Albuquerque Soaring Association Flying Sites...
Official... and Otherwise....
|
Home
About ASA Newsletter Membership Beginners Flying Sites Events Projects Articles Downloads Photo Album Weather Links Contacts |
The ASA offers several flying site choices to its members..... In Albuquerque, there is the Arroyo Del Oso Park at Wyoming and Spain N.E. (which is a primary playing field for the Youth Soccer Program... and therefore is not often available to us on weekends. Many members fly there during the week, however.
Gardner Turf Farm ("Sod Farm")
How to Get 911 Emergency Response at the Sod Farm
The more "serious" members of the club also fly at Gardner/AG Turf Farms, a lush green sod farm in McIntosh, New Mexico. It's about 8 miles south of Moriarty see map... The best way to find the sod farm is meet up with other club members for breakfast in Moriarty before flying.
Flying at the Sod Farm is a VERY SPECIAL privilege. We don't want to do ANYTHING to screw that up. So if you are in doubt about what you are doing, or where to fly, please hook up with the group that is going out there!
We often eat at the El Comedor or the Rip Griffin's Restaurant before flying on the weekend. Both are in Moriarty which is about 40 minutes east of Albuquerque on I-40.
Rip Griffin's is right off the first (west) Moriarty exit. To get to the El Comedor, just continue further down the main street after taking the first (west) Moriarty exit. The El Comedor is on the north side of the street. We recommend that you check with a club member to see just where we are meeting up on any given day.
McIntosh (where the sod farms are...) is 10 minutes due south of Moriarty, on the Estancia Highway. Dan Tandberg has created the following detailed instructions and accompanying map:
Take I40 East to Moriarty, NM
Exit south on Howard Cavasos Blvd Exit (NM41) 0 miles
Pass the A-87 & A-88 Junction 4.5 miles
Pass the A-81 & A-076 Junction 7.5 miles
Pass the Windmill on West/ 55 MPG sign 8.4 miles
See Otero Ave Sign & McGuffin Boots on the West 8.6 miles
Turn East onto this dirt road; go one mile
White gate of Gardner Turf Farms 9.6 miles
Look for Sailplanes!
If you get to the McIntosh Post Office, you've passed it!
Once you have reached the sod farm, you have to get inventive and look around and find where the guys are flying. There are 5 BIG sod circles there. Wind direction and what is being done with the sod farming operation will determine where we are flying. If you decide to fly by yourself (NOT RECOMMENDED!), make DAMNED CERTAIN that you are the only ones there. We do not need to be "shooting each other down" with frequency conflicts!!!!!!!!
This is why we recommend that you hook up with the guys who are gathered at Rip Griffin's in Moriarty. . Better to be safe than sorry! (Note: If you don't find us in the back (non-smoking) section of Rip Griffins... check at the Village Grille (formerly Chubby's). Go east of the Howard Cavasos highway where you would turn south to go towards Estancia to the Sod Farm... turn right at the first street after that intersection. The Village Grille sits right on that corner.)
Click HERE to see an aerial photo of the sod circles at McIntosh.
The monthly Hiss 'n Boink Contests (intended for 2 meter, floater type sailplanes and electric sailplanes) are now held at the sod farm.
For more information on the Hiss 'n Boink program send an e-mail to:
We allong with other Albuquerque flyers now have permission to fly at the Albuquerque Balloon Park. This is the same huge expanse of grass used for the hot air balloons and specifically the Albuquerque International Ballon Fiesta held every October.
We'll add a map and flying site "rules" soon. There are some specific rules that will apply in order to safely allow the use of the field for all types of RC flying. But here is some additional information.
The balloon park calendar from July through December can be used to see when the field will and won't be available.
Also, the City of Albuquerque has an official policy statement.
The ASA also has permission (and insurance) to fly at the Rio Rancho Balloon Field. This is a hard packed, dirt field.... We've held Night Flying contests, there, etc.... and isn't a bad place to fly... if nowhere with grass is available. The map to the Rio Rancho Balloon Field is below....
We also fly at the Rio Rancho athletic field which is about half-way between Southern and Northern Blvd on High Resort west of Highway 528. Many of the club members fly here during the week.
