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Bell Mountain

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Bell Mountain

Spot Info

Spot Details

PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Not marked
Club / contract
Required
Launch faces
W
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
Bell Mountain launches from the public county-park summit, but flying is governed by Southern Para Pilots and uses privately permitted landing areas. Current USHPA membership, SPP dues or eligible visiting membership, signed waiver affirmation, and compliance with club rules are required. Coordinate with current SPP pilots before flying and confirm the private main LZ remains available.
Site rules
  • Maintain current USHPA and Southern Para Pilots membership or eligible visiting membership, complete the waiver affirmation, and follow the current club rules.
  • The site is normally P3/H4. A P2 may fly only in P2-appropriate conditions under one-to-one guidance from a P3-or-higher mentor with significant Bell experience.
  • Mini wings are not currently allowed, instruction must be by an appropriately insured USHPA-certified instructor, and the site is not certified for tandem flight.
  • Do not top-land. The summit parking/launch area commonly contains cars, spectators, and pets.
  • Use the private main LZ respectfully: do not block its driveway, park just off the driveway to the left in the grass, avoid groups larger than six, and land in the middle of the field.
  • The northern hay-field bailout is for emergencies only; do not use it as the normal LZ.
Launch directions
W
Direction notes
Official guide calls the site west/WNW facing and flyable from 230 to 310 degrees; the single W marker is a compact map representation, not a replacement for the published range.
Safety notes
  • West-facing flat cliff launch; published PG range is 230-310 degrees, 4 mph minimum, 8 mph ideal, and 15 mph maximum with gust spread under 4 mph, but the club strongly recommends not launching above 10 mph measured at launch because wind aloft can be double.
  • Maintain a strong loaded run and never jump at the cliff edge; pilots have struck rocks below launch after unloading the wing.
  • The main LZ requires a long glide over Lake Chatuge. Leave the ridge when more than 100 feet below launch; pilots have landed in the water after departing too low.
  • Wind gradient and rotor can cause blowback. If being blown back, move north of the peak and use the bailout rather than attempting the main LZ.
  • Do not fly low over horses or land in occupied fields/yards; horses in the area can panic.
Additional notes
Current public launch with club-controlled operating terms and private landing permission. It is amber as a club/contract site, not red, because no separate discretionary advance authorization is published beyond the standing membership/waiver process.
Map pin (exact launch)
Exact takeoff coordinate published in the current Southern Para Pilots site guide.
Official website
https://www.southernparapilots.org/flying-sites

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Airspace status