The club guide, current officers, and landowner rules control.
Open official site guide ↗FREE SPIRIT FLIGHT / FLIGHT DECK
HARRIS HILL
Big Flats / Elmira, New York
Mountain soaring site · about 750 ft AGL
PERMANENT SITE QR / NO PILOT DATALIVE FLIGHT DECK
VERIFY STATUS BEFORE FLYING
No Free Spirit Flight status message has been posted. Use the controlling club’s official channels and complete the required briefing.
Awaiting today’s controlling-club updateFLIGHT WATCH · VOLUNTARY REGIONAL PLANNING
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Flight Intent is planning information only. It is not physical check-in, eligibility, access permission, site opening, flight authorization, or a safety decision.
TODAY'S ENTRY POINT
Check before you fly.
A moderately sloped grassy slot on a three-mile ridge shared with sailplane and general-aviation activity.
Good direction rangeWNW–NW (290–330°)
Best directionNW (300–325°)
Controlled guidanceStatic outage fallback
Pilot requirementFSF + USHPA; H2/P2 with FL, new H2/P2 supervised
Launch42.112324, -76.915889 at 1650 ft MSL. Gated right-of-way can become impassable in snow; the large setup field is club owned except for access.
Landing42.117743, -76.923353, about 0.5 mile away with a 4:1 glide; narrow sailplane bailout field bordered by crops, creek, Route 352 and powerline.
STRUCTURED SITE BRIEFING
Know the whole site.
Elmira Class D/Soaring Area: tower activation before flying and close-out afterward are required.
Weather + terrain
- Best NW 315°, 5–15 mph; published aligned sector 290–330°.
- Guide describes smooth straight-in 300–325° to 15–20 mph/gusts to 25, and smooth 30° crosswind to 10 mph.
- West cross can create Steege Hill rotor at launch and LZ.
Access + stewardship
- Current FSF and USHPA membership required.
- Visiting/new pilots require a Board-designated LOCAL member for access, briefing and flying.
- Meet at the LZ, place windsocks, carpool, open/close the gate, and call Elmira Tower before and after operations.
- No powered wings or PG mini-wings; helmet and emergency parachute required except a limited instructor/observer training waiver.
Hazards
- Sailplanes and the glider-port pattern, Elmira Class D/general aviation, and runway ends.
- Narrow LZ, seasonal crops, creek, Route 352 powerline and west-cross rotor.
- Remain in the defined Harris Hill Soaring Area and cross/overfly the glider-port pattern only as officially permitted.
Pilot requirements
- Elmira Tower: 607-739-1971 before and after flight activity.
- Remain clear of non-designated Class D and at least 1000 ft AGL when crossing/overflying glider-port pattern areas as described by FSF.
- No solo flying below H3/P3; a person able to summon help must be present.
Landing facts
- Move immediately to teardown/parking at the extreme west end.
- Current crops may require an alternate fallow field.
- Four to six vehicles fit in the designated parking area.
Source control
This summary supports planning. The current controlling-club guide, officers, landowner permission, site briefing and conditions in the field remain authoritative. Do not fly in rain or thunderstorms.
Read the complete official guide ↗DRIVE / MEET / RETRIEVE
Directions for Harris Hill.
Directions do not grant access. Verify current FSF status, permission, briefing, parking and vehicle procedures before traveling. Elmira Class D/Soaring Area: tower activation before flying and close-out afterward are required.
Harris Hill launch
42.112324,-76.915889
Harris Hill primary LZ
42.117743,-76.923353
EMERGENCY
Call 911, coordinate with Elmira Tower as conditions permit, stop flight activity, and use the current FSF Emergency Action Plan.
Give the site name, exact location, access route, number of patients and known hazards. Emergency details must also remain printed at the physical site for use without cellular service.