Torrey Pines Gliderport (CA84)
Situated high above the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean, near La Jolla, CA, the Torrey Pines Gliderport is a favorite spot for hang-gliding and parasailing. The prevailing westerly winds hit the cliffs creating strong updrafts. The airport was originally created in 1930 and used for many years for gliders and sailplanes, which only come out on special event days now.
The "airport" is a dirt strip. I have laid down a runway with slighly different dirt color so it is visible from the air and oriented it as closesly to the original as possible. The runway is 9/27 but is off by 20+ degrees due to orientation. I have left the bouncy dirt path so be prepared. Ultralights and STOLs are recommended.
I have also made improvements to the immediate area: removing vegetation from the cliffs and the surrounding buildings and parking lots; removing "obelisk" palm trees and replacing a few of them with real Mexican Palms; including a few gliders and their carriers.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The installation folder has been renamed to be more standard. If you have previously installed this mod, be sure to delete the folder torreypinesgliderport-ca84-airport.
Version 2.1
Compiled to work with Sim Update 7. Added taxiways and an apron (required for airports now) but still with a dirt texture. Added a tarped fence, some picnic tables and realigned the gliders and carriers.
Version 2.0
Changed runway surface to a more natural dirt texture. Updated terrain to remove satellite imagery of cars and other objects. Add a 3D cafe and cars in the parking lot and along the cliffs to the north. Removed bumps and other anomalies.
Version 1.1
Cleaned up more vegetation and roads. Compiled to work with Sim Update 6.
Version 1.0
Initial release.
Integrates with La Jolla, CA Coastal Enhancements
Download and unzip, placing the resulting folder into your community folder.
Install https://flightsim.to/file/1923/mikea-at-assetpack if you want to see the gliders and carriers.
We've had a lot of fun re-living the glory days of Torrey Pines thanks to your work! Great job!
2 years ago
Good to hear! I am planning some improvements to the area soon. Also, GotFriends just released their new glider, hoping to try that out at Torrey Pines soon.
2 years ago
MojaveHigh
draftingscotch
Thanks so much for this! I have so many great memories of this place from previous Flight Simulator versions and was sad to see it was missing from the current one.
2 years ago
bwc1976
Nice little strip! Great work 😊
I assume https://flightsim.to/file/1923/mikea-at-assetpack isn't a mandatory dependency?
2 years ago
Thanks for your interest in this mod! Right, you only need that library if you want to see the gliders and glider trailers I have put next to the runway.
2 years ago
MojaveHigh
Rockfrog
You did it my friend. Awesome mod it is now.
3 years ago
Thanks! I just needed a little free time and a good representation of the building. Now if I can find a library with some hang gliders.
3 years ago
MojaveHigh
DC6Pilot
Honestly one of my favorite addons for the sim. If there is ever a update for this, having default car objects, placed over the flat cars in the ortho.... Would be amazing. I seen there was another comment about the building near the jump-off point, there is a building from Aspen default scenery that looks a bit similar, if that might help?
But again, love the scenery, and thank you for uploading!
3 years ago
Thanks! I will add some cars in the parking lots under the approach and near the hang-glider area. Thanks for the recommendation for the building from the default scenery. I'm not a designer, so I have been looking for a suitable building. I'll check that one out.
3 years ago
MojaveHigh
IBeDeshh
When stationed in San Diego (USN) in 1966 I would visit this strip to watch the sailplanes fly in and out. There was an engine powered winch and long cable to launch them. Landings were exciting, as the approaches were sometimes from below the cliff face, pulling up at the last minute to land.
3 years ago
doug1940
Can you make that building at the jump off point to look better?
3 years ago
That building does indeed look horrible and it's on my list to fix at some point. I am more able to make vegetation changes and clean up and have very little modeling talent. Hopefully I can find some existing models that will fit. Thanks for your interest!
3 years ago
MojaveHigh
DC6Pilot