Roy Mahoney <<rmahoney>> writes:

Buffalo Mountain Flyers (BMF) has been on a growth path the past couple years (about 50/50 hang gliding and paragliding) and is in the process of developing three new hang gliding/paragliding launch sites in SE Oklahoma. Here's a link to some aerial photos of one at Heavener that is nearing completion:

/sets/72157617796914049/show/">http://www.flickr.com/photos//sets/72157617796914049/show/. The shots were taken by Ron Kohn in a paragliding flyover.

Britton Shaw has spearheaded this project from getting landowner permission, lining up chainsaw work days, and now fronting the money to fund dozer work to move and cover up the many boulders and to push debris out of the way. This site is shaping up to be a first class slope launch that will allow all forms of foot launch gliders to access the twenty five mile south facing ridge of Poteau Mountain. (The original launch was discarded, as it was a rock outcropping that only allowed two or three steps for launch - paragliding and rigid wing unfriendly). BMF is soliciting donations to cover the expense Britton has incurred and that BMF will also need in developing two more launches this year.

The second launch is called "Paragliding Point" at Panorama Vista Overlook on Talimena Drive. Our current launch there is a ramp launch that is not very paragliding friendly, nor is it very safe in some conditions for low performance hang gliders, due to the distance from the LZ. Primarily due to the efforts of our club president, David Morton, we're expecting the Forest Service to OK our new launch in a matter of weeks - it will be a very steep East facing slope launch directly overlooking the existing LZ 1200' below with less than a 4 to 1 glide. Funds will be needed for clearing and building a gravel access road which the Forest Service will require for our use.

The third launch, if obtained, will be a SE facing launch on Cavanal Hill near Poteau, OK. This 1999' "hill" has been promoted as the "World's Highest Hill (1 foot short of a mountain -see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cavanal_Hill). Our club treasurer, Allen Rahi, has been working with a private landowner and the City of Poteau to gain access to that site and expects it to be approved for development sometime this year. Fill dirt/shale will be needed to create a slope launch down to a cliff edge. This site was flown in the 1980's until land changed hands, and will prove to be an excellent XC site with wide open country in all directions.

Donations would be greatly appreciated to help us develop these locations to augment our existing sites here in SE Oklahoma. Please send your donation marked "BMF dozer launch fund" c/o Allen Rahi (BMF treasurer), 21686 Fairview Rd. Spiro, OK. 74959. You may also send your donation through PayPal, to fboBMF@okparagliding.com, with an email memo "for BMF dozer launch fund". Thank you for whatever you are able to contribute!