Mingus Mountain Site Intro June 2014 - An AZHPA Hang Gliding and Paragliding film by Greg Porter
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- Mingus Mountain is Arizona's premier Hang Gliding and Paragliding site. The Arizona Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association has sustained the site for over 40 years. With an HG/PG-only campground right at launch. The 7800' altitude creates the perfect respite from the summer heat and thermals to 18,000' provide incredible flights, whether you hang at the mountain or fly cross country. For more information on this and other Arizona sites visit us a www.azhpa.org. Come fly Mingus! (Pilots were as follows: The PG was James from Prescott, the launching HG was Bad Randy, the Blue HG was Bill Comstock, and the white wing seen over the treetops beyond the windsock was Jeff B Johnson.)
I used to go up there in the early eighties and puff on Mingus mountain bud while watching the crazy gliders jump off. My family owned the Mingus Trading post which was down the road. Good times!
Seeing this video just brought back great memories of flying there all summer through the 1980s. During fall, winter and spring, I flew Oatman Mountain but nothing in Arizona beats Mingus during summer. Fantastic altitude gains in huge thermals were common and this whole region of Arizona is just so beautiful. Thanks for posting. BTW Greg Porter, your name seems familiar to me. I have the world's worst memory but maybe we have flown together.
Hey thanks for the comment. I first flew Mingus in about 1977 or 1978 so am with you on the timeframe. What an awesome site. Thanks again, Greg
Are they still doing launches at noon on the weekends at all? We went there yesterday and there was no activity. (Still worth the drive though! :D )
Elizabeth B. Yes they are still flying. If the wind is blowing the wrong way (from the West) or if it is blowing above about 10mph in the valley from any direction then the wind will be much higher on the mountain and they can’t launch. Odds are at this time of year in June and July there will be flying taking place on the weekends and perhaps during the week if pilots camp there on vacation.
I just watched your video when you forgot to secure your lower part of your harness, very lucky. I had a friend that I meet through another friend, back in 2009 i belive. His name was koneiow, not sure how to spell it. He was on mingus at the first site and waiting to jump. The people before him was kinda slow so he went up by himself to the next site . He got himself all set up but didnot relise that when he clipped his D ring it did not catch and when he launched he found himself hanging only by his hands. He let go and feel trying to deploy his shute but it did not open . He pulled it back in and tried the 2nd time but did not open and fell to his death . Everyone at the first jump station watched the whole thing.
Thank god you keeper your cool and made it safely to the ground to fly another day.
Stay safe and god bless
Great video ! - A fellow HG pilot friend of mine has a house on Mingus .... looks like a long glide out to the LZ . - A very civilized site ... wow. (Y)
Hi Nikos, The wide angle of the GoPro is deceptive regarding glide distances. It is 4.95 miles to the airport, and an elevation drop of 5300', for a glide ratio of 5 to 1. In addition, we have a bailout LZ that is 3.7 miles away with an elevation drop of 5000', for a glide ratio of 4 to 1. I hadn't realized we have an HG pilot with a house on Mingus. If you could, please email his name to me at gpwrinkled at hotmail dot com. Thanks for the reply! Greg
Arizona with you guys is on by bucket list! What a place, just fabulous to have all that and camping too.
Thanks Ian, look forward to having you here!
Nicely done Greg, one of these days I'll get down that way. Looks great
It would be great to have you out, Mike. But I fear you would trounce our site distance records! Come see us man. Thanks for the reply. Greg
Awesome video. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks Richard. It's an awesome place to camp and fly.
That site is on my list of sites...nice intro!
Glad you enjoyed the vid, come see us. Thanks for the reply! Greg
This is awesome!!! Thanks. Are you coming to the July 12th fly-in?
Hi Linda! Unfortunately we probably won't make the fly-in. We will be somewhere camping and flying the weekend of the 4th… at Mingus if it's flyable, or there with you guys at Crestline. Hope to see you guys soon one way or another!
Good advertising Greg. Maybe I will be once there! Roland
Good to hear from you Roland. It would be great to have you out here some day. Thanks for the reply, Greg
My cousin lives near phoenix & I plan on visiting one day!
Come on out! I can help with your first flight there, and there are many others willing to do the same.
The primary LZ is 40 miles from launch ?
Hi Robert, The primary LZ is Cottonwood airport which is about 6 miles from launch. The bailout is a couple miles closer. I landed at the large park area which I think is about 12 miles from launch.
Aaah .. Looks beatutiful ... Like Crestline ...
Certainly has its own beauty, but it’s tough to beat Crestline. No 18K altitudes at Crestline, but it’s sure pretty.
I'm still new to HG XC and 40 miles sounds like a dream to me ; )
Most of our Central NY sites are fish bowl stuff.
Do you guys have a club site or FB page or something I can check out ?
Sure. Try azhpa.org