FLYING SITES IN AVILA
NORTHER REGION  |  SOUTHERN REGION

NORTHER REGION

Peña Negra  |  Puerto de Chía  |  Other take offs

Photographs and information from Steve Ham, Corneja and paragliding and hang gliding pilot, tandem pilot and organiser of competition events.

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For decades the central Chain of mountains in Spain has been considered as one of the best flying areas in the World.  Many important record flights have been achieved by sailplanes, hang gliders and paragliders.  The good conditions for slope and thermal soaring, the high cloud bases and the famous convergence parallel to the mountain and almost 400km long has made the region a Mecca for all disciplines of free flying.

The central mountain system is the area where more 1000km yo yo flights in sailplane have been achieved.  The use of the convergence allows us to make long distance flights without the need for strong winds to push us along and permitting pilots of lesser abilities to make good distances in an environment less demanding than other world renowned record sites.

The dominant winds come from the West and North West permitting ridge soaring on the NW slopes.  The flatlands in front offer excellent thermals and permit easy landings and retrieves along good road communications.

Peña Negra

Statistics

• Altitude: 1.909 metres (6204 feet) ASL
• Top to bottom height: 900 metres (2925 feet)
• Orientation: NW

Access

Tarmac road linking Piedrahita to the Peña Negra pass.

Details

This is the main launch site that is usable on 90 percent of good flyable days. There is a car park, a bar (not is use, and vandalised since 2001) and the take off area is divided into two sections: above and below the road.
With nil wind it is generally better to take off below the road as it is steeper and if there is any danger of catabatic wind it affect the upper take off first.

With a few km/hr of wind, the top take of is used. There is a fence to the rear, so if there is any chance of you being dragged back on a failed take off, it is best to prepare a little down slope.

If you top land, the best area is the flatter area near the windsock on the west side of the upper launch.

The whole area is a little rocky, and also there are a number of gorse bushes. We have been clearing the site by hand, improving it as best we can. For 2009 a significant improvement is anticipated with help of the local government and town hall.

Landing Fields

The flatter fields of the valley are approximately a 4.5:1 glide from Launch. There is a landing field at the half way point on the spine running down on the right of take off. This is just before the forested section (called locally the Monte de Jura). It often has about 70 beehives in summertime, so we name it ¨The Bees¨ (although its real name is Los Ramos). There are also good fields in the gulley before the forested section next to the road. On the Chalet spine there is the option to land near the Chalets.
The official landing field in the valley can change year by year. For 2009 to 2011 it is a large (2 hectare) field just to the SE of town (about 100m from the Panera Bar or Steve´s house).
Hang Gliders usually land in the large flat fields near the rubbish dump about 1km NE of the town.  There are many flat easy fields, the choice of which depends upon the state of the crops and if they have been cut.

En el TUTORIAL de la página de Steve encuentras descripciones para rutas de vuelo.

Puerto de Chía

Statistics

• Altitude 1800 metres (5850 feet) ASL
• Top to bottom height: 400 metres (1300 feet)
• Orientations S and SE

Access

From the south side of the Chia pass there is a dirt track which leads to both launches.
South East launch: This is in the bowl facing ESE. Parking near the water container, you walk 80 m up the hill were there is a large grassy launch, suitable for easy top landings.
Southerly launch: follow the track out of the bowl to the main southerly face. Take off is a very shallow grassy area which is safe and easy for top landing.

Details

This is an excellent easy site, which offers good ridge soaring in the evening when restitution often sets up. We often go to this site when the wind is over the back at early in the day at Peña Negra. If pilots have not climbed out by around 2pm, we will often return Peña Negra. It is common to go over the back at Chia and find convergence with the anabatic wind up the face of the Piedrahita range. We have had some excellent XC flights from here to Salamanca and Cuidad Rodrigo.

Landing Fields

Out front of the S launch is very flat, with many unfenced large fields. We normally land in the large field with the goalposts. From the SE take off you sometimes do not reach the football field. There is a suitable landing field next to the road going down.

Other Launch sites in the area.

There are other sites in the greater surrounding area and a number not detailed below but used unofficially by Steve and his groups

Those used regularly by pilots include:

• Candelario. 40km from Piedrahita NNW
• La Hoya. 40km from Piedrahita. W
• Puerto de Menga. 35km from Piedrahita. NW
• Carpio (Alba de Tormes) 55km from Piedrahita N, NE, E and SW.
• Herrezuelo. 35km from Piedrahita SW.
• La Aldea del Rey Niño. 65km from Piedrahita NW
• El Torno. 60km from Piedrahita SW, NW
• Puerto de Honduras. 50km from Piedrahita SW
• Pedro Bernardo. 105km from Piedrahita SW SE
• Lanzadita. 100km from Piedrahita S.
• La Bastitda. 65km from Piedrahita NE.
• La Lagunilla. 50km from Piedrahita S and SW

