![[Torrey Pines]](images/logo_torrey_pines.jpg){kind=logo}
The Torrey Pines Gliderport is one of America's oldest active gliderports. Pilots originally flew their primary training gliders on the beach below the cliffs, using auto tow to help launch them into the ridge lift. The first documented use of the lift at Torrey Pines by a sailplane occurred early in 1930 when Charles Lindbergh soared in a Bowlus sailplane from the top of Mount Soledad to the beach just west of Del Mar. His flight was extended by using the lift generated by the Torrey Pines cliffs. In the mid 1930s, pilots began to take interest in finding a suitable launching and landing site on top of the cliffs. Woody Brown, John Robinson, and Dick Essery pioneered the establishment of the Torrey Pines Gliderport. Woody was the first to make a successful takeoff and landing from the top of the cliff in a glider. In the 1930s, coastal gliderports of this type were common along the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
During the years prior to World War II, pilots that trained and flew at Torrey Pines invented new takeoff methods including the auto pulley tow system. John Robinson generated his own production line of variometers, (sensitive instruments for measuring rate of climb or descent). Many of the local sailplane pilots became well known at a national and international level. John Robinson became three time U. S. National Soaring Champion and set numerous U. S. distance and altitude records. Similarly, Woody Brown and Dick Essery also set distance records. Their skill and performance was directly attributed to the countless hours spent soaring and training at Torrey Pines. In 1939, the Torrey Pines Gliderport was dedicated to the Youth of California by San Diego Mayor P. J. Benbough.
During World War II, the Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California (AGCSC) surrendered their lease with the City of San Diego for the Torrey Pines Gliderport so that the U. S. Army could establish Camp Callan, an anti aircraft artillery training facility. Over 40,000 troops came through the area for gunnery training and practice.
Following the end of the war and the closing of Camp Callan, the local glider enthusiasts rekindled interest in soaring at Torrey Pines. U. S. Army sailplanes used for training glider pilots could be purchased at bargain prices and sailplanes such as the Schweizer TG-2 and Laister Kauffman TG-4 soon flooded the market. The local glider builders decided to host an annual glider contest at Torrey Pines. Within a few short years, the Pacific Coast Midwinter Soaring Championships generated considerable interest. Over the two day weekend event, 30,000 spectators would come to Torrey Pines to witness the 30-40 pilots soaring their sailplanes along the cliffs from La Jolla to Del Mar. On occasion, the meet was broadcast live over national television. This helped generate substantial interest in the sport of soaring, in the use of Torrey Pines for gliding, and in the Associated Glider Clubs of Southern California. The nation's best pilots would travel to Torrey Pines to take part in competitions such as duration, distance, spot landing, bomb drop (actually a bag of chalk or sand), or aerobatics. It was a relaxed, fun competition with the sport of soaring as the overall winner.
![[Torrey Meet Image]](images/torrey_meet.gif)
In the early 1960s, a portion of the gliderport property was granted to the Regents of the University of California by the citizens of San Diego by vote. This portion covers the eastern half of the gliderport including the paved runway and glider parking area. The area to the north of the gliderport was developed as the Torrey Pines Municipal Golf Course. The area to the south of the gliderport was developed as the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.
In the 1950s and 1960s, interest in radio controlled model flying began to increase. Modelers began to fly radio controlled sailplanes from the Torrey Pines cliffs when the winds were too light for the "full scale" sailplanes. A world record for radio controlled sailplane endurance was set in the mid 1950s. By 1969, the Torrey Pines Gulls Radio Controlled Soaring Society had formed and enjoyed a unique relationship with AGCSC. Radio controlled model sailplanes have continued to operate on a nearly daily basis since then.
That same year, the first hang gliders began to appear at Torrey Pines. Several world records were set for hang glider endurance over the cliffs at Torrey Pines. By the early 1970s, Torrey Pines had become a hang gliding Mecca. Initial conflicts between the users of the gliderport were strong, and the Torrey Pines Soaring Council was established to help mediate discussions between representatives for all user groups at the site. The first paraglider flights were made at Torrey Pines in 1989, adding yet another form of motorless flight, and another member group of the Torrey Pines Soaring Council.
From 1989 to the present, these four forms of motorless flight continue to cooperate and share this unique resource. Operated by the AGCSC, the full scale sailplanes fly only during the windy months of the year between February and April. The models, hang gliders, and paragliders fly all year around. Flight rules are enforced by the local Flight Director and Concessionaire to maintain safety for pilots in the air and spectators on the ground.
In 1991, the National Soaring Museum dedicated the entire Torrey Pines Gliderport as a National Soaring Landmark. Following this, the San Diego City Council declared the city owned portion of the gliderport as a San Diego City Historical Landmark (the City Council suggested that the entire site was historic, but they did not have jurisdiction over State owned property). The entire gliderport was listed on the California Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. Letters from politicians, famous aviators and astronauts, aviation related organizations and clubs helped convince the Historical Site Board of the historical value of this location to the nation.