Padgham Hill

Updated 1/14/2025

Pilots must be current USHPA members as well as current RAF Chapter members.
This site requires a rating of H2/P2/H1. Students (H0/H1) must be under the direct supervision of an RAF HG Instructor.
Any pilot flying this site, regardless of rating, is required to have at least one other person on site, capable of summoning help if needed. Mini-wings are permitted for pilots with minimum M1 rating, or P2 rating and under supervision of M1 Pilot.
Student pilots are advised that students who fail to follow instructor guidance or who demonstrate willful disregard of safe flight principles and practice will not advance to H2 and could have their RAF membership terminated.
Glider tie-downs are not required. Student pilots shall follow instructor guidance on proper ground handling and positioning of gliders.
Tandem flight is not permitted at this site.
Padgham Hill should generally not be flown when conditions are more than 15 mph with a gust factor of 5 mph in 5 seconds. All pilots are responsible to be aware of USHPA’s stated operating limits for their wing and rating.

Student pilots shall follow guidance from instructors about launch technique and about avoidance of surrounding scrub vegetation.
The 150’ hill has launches facing West, Northwest, North, and East.
Rotor can develop along the tree lines on the launch hill,
Pilots must use good decision-making in all situations based on wind direction, speed, and possible rotor from tree lines.
The ideal wind speed is 6-10 mph for all launch directions.

Wind Strength Guidelines (MPH) for All Launches

Minimum
Ideal
Max
Gust


 HG
 0
 6-8
 15
 5

 PG
 0
 6-8
 15
 5

 MiniWing
 
 10
 20
 10

  

	Minimum	Ideal	Max	Gust
HG	0	6-8	15	5
PG	0	6-8	15	5
MiniWing		10	20	10

Launch Wind Direction (Degrees)

Launch

Left
Right


 East
 Ideal
 70
 90

 
 Ok
 60
 90

 W-NW-N
 Ideal
 286
 360

 
 Ok
 270
 360

  

Rotor can develop in the W and E LZs.
The LZ surrounding the hill is a farmed field with plow ruts and stones turned out of the earth by plows; pilots are encouraged to observe the condition of the landing area before launching.
PG pilots can land in the grassy area at the bottom of the hill without going into the crop field at the bottom of the W, NW, and N launches.

Access to this site is seasonal and is solely at the resident property owner’s discretion. Pilots shall not fly this site during “blackout periods” set by the owner and communicated to the membership through the RAF Board of Directors.
Site access is via the driveway entrance from Bowerman Road. Student pilots park on the road. H2 and higher may park along the drive as space permits.
The hill is accessed across a farmed field; pilots and guests shall traverse the field along the worn footpath between the storage area near the drive and the setup/breakdown area at the foot of the hill.
There are no accommodations for spectators at this site. The Club does not encourage non-members to frequent this site. Student pilots are specifically asked not to bring any spectators to the site. Occasionally, a passer-by curious about free flight will approach the hill to ask about HG/PG. Such persons are to be directed to the instructor on scene, who will answer questions and provide escort for the visitor.
Dogs must be on a leash and are not permitted during launch and landing operations.
Club members are not to enter this site property unless participating in a training session, brushing up flight skills (H2+/P2+), or attending to Club property at the storage area. There are no general aviation activities at this site.

In an emergency, call 911, describe the situation, and give the dispatcher the site address – 455 Bowerman Road, Farmington.

For more information and site introductions contact:

Robert Slebodnik

rslebodnik56@gmail.com

585-285-5304

Padgham Training Hill - click for directions on Google Maps