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Dave Kilbourne first soared Mission Ridge in a standard Rogallo wing on September 6, 1971.
The original launch was lower, near Ohlone college.
Mission Ridge was opened as a WOR site for Hang Gliding
in 1983. Only Advanced Rated current USHPA Hang Glider
and Paraglider pilots may now fly there.
Mission Ridge is located in Fremont, CA. To get to Mission
take the Mission Blvd. exit off 680 or 880 Hwy. Go east to
Stanford Ave. Turn right. Go 3/4 of a mile to the Mission
Peak Preserve. Parking is very limited. Carpool whenever possible.
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The Mission Peak Preserve is a multi-use open space preserve.
Please respect rights of other preserve users. The East Bay
Regional Parks district has limited the number of pilots with direct
access to Mission. This is managed by allocating a restricted number
of keys to WOR pilots each year. Since the only way to fly Mission
is with a keyholder, please contact one of the folks on the keyholders
list to gain access.
Be certain you are familiar with site procedures, rules and meet
all requirements before attempting to fly Mission Ridge.
Site Related Documents:
Rules and Restrictions
See Mission Site Procedures
for specifics.
Site Committee
Chairman
Roy Spencer
If you'd like to see what's happening at Mission right now, check
out either:
Flying The Site and Best Soaring Conditions
On clear days in the summer, the wind is typically light in the
morning with northwest after noon winds to 15 MPH. This summer pattern
predominates through the year. Mission ridge is soarable in winds
west southwest to west northwest. The best conditions are pre frontal.
Best soaring is in unstable conditions with west to west northwest
winds. There is a Terminal Control Area 4000 feet above launch (6000
feet MSL). This is area E of the CT for San Francisco airport.
CAUTION:
- Do not exceed 5500 feet MSL at Mission Ridge.
- There is a great deal of air traffic along Mission Ridge. These
aircraft are often at the same altitudes that we fly.
- West of HWY. 680 is the San Jose International airport ARSA.
The ARSA extends from the surface at approximately Dixon Landing
road to 4000 feet MSL.
- Mission peak is steep and a rotor exists down wind of the peak.
- Do not fly down wind of the peak.
Launch Altitude
1980 feet MSL and 1500 feet AGL
Best Wind Direction
WSW, W, WNW
Launch Characteristics
Launch faces west and is launchable in west northwest to west
southwest winds. There is room for 15 gliders to be set up.
Launch is accesed by a four wheel drive dirt road. A limited number
of pilots have access to gate keys required for access. See a keyholder
to fly Mission.
CAUTION:
- Do not launch in south winds.
- Do not drive on the road when it is the least bit wet. The infamous
footprint test is used. If you step on the road and any dirt/mud
sticks to the bottom of your shoes, it's too wet to drive on and
you will be cited by the parks department.
Landing Zone Altitude:
480 feet MSl
Landing Zone Characteristics
The primary landing area is shaped like a half of a bowl open
to the southeast. The landing area slopes slightly downhill to the
south and west and slightly uphill to the east.
Landing in a southwest or northwest wind is uphill near the top
of the bowl. At the bottom of the bowl is a dirt road, a creek bed
and a line of trees.
CAUTION:
- When approaching the landing area from the east or southeast
take care to leave enough space between you and the trees. Landing
in a southeast wind is uphill northwest of the landing area bowl.
- Do not overshoot the peak of the landing area when approaching
from the west
For up to date information on parks in the East Bay Regional Park
District
please call the EBRPD Park Closure Hotline: 510-544-2222
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