The AZHPA's 2011 Mingus Fly Fest on Labor Day weekend, September 2nd-4th in Cottonwood, Arizona. Mingus is a beautiful H3/P3 site with 4000 vertical feet, camping in the pines, fabulous HG and PG launches and great XC opportunities. $50 registration covers flying all days, a t-shirt and entry in the spot-landing contest.

Driving directions from Tucson to Mingus launch: I-10 west from Tucson about 105 miles to exit 150A, route I-17 north. Proceed on I-17 about 68 miles to exit 262, AZ-69 north. Coninue north on AZ-69 21.5 miles to the light at Fain Road. Turn right onto Fain and continue 7 miles to AZ-89A. Turn hard right onto AZ-89A and proceed about 12 miles to the entrance to Mingus. Turn right onto NF-104 (2wd dirt) and continue about 3 miles to a "T" in the road. Turn left and continue up the hill to the AZHPA campground near the launches (GPS coordinates 34d42.9'N, 112d6.58'W. Allow about 3.5 hours driving time.

The 2011 Santa Cruz Flats Race is an annual aerotow competition event held in Casa Grande at the Francisco Grande Resort hotel. September 18th-24th. The best competition hang glider pilots in the country will be there. Come out and see how it's done!

The 2011 Dry Canyon Columbus Day Fly-in, Alamogordo New Mexico. An annual fun fly-in on Columbus Day weekend, October 8th-10th. Hosted by the Rio Grande Soaring Association. Check here for details!

Driving directions from Tucson to Hobby Park LZ: I-10 east from Tucson, about 260 miles to US-70 exit 135. Take US-70 east through Las Cruces, about 65 miles to Alamogordo where it merges with US-54. Take US-54 north into Alamogordo about three miles to the traffic light at Indian Wells Road. Take a right, and go about 1.5 miles to Pecan Drive (there is a small convenience store on the northeast corner). Turn left onto Pecan Drive and go north to the end, where you'll find Hobby Park, the Dry Canyon LZ (GPS coordinates 32d55.6'N, 105d56.6'W.