John Wright <<email>> writes:

Below you will find descriptions and links to panoramic photos of the current launches and LZ's at Lake Elsinore. The Oak Tree LZ lawsuit is headed for appeal but the E Team needs support (www.theeteam.org). The Turkey Meet is coming up Nov. 29th and would be a great time to show support financially. I believe the information I am including about the LZs will show the benefit of reopening the Oak Tree LZ, which is reachable from either launch in any conditions.

There are two launches for Elsinore: Edwards and "The E." Edwards is primarily used in Santa Ana conditions, as North winds cause rotor at The E, which is used for "normal" days.

Edwards is at 33.638, -117.387 and its panoramic photo can be found at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12455

The E is at 33.629, -117.371 and its panoramic photo can be found at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12452

There are two new LZ's to replace the closed-back-in-litigation-please-support-the-eteam-by-donating-to-the-cause Oak Tree LZ.

The LZ closest to The E is known as "Everyday Mike's LZ." Everyday Mike is a PG pilot (learning HG too) who cleared some land and got permission from the owner to land there. It's a hang 4 LZ, in my opinion. I'd land uphill unless it was really honking off the lake. Then, you'd be dealing with rotor and shadow from the trees and houses. Everyday Mike's LZ is at 33.633, -117.345 and the trees in Google Earth have mostly been cleared. To get there, you go down Grand Ave and turn right at the Circle K, left at Hayes. The panoramic is at: http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12468

The LZ closest to Edwards is the Marina LZ. The use of double surface wings is recommended to be able reach there, though single surface wings have done it many times. There are also numerous bailouts along the way. The fee is $5 a day or (I think $100/year) to use the facility. They sell beer and are very friendly. The Marina LZ is at 33.666, -117.377. Google Earth currently shows the problem with this LZ long-term. It has a way of being under water at certain times of the year. Its panoramic is at http://www.gigapan.org/viewGigapan.php?id=12473.

A note about the panoramics. http://Gigapansystems.com is selling a widget that automates taking panoramic photos. Pretty nifty. I don't think my Canon SD750 is optimal, as the lens doesn't seem to expose the edges of the photos evenly at full zoom. I'd recommend waiting for the SLR version to come out, but it's pretty spiffy, anyway.