Torrey Pines Gliderport

The historic Torrey Pines Gliderport in San Diego, world-famous for its association with slope soaring since 1930, has been recognized as a City Historic Site, a National Soaring Landmark, and is listed on the California and National Registers of Historic Places, the first gliderport to receive Federal recognition. RC gliders have flown at this location since the 1950s, making it also one of America’s oldest operating RC glider sites. As such it was recognized in 2003 by the Academy of Model Aeronautics as the inaugural site in their National Aeromodeling Heritage Program.

The Torrey Pines Gulls have enjoyed this resource for 55 years and we share the location with paraglider and hang glider activities as well as the occasional manned sailplane operation. This arrangement requires a unique set of site-specific rules and requirements with safety in mind. Flying at Torrey Pines is fun and exciting! It provides some unique thrills and pleasures – reliable afternoon ridge lift nearly year round, sweeping vistas of some of the best coastline in the West, and the opportunity to fly with some very accomplished pilots – to name just three! If you are interested in the history of this gliderport please check out this video from the La Jolla Historical Society.

The cliff-side portion of the gliderport is owned by the City of San Diego while the inland-portion of the gliderport is owned by the UC Regents. The City of San Diego leases a portion of their property to a concessionaire for the purpose of flight direction at the gliderport in light of the unique site rules. These rules can be found at: https://www.flytorrey.com/site-rules/

These site rules require that RC enthusiasts:

Given the complex airspace at Torrey Pines, one of the most important site rules for RC pilots is the “Blue Sky” rule. Keeping “Blue Sky” between your glider and any other glider in the sky reduces risk. One of the most important site rules for ultralight traffic is to blow a whistle when flying through the “window” area, the area of the sky prioritized for RC soaring. Only motorless flight is allowed at the Gliderport. Electric or fuel-powered aircraft of any kind are not permitted. This restriction specifically includes quadcopters or other powered drones. While the Torrey Pines Gliderport is approved as an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) this same area is intended for motorless operations only including both manned gliders and unmanned RC gliders. RC gliders operating within the FRIA do not need to be equipped with remote ID.

Pilot Certification / Rating

The site specific rules require that RC pilots must have a Torrey Pines Gliderport rating before flying solo. This is to ensure safe operation in a complex ground and air environment. Guests may fly under the direct supervision of another rated RC pilot until gaining their own rating. If you are interested in obtaining a gliderport rating please contact the Torrey Pines Gulls Slope Coordinator. Once approved, you will be issued a rating that will be imprinted on the next issue of your TPG membership card. Think Safety! The objective of the Pilot Certification is to verify that the pilot has control over the glider, can perform some basic maneuvers and can anticipate and give significant clearance to other air traffic, sometimes in crowded situations. Please help us continue to ensure that this unique and historic resource can be shared by all forms of motorless flight for future generations.

The Torrey Pines Gliderport is approved as an FAA-Recognized Identification Area (FRIA) with the following dimensions pictured below. RC gliders within the FRIA do not need to be equipped with remote ID.

Location

32.89069404°, -117.25155928°
2800 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA 92037