TFR for the Upper Applegate fire has been cancelled.

2024 Star Thistle Fly-in

Hey everyone!
Thanks for coming and making the event such a big sucess.
Hope we see you in 2025.

Star Thistle Fly-in May 31-June 2, 2024.

Registration is free and included in your 2024 RVHPA membership

We are excited to welcome you to the 46th Annual Starthistle Fly-In this May 31st – June 2nd at Woodrat Mountain in Ruch, Oregon! This is a great opportunity for hang glider and paraglider pilots of all levels and abilities to come together and enjoy the beautiful flying conditions at Woodrat Mountain, We’ve already had some epic flying days this year with pilots touching the clouds at altitudes exceeding 12,000 ft and it’s only going to get better! Come join us in the beautiful Applegate Valley for a weelemd of flying.

When: May 31- June 2 (Registration and arrival May 31) 

Where: Woodrat Mountain, Ruch Oregon.
HQ will be at Raven’s Landing 319 Haven Rd. Ruch, Oregon
(When you come up Haven Rd from Hwy 238 go to the right on the gravel rd)

Rides to Launch / Transportation: Vans and a Truck with HG Rack are coordinated and will run on a regular daily schedule to take pilots to launch (you’ll need to pay your driver $10 per ride to launch). We’re working on coordinating some retrieve options to be available for pilots landing out as well, but this is not included in the registration, stay tuned!

Camping /Accommodation Options: There are many options in the area including Ravin’s Landing and the Crash Pad on first come first serve basis.

About the Site: Woodrat mountain is located in Southern Oregon and has been home to many US national events.  The surrounding valleys and complex weather patterns are excellent training grounds for understanding lift patterns.  

Woodrat has tremendously consistent flying.  Expect a plentiful lift and changing weather.  Flying can be complex and intriguing.  Proper decision-making results in 60-160 km straight line and FAI triangle flights.

Woodrat sits above the Applegate Valley, home to numerous wineries, lodges and the Applegate river, with plentiful activities for non-flying partners.  Our primary LZ is Longsword Winery where spectators can enjoy a glass of wine as they wait for you to land. Mid-day flying at Woodrat in the summer requires good bump tolerance and a P3/H3 rating, but morning conditions and evening glass offs are usually consistent, gentle, appropriate for P2/H2 and sometimes last until after the sun sets.

Tentative Event Schedule (subject to change)

Friday May 31

  • 8:00-9:00am Sign-in/ Registration at Ravens
  • Shuttles to top start at 8:00

Saturday June 1

  • 8:00-9:00 AM Sign-in/ Registration at Ravens
  • 8:00 Mandatory Pilot Meeting, site briefing for pilots who have not flown Woodrat before at Ravens
  • 8:00 AM Welcome to Woodrat – Justin Caprari
  • ** Spot Landing Fun Competition Closing at 5;00 pm**
  • 8:00 AM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 11:00 AM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 1:00 PM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 5:00 PM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 8:00 PM Free Dinner Party & Spot Landing Awards at Raven’s Landing

Notes:
-Shuttles will be making laps all day from Hunters for relaunch/multiple flights
Longsword gates close at 6 pm, no landing after hours. Paraglider Spot landing contest closes at 5:00PM
-Free dinner is BYOB so if you want beer please bring it yourself

Sunday June 2

  • 8:00 AM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 11:00 AM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens
  • 1:00 PM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens  
  • 5:00 PM Shuttle to Launch from Ravens

Shuttle times subject to change or adjust depending on the day, download and monitor Telegram 

Be sure to join the Woodrat Flying Telegram groups.
Click here to join RVHPA’s Telegram discussion group:  RVHPA(Woodrat)
Click here to join RVHPA’s Telegram retrieve group: Woodrat Retrieve