Paragliding Chia 1

Located in Spain, this paragliding site offers an altitude of 1843 meters with a height difference of approximately 400 meters. It is occasionally used, mainly for thermal soaring, with the potential for good cross-country flights, although these are rare. There are various takeoff possibilities, with the most commonly used one being described here. Top landing is possible. Access to the site is from the south side of the Chia pass via a dirt track that leads to both launches. The South East launch is in a bowl facing ESE, with parking near a water container. From there, it's an 80-meter walk up the hill to a large grassy launch area, suitable for easy top landings. The Southerly launch is accessed by following the track out of the bowl to the main southerly face, where the takeoff area is a shallow grassy spot, also safe and easy for top landing. This site is excellent for ridge soaring in the evening when restitution often sets up. It is often used when the wind is over the back early in the day at Peña Negra. If pilots haven't climbed out by around 2 pm, they often return to Peña Negra. It is common to go over the back at Chia and find convergence with the anabatic wind up the face of the Piedrahita range. Some excellent XC flights have been made from here to Salamanca and Ciudad Rodrigo. Landing fields are available out front of the Southerly launch, which is very flat with many unfenced large fields. The preferred landing spot is a large field with goalposts. From the South East takeoff, you might not reach the football field, but there is a suitable landing field next to the road going down. For more information, visit [Fly Piedrahita](http://www.flypiedrahita.com). The site can handle a lot of southerly wind safely due to the slightly rising grazing land behind, which reduces rotor effects. Often, the base can be low and raining in the Piedrahita valley but flyable in Chia. It is a place where you can often fly on days that start to overdevelop, as cumulonimbus clouds generally form at other points around it. However, you should land when they get big as they can break into the Chia valley. This site is essential on stronger SE days when the wind fails to come in at Peña Negra, offering good evening flying. Be cautious of flying here on strong wind and strong thermal days in the mid-afternoon. For additional details, visit [Zonas de Vuelo](http://www.zonasdevuelo.com/zonasvuelo.html?fz=173).