ZONA SUR

Pedro Bernardo  |  Cebreros  |  Piedralaves

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Pedro Bernardo

Photos and info from  Günther Porath,
Corneja and German hang glider pilot with various FAI distance

The flying area and village of Pedro Bernardo are on the south side of the central mountain chain looking out over the Tietar valley with the Gredos mountains to its northwest(2500m), to the northeast the Sierra del Valle (2100m), to the southeast the Sierra  de la Higuera (1100m) and to the south the Sierra de San Vicente (1300m).  To the southeast it opens onto the Tietar valley towards the River Tajo y La Mancha with an height of 400m asl.



The protected position maintains warmer weather in the valley of Tietar than the surrounding areas – that part of Avila has been named the Andalusia of Avila.  In summertime during July and August the temperatures can be very high and often cause a strong inversion which prevents thermals passing through until the peak hours of the afternoon.

The centre of Spain is dominated by winds from the Northwest and strong thermals.  In the region of Pedro Bernardo the strong local valley winds and the thermal activity often produce turbulence during the afternoon in summertime.
The arrival of fresher winds from the North or East, caused by the passage of a front, occasionally permit take offs early in the morning from the East take off where the thermals and conditions are usually more gentle.

Precaution should be taken when there are North winds as the inversion may permit launching in apparently good conditions but with the possibility of unpleasant surprises with an important level of turbulence.

Good conditions are generally had with West winds, though the thermals do not really start working before midday on the west take off.  In summertime, after the wind comes onto the west face, there is usually a strong increase in the wind strength as the afternoon progresses.

Unlike Piedrahita, the evening soaring at Pedro Bernardo is poor or impossible.  Generally as the sun goes more to the NW the southern faces of the mountain chain set up a strong catabatic wind.

The best time for flying is from March to June and from September to October.

Access: All launches are reached via the road that goes from Pedro Bernardo up towards the mountain pass.  A few kilometres after leaving the village there is a road doubling back to the right next to a fountain.  This track later turns into a dirt road.  The access was improved in 2008 for the British National event held there.  You can reach all take offs in a normal car.

Southern Lauch (Paragliding and Hang gliders):

Height above sea level: 950 m, Coordinates: N40º14'39'' W4º53'42''

This is the first take off we pass as we go up the track from Pedro Bernardo.  It is on the right, down a short access track of 50-100m.  Paragliders often use this launch early in the morning for training flights.  It is directly in front of the official landing.

East take off below. 70-105°:


Height asl: 1.010 m, Coordinate: N40°15'09'' W4°53'16'' (Paragliding and Hang gliding)



The access is a track of 50 m on the right of the main track up(in the photo there is a van parked there).  It is a large area with a good gradient suitable for paragliders and hang gliders but you must be there early as the wind tends to more around to the west face as the sun moves in that direction

West Take off (Paragliding and Hang gliding):

Height asl: 1.250 m, Coordinates: N40°15'24'' W4°54'20''

Este take off (wooden take off ramp) 80° (hang gliding):

Height asl: 1.315 m, Coordinates: N40°15'50' W4°54'11''

Official Landing (Paragliding and Hang gliding)

Enter at 50° to 230°, Altitude : 450 m asl, Coordinates: N40°13'44'' W4°52'51''



You enter from the 501 and at midday it is not easy with hang gliders since it is usually turbulent.  We advise you to be take care as on the approach there is a line of trees to the east of the road and to the north and south a line of high tension cables.  If you arrive with little altitude it is better to choose the field behind the cables which is larger and has the same access.  Take care of the grass/crop and do not drive off the track.

Landing field “Ejido” La Iglesuela (Paragliding and hang gliding):

Approach from all directions.
Altitude asl: 520 m, Coordinates: N40°13'45'' W4°52'02''



It is 13km from the take of Pedro Bernardo and has a restaurant/meson next to it so the beer is guaranteed.  You should bear in mind that La Iglesuela is 100m above the level of the 501 road so you should arrive with altitude for safety.  If you arrive low there are large flat areas next to the road which you can use to land in.  We advise you not to enter the aerodrome which you will see on your approach.

Cebreros

Take off: Southeast, Altitude: 1300m, Coordinates: N40.44932 W4.51023.

The Cebreros take off is from a track in the high point of the Arrebatacapas pass on the West side of the road.

Landing field: Altitude 770m, Coordinates: N40.44773 W4.48015.

The landing field is next to the AV504 road which leaves Cebreros towards El Barraco

Piedralaves

Take off. Coordinates: 40°19'43.64"N  4°40'37.62"O

Lasnding field. Coordinates: 40°18'28.90"N  4°41'1.46"O