Padgham Hill RAF Paragliding Training Field

Spot Info

Spot Details

PPG friendly
Not marked
Authorization
Required
Club / contract
Required
Launch faces
W, NW, N
Forecast point
Ready
Access notes
Padgham is a private resident-owned RAF training field with seasonal access solely at the owner's discretion through a documented club process. Current USHPA and RAF memberships are required. The site is for active training, H2+/P2+ skill refresh, or club-property work, not casual entry. At least one other person capable of summoning help must be present. Access is from Bowerman Road; students park on the road and rated pilots use the drive only as space permits, then follow the worn footpath across the farmed field.
Site rules
  • Hold current USHPA and RAF memberships and comply with owner blackout periods communicated through the RAF Board; private access is not a walk-up public right.
  • P2 is sufficient for PG skill-refresh use. Students below the stated ratings operate only within the current instructor program; every new pilot should receive a club site briefing.
  • Never fly alone: at least one other person capable of summoning help must remain on site.
  • Enter only for a training session, H2+/P2+ skill refresh, or club-property work. Do not bring spectators; use the Bowerman Road parking and worn field path exactly as directed.
  • Treat the east side as closed unless RAF explicitly reopens it. No tandem flight or general-aviation activity is permitted at this site.
Launch directions
W, NW, N
Direction notes
The approved record covers the west, northwest, and north faces, approximately 270-360 degrees. Although the detailed 2026 page describes an east face, RAF's status index still marks the east side closed; confirm any reopening directly before relying on it.
Safety notes
  • The official limit is 15 mph with no more than a 5 mph gust change in five seconds; 6-10 mph is the practical ideal range.
  • Rotor can form along the launch tree lines and in the west/east landing areas. Choose the active face only after checking wind direction, speed, and local disturbance.
  • The surrounding LZ is a farmed field with plow ruts and stones. Inspect it before launch and avoid crops; PG pilots can use the grassy base below the west, northwest, and north faces.
  • The 150-foot hill has scrub vegetation around launch and seasonal farm activity. Follow instructor/site-briefing guidance for setup and launch technique.
  • The stored point marks the official field/property map marker, not a guaranteed exact setup point; use the club's current on-site identification.
Additional notes
Padgham was independently discovered through RAF's current site system rather than the automated manifest. It qualifies as a documented private red PG training/skill-refresh field. The current guide says there are no general-aviation activities, and neither it nor RAF establishes PPG permission. The status index still labels the east side closed, so only W/NW/N directions are represented.
Map pin (approximate field)
Current official embedded map/property marker for the 455 Bowerman Road training field; the club guide does not publish separate exact coordinates for each face.
Navigation warning
Approximate private-field pin only. Do not enter the driveway or field without current RAF membership, an active training/skill-refresh purpose, owner availability outside blackout periods, and a club briefing identifying parking, footpath, active face, and LZ condition.

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