Reproduced by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller
of Her Majesty's Stationery Office, © Crown Copyright MC100033808


A small west facing slope with a Northwest facing bowl at the southern end.
Not a very good thermal or ridge lift slope and difficult to soar in light winds.
Any thermal day can be overcome by sea-breezes in early afternoon.
Unusable if the wind backs south of west.

Thanks to Don (Shippo) for all site photos

Grid Ref SU 712 203   Sheet 197
Height ASL 250m (820ft)   Top to Bottom 300ft
Wind Direction North 270 - 300 deg   Best 290 deg
Pilot Grade Hang Gliding CP   Paragliding CP
Contact Park Centre 023 92595040
Bottom landing Mr M.Atkinson, South Farm
Nearest Phone Hogs Lodge (pub)      

Butser West Hang Glider Rigging Area
Thanks to Don (Shippo) for all site photos

ACCESS From duty car park carry over the stiles to the west slope.
RIGGING Hang gliders (H.G.) rig at top of the slope immediately to right of the top stile.
Paragliders rig slightly down the slope, immediately below the top stile.
TAKE OFF

Requires a good solid run immediately down slope from the rigging area, over the fence and footpath.

H.G. and paragliders (P.G.) share the same take-off run and so it is essential to be aware of each others activities
LANDING

Top landing, particularly for H.G., is for experienced pilots only and will always be hazardous in fine weather due to the inevitable overcrowding of the site by the various users.

Front face landings for H.G. need just the right height and approach from the southern end. Hill top (behind the fence line ) landings suffer a particular hazard from kite flyers, and H.G. require a minimum of 200 ft. setting up the approach from the southern end over the kiosk, beware of rotor in the last 30 ft. from the tree line and Rake Bottom (stay well over to the crest).

NEVER FLY INTO RAKE BOTTOM, turbulence is extreme.


Main bottom landing fields are immediately below take off in the bottom of the bowl and all are quite demanding for H.G. Field B1 slopes up towards the southern fence approach from the north and avoid running on into the valley. Field B2 falls away to the west. This field is rarely reached by P.G. on a straight top to bottom and often not by H.G. in strong winds beware the fence and barn at far end.

Retrieval, from fields B1 and B2 is by car down Harvesting Lane. An "escape" landing B3 area is for paragliders only.

Retrieval from here is over the fence at the climbing bar in the northeast corner then up the path and back to takeoff over the stile.
HAZARDS

Include walkers on designated footpaths, aircraft modellers generally grouped to the northern edge of the slope and their models overshooting kite flyers and parked cars in the top area, paragliders in circuit on the slope and gliders lining up to launch.

Horse riders on the track below take-off may be hidden from view. Pilots in the air should fly away from the riders and shout to warn those pilots waiting at take off.

Turbulence, from Rake Bottom can be extreme in all conditions and also from the tree line to the south of take-off when conditions are strong and the wind swings slightly to the south.
RULES
  1. Daily the first person on site gets permission from South Farm for use of landing fields
  2. Cars are NOT to be taken into the bottom landing fields.
CONSIDER

This is an extremely small and congested slope.Avoid mixing paragliders and hang gliders in the air at the same time. Try to alternate usage, if necessary by use of the half hour rule.

Aeromodellers favour the north of the slope, avoid overflying or inflating canopies in front of them.

Thanks to Don (Shippo) for all site photos