History of Flight at the Gliderport

The earlier years of aviation were exciting times. Much research and development took place at Torrey Pines in the thirties and forties. A little known fact is that Charles A. Lindbergh set a site record here in 1930, by soaring from the top of Mt. Soledad, along the Torrey Pines Cliffs, past the Gliderport and eventually landed on the beach of Del Mar. Quite a remarkable feat at that time as well as a site record! February 24, 2000 marked the 70th anniversary of Lindbergh's flight.

Hang gliding arrived in America in the late 1960's. It is believed that the very first hang glider pilot to launch his hang glider from the Torrey Pines Cliffs was a young pilot by the name of Bob Wills.  The face of the beautiful coastal site was forever changed on that fateful date.  During the late 1980's the first paragliding pilots began to show up at the site.  Today the Gliderport is a playground for four different flying disciplines, which include radio control gliders, paragliders, hang gliders and for six weeks a year, sailplanes. 

Over the years Torrey Pines has become a Mecca for pilots who travel from all over the world to fly this beautiful flying location.  In large part, the City of San Diego, has made this beautiful oasis a pilot's dream come true by allowing the continued free flight operations.  Perhaps more than any one person, Dr. Larry Fogel was responsible for getting the site designated a Historical Site. The site is now registered with the United States, the State of California and the City of San Diego as a Historical Site due to all the early pioneering and research and development that took place at the Gliderport in the earlier years.