IMPORTANT NOTE - All information provided on this site is meant as a guide only for pilots rated PG2 and above. Whilst every care has been taken to provide accurate information, the details provided are not meant to encourage pilots to fly our sites unsupervised. Could all pilots please make contact with a local SA pilot (listed on the contacts page) prior to flying any of our sites. Our sites are precious and we do not want to lose them through ignorance. Your cooperation with this mandatory requirement is very much appreciated.
Tunkalilla
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Site rating - PG2
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Wind direction SE - SSW (Real time wind conditions can be found by clicking HERE.)
ATTENTION! - Generally a good summer site, but may work occasionally in winter. SE corner can be flown as well as SE facing cliff 1km right of launch. Site Hazards - Power lines down spur west of launch, running south down to pole above beach, then to the house west of the bottom landing paddock. Top landing warning - Top landing can be tricky, if you haven’t top landed before, seek a briefing from an experienced pilot before launching. The top landing may look easy, but complications are caused by the fence and the slope (to S/ SE). Rotors exist when extremely off direction even through the points are flyable. In SW to WSW direction rotors will be created from western hills and in SE to ESE rotors will be created from Eastern hills. Also great care should be taken during mixed Hangliders/Paraglider operations, especially when crowded. Before launching, consider how crowded the airspace is on the ridge (especially near launch). Be aware the ridge near launch can become crowded, especially if lift decreases once several gliders are airborne. Experienced pilots should fly away from the launch & top-landing areas once they have enough altitude to do so safely. If conditions seem too crowded, delay launching until there is adequate airspace to allow all gliders to maintain safe clearances. Paragliders should be aware that hangliders travel faster than Paragliders and most (especially topless Hangliders in light winds) require a large space to turn & land and may overshoot top landings. Hangliders also have limited visibility above & behind the pilot's position.
IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS! - LANDING RESTRICTIONS FOR ALL NON SAHPGA LAND -
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East Landings Restricted
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Avoid flying towards Tunk Head if conditions seem marginal (PARTICULARLY WHEN CONDITIONS ARE LIGHT OR THERE IS AN EASTERLY ELEMENT IN THE WIND DIRECTION) .
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Make every attempt to only land on the SAHPGA leased land.
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Landing should only happen on the SAHPGA lease or the beach. If landing on a neighbour's property cannot be avoided, gather (don't pack) kit, walk immediately to the beach (pack there), and return to the SAHPGA lease along the beach. Minimal disruption with neighbours will assist with future negotiations of our lease for Tunk (currently month to month)
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Due to sensitive landowners
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​If out landing is unavoidable, land on the beach and walk out along the beach
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If it is unsafe to land on the beach and you need to land on a neighbouring property to the east - you must walk directly to the beach and walk along the beach to return to SAHPGA leased paddock.
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Do not walk up to relaunch on any other adjoining residents' properties.
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Make sure to maintain at least 100ft above any buildings, public roads or people (not associated with our flying) - whenever you are within 25m horizontally of them.
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Please be polite & courteous to our neighbours at all times and respect their privacy and private land.
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Directions
Map
Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3
Turn off Range Road into Tunkalilla Road (Fig 1). Continue for approximately 6 kilometres, then turn left at the McGregor Road junction (Fig 2) denoted by the four wheel drive only sign (can be negotiated in a standard car if it has not been raining). Follow this windy track for another 4 kilometres and park in the car park after driving down the steep hill (Fig 3). The launch site can be found to the left of the car park. Caution should be taken in the wet as the track can become very muddy and slippery. Note - you can enter 978D Tunkalilla Road into your sat nav and this should take you to the car park.
Site Details
Tunk1
Tunk 2
Tunk 3
The launch site is very open and there is plenty of space for ground handling and top landing. Top landing should only be attempted by experienced pilots who are familiar with this site. It is recommended visitors should bottom land and walk back up to the launch area. There is a large landing zone at the bottom of the hill when top landing is not possible (Tunk 1 image). When setting up for launch, please walk down away from the fences to the rear and Western side of launch, as these barbed wire fences will damage gliders (Tunk 2 image).
HAZARD 1 (POWER LINES) - When flying to the West (right of launch when taking off), there are power lines that are difficult to see, particularly when flying back towards launch. Please ensure you have sufficient height to clear these.
HAZARD 2 (VENTURIES) - There is a deep gully adjacent to launch to the East and a smaller gully to the west. Please do not cross either of these low as you are likely to experience a ventury (see Tunk 1 image above)
HAZARD 3 (BARB WIRE FENCES) - There are 3 barb wire fences adjacent to launch (see Tunk 2 image). Care should be taken when launching and landing to keep your glider away from these to avoid damage.