Wind farm outside San Diego? (Palm Springs, Bonita: house, live, military)

[thepinksquid]

When I was recently flying into San Diego from the east, about 20 minutes or so before touching down, I saw from the airplane a pretty large wind farm with about 15-20 or so windmills. Does anyone know where this is located? I tried looking at aerial photography/satellite photos of the region and I've yet to find it. Are there others in the San Diego area? I just find it quite interesting.

[Steve Bagu]

Your talkin about the turbine wind 3 prop blades between Hwy I-10 and Palm Springs. They have been there for years. 20 min from landing would make it just about right. There is a area between the mountains and the desert area of Palm Springs that creates a funnel of wind 1/2 way fom the mountains and PS is a spot they call windy point and that is where the turbines are. My parents lived in PS and I would visit them and experience the winds and blowing dust/sand which many times pitted the paint/glass of cars going thru the area. Steve

[esmith143]

I don't think it's that area, PS is too far northeast and it's not under the approach trajectory for Lindbergh Field.

There's a smaller wind farm just north of I-8, about 5 miles northwest of Boulevard.

[Steve Bagu]

Understand, but he was coming from the EAST 20 MINUTES before landing, repeat, 20 MINUTES before landing. That would put him in Palm Springs area coming from back East Besides planes do not come straight in as they generally have to BANK depending on there initial approach direction. Watch the planes land at Lindburgh Field and see the banking as they come in to land. Look at the wings tipping and you will see the banking. Steve

[esmith143]

Boulevard is 50 miles due east from Lindbergh Field. Palm Springs is 85 miles north-north-east. Planes coming from the east don't approach from the north-north-east. That would make them fly over my house in RP and then cross military airspace over or near MCAS Miramar. I've never seen an airliner do that. I do often see airplanes approach Lindbergh Field from the east (over Bonita).

[sdurbanite]

If the OP only saw 15-20 windmills (as opposed to the hundreds you see outside of PS), I'm sure he or she is talking about the ones esmith is referring to that are east of San Diego, along the 8.

Wind farm taking shape | The San Diego Union-Tribune

[thepinksquid]

Thanks so much everyone!

I'm thinking that the one I saw was probably the one north of Boulevard rather than near Palm Springs. At that point during the flight the airplane was on a pretty due east trajectory into the airport, so that one would make sense. Plus the terrain wasn't as desolate as by Palm Springs.

Kelly

[jkoz]

Most flights I've taken from back East do go over Palm Springs, then they bank south over Glamis and the dunes, then over the mountains then the final "bank" into the airport. I always know when they make that last wide turn that we're over Eastlake--that's about where they head in. Occasionally you'll get a pilot who will let you know what you're flying over--I've had them announce the Grand Canyon, Palm Springs, etc.--makes for a more interesting flight.