Westbury, UK Height: 204 meters This site is frequently used and offers good thermal soaring opportunities. Occasionally, you can also enjoy some cross-country (XC) flying. The site is easily accessible, but it's important to ask locals about the rules. Note that there is no bottom landing below takeoff and no top landing in fields above takeoff. Region: Westbury, UK Site Record: 72.9 km Site Record: 108.6 km Flights: [Watch Flight Video 1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khzEFW-iW9s) [Watch Flight Video 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uIYj_vBqmVI) More Information: [Avon HG/PG Club](http://www.avonhgpg.co.uk/sites/sites.php) Grid Reference: ST 900 518 Site Code: 1.004 Wind Direction: W, WNW, NW, NNW Height ASL: 750 feet Height TTB: 300 feet Site Officer: Martin Harris (07887 581566) Pilot Rating: Suitable for any rated pilot. Permission: Open site. Note that the bottom landing is under threat if people soar a lot over the riding stables (as of 20/8/2015). Parking: Park in the westernmost car park. Leave a gap for gliders to be carried forward to takeoff. Rigging: Do not rig on any paths to avoid blocking the route to takeoff. Hang-gliders should not be rigged on the front of the hill; stay far enough back to give paraglider pilots room to take off and land. Keep all paths clear as this is a public place frequently used by elderly people and parents with children. Takeoff: Either side of the obelisk on the north-westerly takeoff. Paragliders should launch from well to the east of the obelisk when conditions permit. Never inflate a paraglider in front of a hang glider to avoid blowback accidents. Local Flying: Ensure you can stay up before taking off. No top-to-bottom flights are allowed. Do not fly south of the fence forming the southern boundary of the common area to avoid violating the danger area. Stay at least 600 feet above the riding stables when overflying this area. The site has great potential for flying out in front of the ridge, with pilots often flying out over the cement works. On good days, triangles of 100 km or more have been flown. XC Flying: If you intend to fly XC, make sure you have a map and know the position of the danger area. It is impossible to fly directly downwind from this site due to the danger area; you must first track west for 5 km. Details on airspace for XC around to the west can be found on the [Avon HG/PG Club website](http://www.avonhgpg.co.uk/sites/info_salisbury_plain.php). Tracking east, the danger area extends further north and must be avoided. The status of restrictions on Keevil can be accessed via the Telegram group. Top Landing: Do not land on the side of the hill, especially on the White Horse as it is a national monument. Land anywhere on the common area behind the parked cars. Be cautious of members of the public, especially those flying kites. This area can be very turbulent in fresh winds, especially if the winds are northerly. In such conditions, land back in the rough grass. Experienced paraglider pilots can land on the spur to the north of the horse’s nose. Avoid rabbit holes and carry back to takeoff via the public footpath. Do not land on the flat area behind the White Horse due to turbulence. Do not land in any of the farmer's fields on the top or side of the hill. Bottom Landing: Bottom landings are a last resort. No deliberate top-to-bottom flights are allowed. Be wary of livestock, especially when there are calves around. The field available for emergency landings is the large grass field south of the road with the wire gate in the northwestern corner. If it is full of livestock, use another field. Clear the area as soon as possible if you bottom land, as other pilots may need to land as well. De-rig by the gate or at the edge of the field. Do not walk back up the face of the hill; go out of the gate, along the road to the east, and walk up the footpath on the spur. Do not drive your car into this field to retrieve your glider; carry it out. If you end up in another field, find your way out via the gates. Directions: After leaving Westbury on the B3098 to Bratton, turn right up Newton Road. At the crossroads at the top of the hill, turn left and drive until the road reaches the large grass common area. Takeoff: Easy takeoff with a couple of benches and a trig point to avoid. Hang-gliders often park directly behind takeoff. Takeoff for paragliders and hang-gliders is into the northwest from the White Horse bowl. In a northwest or west wind, turn right and fly the White Horse side of the bowl. In a northwest wind, you may also turn left after departure and fly the long northwest-facing ridge to the west. Landing: Easy. Land back in the field behind takeoff. Hang-gliders always land in the large area by the car park. Watch out for kite fliers in this area. Bottom landing is only allowed in the emergency landing field opposite the farmhouse. Pack up by the gate. Park retrieve cars on the road by the gate and never in the field. Side land on the grassy spur in front of the White Horse hill carving if getting low. Never land on other hillsides as they are Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). If in doubt, ask a local flier about the rules. Going There: Take the A350 to Westbury town and then the B3098 to Bratton Village. In the village, take the turn up the hill to the top car park area. Comments: The White Horse is an excellent XC site when the wind is west or west-northwest as thermals come off Westbury Town. You can fly east along the danger area and along the Pewsey Vale. Weather Hazards: In a west to northwest wind, out-of-phase wave gusts often occur at takeoff, but once airborne, it's okay. Flight Regulation: Do not land anywhere along the sides of the ridges except in front of the White Horse hill carving. Do not land in any bottom field except the emergency landing field. Do not enter the Salisbury Danger Area directly behind the site. There is a lot of military traffic around the site, so keep a good lookout if you get high. People to Contact: Contact the Avon HG/PG Club website 'SkyTribe' for details. Website: [Avon HG/PG Club](http://avonhgpg.co.uk)