I see on Youtube the town of Cerro Gordo has been purchased . The intent is to make it an adventure destination . The peak was quite a popular launch site in the 70's . If I am correct ,Jerry Katz made the first 100 mile flight from here is his hang glider in around 1977 . . . . .ish .
Has anybody flown there in recent years
Cerro Gordo
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- Posts: 5
- Joined: Sun, Jan 26 2014, 05:19:12 pm
- Location: Victoria B.C. Canada
Re: Cerro Gordo
Apparently there has been a thread to this in the past. As I haven't viewed this forum much in recent years, I missed it. Probably the only ones who remember Cerro Gordo are the increasingly smaller number of oldtimers.
From what I can ascertain , the site closed down in the mid 80's over liability and land use issues ? ( correct me if I'm wrong please ) With the launch across the valley ( Walts Point ) becoming popular, I assume
pursuing the reopening of Cerro Gordo became a lost cause .
From what I can ascertain , the site closed down in the mid 80's over liability and land use issues ? ( correct me if I'm wrong please ) With the launch across the valley ( Walts Point ) becoming popular, I assume
pursuing the reopening of Cerro Gordo became a lost cause .
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Re: Cerro Gordo
I drove to that launch, for George Worthington , back in 1978 - 79 , when he was attempting
to break distance records with his Mitchel wing. Dang that was a long time ago !!!
Bille
to break distance records with his Mitchel wing. Dang that was a long time ago !!!
Bille
GOOD RUSH !!!
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Re: Cerro Gordo
I had one flight there back in 1978 .I remember meeting Jeff Scott, Don Chambers ,and Gary Patmore that day. We had to help them push a ( Ford Courier pickup ? ) that was bagging out at that altitude.
Such spectacular scenery . I had no Idea of the significant history of the abandoned town we drove through near the top .
Such spectacular scenery . I had no Idea of the significant history of the abandoned town we drove through near the top .
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Re: Cerro Gordo
You’re a legend! George’s book was one of the first hang gliding books I ever read!
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/153 ... ld-records
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Re: Cerro Gordo
George use to practice his landings at Torrey Pines ; he would do that
before going to Cerro Gordo. So one day I asked him if he could turn
the Mitchel wing, without the use of the rudders ? He said : "No".
I asked him if he had ever tried to turn with ailerons only ; by adding
a bunch of speed : he said : "No".
The very next fricken day ; George was flying the Mitchel, and the
block that held the control for Rudder ; it broke off !!
He remembered the conversation from the day before , and he sped up
a bunch and practiced flying for an hour with ailerons for turning ; then
he went Way back on the sailplane runway, and landed without incident.
Yep -- George Thanked me a Lot ; i gave him an exit plan.
Bille
before going to Cerro Gordo. So one day I asked him if he could turn
the Mitchel wing, without the use of the rudders ? He said : "No".
I asked him if he had ever tried to turn with ailerons only ; by adding
a bunch of speed : he said : "No".
The very next fricken day ; George was flying the Mitchel, and the
block that held the control for Rudder ; it broke off !!
He remembered the conversation from the day before , and he sped up
a bunch and practiced flying for an hour with ailerons for turning ; then
he went Way back on the sailplane runway, and landed without incident.
Yep -- George Thanked me a Lot ; i gave him an exit plan.
Bille
GOOD RUSH !!!