Nephi, UT

Can anyone comment on the terrain for Nephi, Utah. Would it be suitable for an eastern pilot with limited XC experience in the west?

Also, what have you experienced regarding typical winds. I'd be brining a Libelle 301. Penetration is limited.

Thanks,

2C

Nephi, Utah. Would it be suitable for an eastern pilot with limited XC experience in the west?

Kevin,

The terrain at Nephi is generally flat valleys with long mountain ranges. It is located on the eastern edge of the "Basin and Range ". There are small airports located at regular intervals every 20-30 miles. There are also alfalfa fields to land in. The conditions can vary from scratchy to booming. Most days it is not too windy (say less than 20 knots). Cloudbases in the summer are 17,000'+. You will be amazed. Your Libelle will do just fine. You will fly higher, farther, and faster than you have ever flown. Do it.

R5

It's western soaring so generally you fly airport to airport. The two valleys that run south 100 miles to Parowan are well fielded but with irrigation systems. Out west can be great soaring over open desert so you need to take care. Generally you are 7-10k AGL so you keep airports in range. Tasking to the north is tiger country so conditions have to be great.

Nephi airport is a single N-S runway 75 - 100 feet wide. Last year we had 25mph crosswinds due to OD to the east and many landed in a field next to the airport. This year I understand they are grooming a cross runway on the airport.

Many Libelles have flown the area successfly and new pilots are fine as long as they learn where the airports are and stick with good options

Kevin,
I started gliding this area over a decade ago as a low time pilot in my Phoebus which is a little less performance and penetration than the Libelle. Nephi would be a perfect western site for you to try out. Please also note that Nephi does NOT require you to polish rocks near mountains unless you want to get close. Most of the time we are 5k-10k over the mountain ranges flying the clouds at crazy fun ground speeds.

I would respectfully disagree that Nephi is an airport to airport type of flying unless you refuse to land in perfectly good cut alfalfa or wheat fields. It is definitely more outlanding-friendly than around Parowan. A quick look at google earth and comparing the two will verify this. Winds in the summer are very typical from the SW to blow you back home at the end of the day. Hope you can make it, and by the way registration is almost full so don't delay!

Bruno - B4

On Sunday, February 2, 2014 4:29:52 PM UTC-5, Kevin Christner wrote:
Can anyone comment on the terrain for Nephi, Utah. Would it be suitable for an eastern pilot with limited XC experience in the west?



Also, what have you experienced regarding typical winds. I'd be brining a Libelle 301. Penetration is limited.



Thanks,



2C

google earth too bro.