjacent to the walk over fence stile near the windsock. Remember again that this part of the road is a blind crest and curve and we need to leave the road as wide as possible for passing cars.

3/. Remember to leave $5 per pilot/day in the meter box.

4/. If you’re the first do drive up, and it looks like a day when others may want to come up for a flight, leave the opener under the rock next to the gate hinge pole.

Thanks for your understanding.

Whist we spend time focused on the safety of flying our aircraft, it is equally important to consider the safety of those who reside in our community.

One important consideration is how we park our vehicles around our various launch sites.

Many of our local roads are quite narrow, and generally require both vehicles to move on to the road verge in order to pass an oncoming car.

It is imperative that we park vehicles as far off the road as possible so the public have ample room to pass, especially in the event there is a car coming in the opposite direction.

This should apply in all areas including around Launches, Bombouts and even if retrieving a pilot who has outlanded XC.

Many CHGC sites have established protocols regarding safe appropriate parking areas which are outlined on the Club website. Most of these protocols have been negotiated by the Club and local landowners, whilst others have been created for pure common sense.

Recently, work has taken place opposite Tambo launch to address some parking issues, and Beechmont may see some further changes with a new café being built across the road.

Potential changes to the parking arrangements at the Tambo bombout are also being discussed.

Earlier this year, a review was taken on the parking arrangements at Hinchcliffe bombout. It has been decided that parking close to the windsock was not the safest area, and an area to the north near the bus stop is more appropriate. There is a gate there, and the stile near the windsock will be relocated closer to that area soon.

Attached are pics showing the parking options around the Hinchcliffe bombout. If space has run out around the bus stop area, John Hinchcliffe has suggested two other areas that can be used if needed. The first overflow area is about 80m north of the bus stop. If you are not sure where they are, let me know.

Can all commercial operators please ensure your students or tandem clients park in the appropriate areas aswell. Remaining vigilant and considerate of our impact on the local community is vital in the CHGC’s ability to continue operations in this area.

Regards,

Brandon CHGC SSO

Hinchies Bombout

At all times, position your flight path according to the weather conditions and according to the performance of your flying equipment and your experience so you always have glide to a safe landing option. Ensure you make wise decisions to Fly a safe flight path and have climbed enough to a safe height to avoid leeward rotor flying over mountains.