Tennessee Tree Toppers

Whitwell Flight Clearance

You must be a Tennessee Tree Topper member in good standing and a current USHPA member before flying any TTT sites. You can become a TTT member by completing a Membership Application and paying your dues. Membership Applications are available at the Henson Gap membership station located next to the club house.

You have two options for submitting this form. Please follow the application instructions carefully.

1. Complete this form on-site and ask a TTT Board of Directors member to sign as your witness.  Place the application and your dues payment in an envelope and drop in the Henson Gap membership lock box. Your membership becomes effective immediately and you will receive your membership sticker in the mail at a later date.

                                                                        OR

2. Complete this form, have any adult sign as your witness, and mail it with your membership dues payment to: Tennessee Tree Toppers P.O. Box 1286 Dunlap, TN 37327. Your membership will become effective ONLY when the TTT has received and processed your application and payment. Your membership sticker will be sent in the mail. You may NOT fly at any Tennessee Tree Topper sites until you have received your membership sticker in the mail

A minimum Hang 3 rating with mountain experience is required to fly Whitwell. First Mountain Flights at Whitwell are prohibited. Pilots showing intent to fly Whitwell without sufficient rating and/or required experience are subject to citation. You must also read and understand the Flight Regulatory Program (FRP) before flying TTT sites. The FRP is available at the Henson Gap sign-up station, the Whitwell Bulletin Board, and on-line at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org.

Wire Launches

Use side wire crew in winds exceeding 8 mph and a keel person in winds exceeding 12 mph.

Safety Points

If you do not get up immediately, head to the LZ. Often there are thermals out front and lift may be found on the way out. At any rate, caution should always be exercised regarding glide to closest available LZ. DO NOT LAND DURING SUNDAY MORNING SERVICES, 9:45 AM - 12:00 NOON CT. Land somewhere else within this interval. Because the LZ is a church's back yard, please refrain from the use of alcoholic beverages, profanity, and other questionable activity. Exhibit respect for the landowners who choose to be so generously hospitable to us.

Cross Country Tips

There are lots of landing fields up and down the valley. On a northeast cross, head towards Jasper. Past Jasper is Alabama. The ridge ends after crossing I-24. Directly over the back is high risk dinosaur country with very few fields for miles. Southeasterly is a fun time for flying to Dunlap or farther. If you have little XC experience this is a good site to fly the ridge. Be careful in the gaps, though. If you begin sinking out, try to land somewhere along Hwy 28 or Hwy 41 for the best chance of catching a ride.

Directions to launch from Dunlap

From the center of Dunlap, proceed south on Hwy 127/Hwy 28. Turn right onto Hwy 28. Go south about 12 miles to Whitwell. Turn right at first traffic light and go to 4-way stop. Turn right onto Hwy 108. Climb mountain on Hwy 108. Turn left onto Mt. Olive Road at the top of the mountain. Go approximately 2.5 miles and look for a red brick house on the left with a new trailer beside it. The windsock may be visible in the winter. Turn left onto a dirt road just after the brick house.

Directions to launch from Chattanooga

Take I-24W to Nashville. Shortly after crossing Nickajack Lake, exit right at Hwy 28/Jasper/Dunlap Exit. There is also a small sign indicating Whitwell this exit. Turn right onto Hwy 28. Proceed to traffic light intersection with hospital on far right corner. Turn left. Proceed to 4-way stop. Follow "Directions to launch from Dunlap" from this point.

Directions from launch to Church LZ

Turn right onto Mt. Olive Road. Turn right onto Hwy 108. Descend mountain to fork at bottom. Turn hard left. Proceed to Whitwell First Baptist Church on right. LZ is behind church.