Starthistle Fly-in
August 29th-September 1st.
Registration is free and included in your 2025 RVHPA membership
We are excited to welcome you to the 47th Annual Starthistle Fly-In August 29th-September 1st at Woodrat Mountain in Ruch, Oregon! This year’s event is a low key come fly with your friends and enjoy at free dinner party on Saturday the 30th.
It’s 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 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 weekend of flying.
When: August 29th-September 1st
Register online or in-person Saturday August 30
Click here to register online
Where: Woodrat Mountain, Ruch Oregon
HQ will be at the group camping site Cantrall Buckley campground
More information
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). Shuttle pickups at Cantrall and at the Hunter LZ parking area. See the Telegram site RVHPA Flying for updates. as they occur. We’re working on coordinating some retrieve options 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. Group camping is available at Cantrall Buckley August 29-Sept 1. Justin Caprari has reserved the site during the event. He’d appreciate a donation to cover the costs. You can make arrangements with him when you register/sign in on August 30.
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 Vineyard 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 August 29
- Come early and fly
- Sign-in/ Registration on August 30
- No organized shuttles on Friday
Saturday August 30
- 8:00-9:00 AM Sign-in/ Registration at Cantrall Buckely group camping
- 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
- 8:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 11:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 1:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
- 5:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
- 8:00 PM Free Dinner Party at Cantrall Buckley group camping area. Details to follow on Telegram
Shuttle times subject to change or adjust depending on the day, download and monitor Telegram
Notes:
-Shuttles will be making laps all day from Hunters for relaunch/multiple flights
–Longsword gates close at 6 pm, no landing or car access after hours. Pilots can land at LongSword or Phils LZ and exit through Phil’s drive until sunset
-Free dinner is BYOB so if you want beer please bring it yourself
Sunday June 2
- 8:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 11:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 1:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
- 5:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
Shuttle times subject to change or adjust depending on the day, download and monitor Telegram
Monday September 1 (Labor Day)
- 8:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 11:00 AM Shuttle to Launch
- 1:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
- 5:00 PM Shuttle to Launch
Shuttle times subject to change or adjust depending on the day, download and monitor Telegram
Two more reminders:
Click here to join RVHPA’s Telegram discussion group: RVHPA(Woodrat) including the retrieve channel
Click here to register online