Paragliding Mustang, AZ

Located in the Mustang Mountains, USA, this paragliding site offers an elevation of 1820 meters with a height difference of 290 meters. It is occasionally used and is known for good thermal soaring and evening glass-offs, making it suitable for hike & fly activities. Cross-country flights are possible, and toplanding is an option. However, the site is often blown out, making conditions unpredictable. The site is about 10 miles east of Sonoita and 70 miles southeast of Tucson. It can be flown year-round, typically in the evening when glass-offs occur. The prevailing winds are from the southwest. Launch is a west-facing walk-up on BLM land at approximately 5900 feet MSL. It accommodates winds from SSW (200) to WNW (290) up to about 15 mph, depending on the pilot's experience level. It is rarely flyable if winds aloft are forecasted over 10 knots at 6000 feet or 15 knots at 9000 feet. Do not launch in winds over 16 knots (18 mph). The landing zone is a very large field at about 5000 feet MSL. Access to the launch site is a walk-up, and the landing zone is accessible via a state highway to a 2WD dirt road. Parking is plentiful, but there are no facilities on-site. Hazards include strong southwest conditions, which can lead to being blown over the back, and turbulence from the nearby butte known as "the biscuit" if winds aloft are from the northwest. Avoid landing in fields north and west of the launch due to hostile landowners. Dehydration and heat exhaustion are significant risks during hot weather, so bring plenty of water. Watch for overdevelopment or lines of moving dust, as rain or virga in the desert can produce gust fronts and microbursts. Desert vegetation can damage wings. No specific ratings are required, but a P2 rating is suggested. The SAHGA club frequency is 151.925 (USHGA Ch. 2). In case of emergencies, contact the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department at 911. For more information, visit: - [SAHGA Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/sahgpa/) - [SAHGA Official Website](https://www.sahga.com/) - [Flying Lizard Paragliding](http://www.flyinglizardparagliding.com/sites.html) For site-specific details, club members can refer to the [SAHGA Members Page](http://www.sahga.com/members/sites.html). Contact Aaron Cromer, SAHGA PG Flight Director, Tucson at (520) 490-3333 for further assistance.