- Wed Jan 20, 2010 9:29 am
#163970
I live in Knoxville and as much as I like LMFP I was looking for something a little closer to home. I had my glider out two days ago cleaning it and doing a few checks when a visiting member of my neighbors family came up to me and asked about it, basically that lead to him asking me where I fly and when I told him LMFP he asked why I didn't just go off Clinch Mountain.
Apparently as a boy, every Sunday he and his father would go up there and watch the pilots launch. Since this is only 20 minutes from my house (and has two launches close together, a SE and NW) I was very intrigued. The only downside is that he was a boy in the late 70's and I can't seem to find much info on the site, other than one post on the Tennessee Tree Toppers website, which I've posted below. I located the site on the topo map and want to go up to have a look sometime in the near future but does anyone have any information on it??? According to the document it is the longest continuous ridge in the US so it is DEFINITELY worth looking into! I also read somewhere that a sailplane made it to Canada off that ridge! Well here is the document from the TTT website:
Clinch Mountain, Knoxville TN, longest contiguous ridge in the US.
By Jeff Laughery
The new owners of Clinch Mountain have made indications that we will be able to Fly Clinch Mountain again in the near future. The point is that Bruce Hawk (Hawk Airsports), owner of the Clinch Southeast Landing field, is selling the LZ. He needs to re-capitalize his WINDSOK business and get it rolling again.
I can see that it would be a major loss for the sport of hang gliding if we let this LZ (and launch site) disappear from the face of the earth. Bruce has listed the LZ property (12.26 acres) for sale a several weeks ago for $60,000. The first real estate contract has expired. He is willing to accept possibly $50,000 minimum if a deal is put together without a realtor. He has another realtor lined up that says he can sell it for $55 to $60.
I am personally willing to buy in 20% ownership ($10,000) if we can put a deal together!!!
Clinch Mountain has not been flown with any of the state of the art equipment that we currently have. The last time I flew it I had a "New" K2, others were flying HPII, Axis, Sensor, MK IV, Sport, Formula, etc. The record potential here is awesome!!! Anyone care to try for a new East Coast record??? I personally flew 98 miles (K2) with Tip Rogers (HPII) from Clinch NW Launch to Bakersville NC in/around 1991. This was one of my absolute very early cross country flights (like number 10), and it was an awesome experience!!!
Where is Clinch Mountain:
I have included a link from TOPOZONE that will show you exactly where the
Clinch Mountain site is (Joppa, TN):
Interstate 40, East of Knoxville TN, Exit 392, Northeast on Rutledge
Pike/US 11W, go 22 miles to Mountain Road, Left (just past Joppa School), one quarter mile to first tar/chip road on right.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=17&n= ... =25&size=l
The Southeast LZ (for sale) is located on the map below the word "Valley"
in "Poor Valley" where the red cross "+" is located, on initial load of the
map. The field is oriented in a SW to NE direction, and the road/driveway
bisects thru the Northeast 1/3 portion of the field.
Both the SE and NW Launches are located on the map between the word
"Clinch" and "Mountain" at the highest point on the topo.
The Northwest LZ is located in the valley next to the road that crosses the ridge, almost exactly due West of the Launch Point on the map. It is on the East side of the road next to the Red House Dot, across from the other red house dot. This is not owned but a friendly farmer/neighbor.
Change the scale to 1:100,000 to see a bigger picture, and scroll to the
Northeast to see ridge. It truly is awesome!
note: there is actually a potential West/Southwest launch site as well, just a couple hundred yards to the Southwest.
Launch Ownership:
Clinch Mountain was owned by a mining company (Sand mining) while it was opened in the 80’s/early 90’s. It was purchased by a guy that timbered the mountain around 1992. At this point it was closed to flying. After it was timbered a person that buys land and/or timbers it, purchased it. He lives in Chicago, his brother Harry Bacon lives in Knoxville. Harry Bacon seeked out Bruce Hawk and asked if we would like to start flying there again. We will need to place a gate at the bottom of the road and agree to the maintenance of the road again.
Access to the Launch:
Access to the top of Clinch Mountain is a 2 mile 4 wheel drive road. In the past, the Tennessee Valley Hang Gliding Association was responsible for maintaining the road. This was done via a $100 annual dues that went toward the Bulldozer clean up that occurred each year or two. The club had about 30 members with about a dozen or so very active members. The bulldozer work was provided by a neighbor to the LZ (Melvin) that has a bulldozer and charges a reasonable rate for his time.
Current Situation:
I have 3 interested parties (including myself) that together will make up half of the money to purchase. Another person that has some funds has yet to commit to the project. We are seeking written permission to use the road and the launch. We would like to consider purchasing a small plot on top, but do not think the owner will sell any of the property. This is to be discussed further with the owner. We will also need to get Melvin on the road to do some dozer work.
If anyone is at all interested in helping "Save Clinch Mountain" please drop me a note or give me a call as soon as possible.
