![]() It may be the only site in the world where these aircraft all share the cliffs in harmony. Today the Gliderport hosts several forms of aviation which, include radio controlled model aircraft, hang gliders, and paragliders. The Gliderport promoted paragliding during its infancy in the mid-1980s. Then in 1970’s the first hang gliders graced the bluffs of Torrey Pines, which became the most influential flying and development site for the modern era of foot launched aviation. In the late 1960’s the first radio controlled model airplanes were designed and flown at the Gliderport. Bob Fronius invented the first aircraft parachute recovery system which was flight tested at the Gliderport in 1947. John Robinson’s Zanoonia sailplane, built in 1939 was the first aircraft in the nation to use spoilers (air brakes) on the wings, which are still used by aircraft today. The Gliderport was instrumental in the development of several new technologies including the first Robinson variometer (1939), which was a sensitive instrument used to determine the rate of climb or sink. ![]() Louis, began soaring the cliffs with his own sailplanes the Bowlus gliders. In the late 1930s, Hawley Bowlus, engineer and construction supervisor of the Spirit of St. In 1936, Woody Brown launched and landed on top of the cliffs for the first “top landing” in Gliderport history. Soledad to Del Mar and established the first gliding distance record. On February 24, 1930, Charles Lindbergh had his maiden flight along the cliffs of Torrey Pines, soaring from Mt. Many aviation pioneers had their first flights on the cliffs of Torrey Pines. Hang gliding saw a stiffened flexible wing hang glider in 1904, when Jan Lavezzari flew a double lateen sail hang glider off Berck Beach, France. Since the late 1920’s, sailplanes have been gracing the bluffs north of La Jolla. The Torrey Pines Gliderport has played a pivotal role in the aviation industry of Southern California and the United States. We seek to promote all forms of flight and to make Southern California a destination for flight enthusiasts from around the world. The Gliderport provides a world class flying site, flight lessons, certifications, tandem flights, equipment sales, and repair services. It is Southern California’s premiere location for paragliding, hang gliding, remote control models and sailplanes. The Torrey Pines Gliderport, is the most historic aviation site in North America, with nearly 100 years of flying history.
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