Additional info and photos can soon be viewed at www.treetoppers.org or http://www.treetoppers.org/ I also have digital photos available to be e-mailed…
Thank You very much for any help you can give, or suggestions you may have,
Jeff Laughrey
PO Box 790
Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-0790
423-432-5391 mobile - anytime
jeff.laughrey@img-a.com or jeff_laughrey@img-a.com (same place)
USHGA # 47058
Apparently as a boy, every Sunday he and his father would go up there and watch the pilots launch. Since this is only 20 minutes from my house (and has two launches close together, a SE and NW) I was very intrigued. The only downside is that he was a boy in the late 70's and I can't seem to find much info on the site, other than one post on the Tennessee Tree Toppers website, which I've posted below. I located the site on the topo map and want to go up to have a look sometime in the near future but does anyone have any information on it??? According to the document it is the longest continuous ridge in the US so it is DEFINITELY worth looking into! I also read somewhere that a sailplane made it to Canada off that ridge! Well here is the document from the TTT website:
Clinch Mountain, Knoxville TN, longest contiguous ridge in the US.
By Jeff Laughery
The new owners of Clinch Mountain have made indications that we will be able to Fly Clinch Mountain again in the near future. The point is that Bruce Hawk (Hawk Airsports), owner of the Clinch Southeast Landing field, is selling the LZ. He needs to re-capitalize his WINDSOK business and get it rolling again.
I can see that it would be a major loss for the sport of hang gliding if we let this LZ (and launch site) disappear from the face of the earth. Bruce has listed the LZ property (12.26 acres) for sale a several weeks ago for $60,000. The first real estate contract has expired. He is willing to accept possibly $50,000 minimum if a deal is put together without a realtor. He has another realtor lined up that says he can sell it for $55 to $60.
I am personally willing to buy in 20% ownership ($10,000) if we can put a deal together!!!
Clinch Mountain has not been flown with any of the state of the art equipment that we currently have. The last time I flew it I had a "New" K2, others were flying HPII, Axis, Sensor, MK IV, Sport, Formula, etc. The record potential here is awesome!!! Anyone care to try for a new East Coast record??? I personally flew 98 miles (K2) with Tip Rogers (HPII) from Clinch NW Launch to Bakersville NC in/around 1991. This was one of my absolute very early cross country flights (like number 10), and it was an awesome experience!!!
Where is Clinch Mountain:
I have included a link from TOPOZONE that will show you exactly where the
Clinch Mountain site is (Joppa, TN):
Interstate 40, East of Knoxville TN, Exit 392, Northeast on Rutledge
Pike/US 11W, go 22 miles to Mountain Road, Left (just past Joppa School), one quarter mile to first tar/chip road on right.
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=17&n= ... =25&size=l
The Southeast LZ (for sale) is located on the map below the word "Valley"
in "Poor Valley" where the red cross "+" is located, on initial load of the
map. The field is oriented in a SW to NE direction, and the road/driveway
bisects thru the Northeast 1/3 portion of the field.
Both the SE and NW Launches are located on the map between the word
"Clinch" and "Mountain" at the highest point on the topo.
The Northwest LZ is located in the valley next to the road that crosses the ridge, almost exactly due West of the Launch Point on the map. It is on the East side of the road next to the Red House Dot, across from the other red house dot. This is not owned but a friendly farmer/neighbor.
Change the scale to 1:100,000 to see a bigger picture, and scroll to the
Northeast to see ridge. It truly is awesome!
note: there is actually a potential West/Southwest launch site as well, just a couple hundred yards to the Southwest.
Launch Ownership:
Clinch Mountain was owned by a mining company (Sand mining) while it was opened in the 80’s/early 90’s. It was purchased by a guy that timbered the mountain around 1992. At this point it was closed to flying. After it was timbered a person that buys land and/or timbers it, purchased it. He lives in Chicago, his brother Harry Bacon lives in Knoxville. Harry Bacon seeked out Bruce Hawk and asked if we would like to start flying there again. We will need to place a gate at the bottom of the road and agree to the maintenance of the road again.
Access to the Launch:
Access to the top of Clinch Mountain is a 2 mile 4 wheel drive road. In the past, the Tennessee Valley Hang Gliding Association was responsible for maintaining the road. This was done via a $100 annual dues that went toward the Bulldozer clean up that occurred each year or two. The club had about 30 members with about a dozen or so very active members. The bulldozer work was provided by a neighbor to the LZ (Melvin) that has a bulldozer and charges a reasonable rate for his time.
Current Situation:
I have 3 interested parties (including myself) that together will make up half of the money to purchase. Another person that has some funds has yet to commit to the project. We are seeking written permission to use the road and the launch. We would like to consider purchasing a small plot on top, but do not think the owner will sell any of the property. This is to be discussed further with the owner. We will also need to get Melvin on the road to do some dozer work.
If anyone is at all interested in helping "Save Clinch Mountain" please drop me a note or give me a call as soon as possible.
Additional info and photos can soon be viewed at www.treetoppers.org or http://www.treetoppers.org/ I also have digital photos available to be e-mailed…
Thank You very much for any help you can give, or suggestions you may have,
Jeff Laughrey
PO Box 790
Soddy Daisy, TN 37384-0790
423-432-5391 mobile - anytime
jeff.laughrey@img-a.com or jeff_laughrey@img-a.com (same place)
USHGA # 47058