El Brillante, San José
📍 Caldas · Nearest city: San Jose (2 km)
54 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1715 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
5.07049, -75.80040Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:15 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~744 m, viento 6 km/h.
base ~744m · wind 6 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~550 m, viento 6 km/h, precipitación 1.5 mm.
base ~550m · wind 6 km/h · precip 1.5mmNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~559 m, viento 6 km/h, precipitación 2.8 mm.
base ~559m · wind 6 km/h · precip 2.8mmComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20🌟 Exceptional day · peak 85 at 14h
⏰ Useful window: 09:00 – 16:00
| 08 60 | 09 53 | 10 73 | 11 80 | 12 80 | 13 80 | 14 85 | 15 85 | 16 85 | 17 85 | 18 85 | 19 73 | 20 55 |
Peak 14h: CAPE 400 J/kg · LI -2.7 · BL top 1620 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 2577 m · 0°C at 4970 m · Pro score 75/100 · sun 63° over slope
2026-04-21✅ Flyable · peak 85 at 16h
⏰ Useful window: 09:00 – 16:00
| 08 63 | 09 53 | 10 73 | 11 73 | 12 73 | 13 78 | 14 73 | 15 73 | 16 85 | 17 85 | 18 78 | 19 78 | 20 65 |
Peak 16h: CAPE 770 J/kg · LI -2.0 · BL top 425 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 2315 m · 0°C at 4990 m · Pro score 74/100 · sun 35° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 14:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 22.6°C · Td: 15.7°C
LCL (cloud base): 862 m
BL top: 1620 m
0°C level: 4970 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 8 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.73 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.33 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Real takeoff terrain
| SRTM elevation | 1712 m AMSL |
| Average slope | 10.9° |
| Slope aspect | 221° (SW) |
| Hemisphere | north — Slope facing the daytime sun (favorable for thermals) |
Derived from SRTM 30m (NASA).
Takeoff description
Casa FLYT, known by the locals as El Brillante, is the mountain ridge take off positioned at the northern end of the Valle de Cauca in Colombia (one hour north of Pereira).
Nearby sites
Risaralda -Reyes de la colina (66) · Apìa, El Zarzo (54) · chinchina (3) · Despegue Filadelfia (40) · Wayra, Ansermanuevo (59) · Villa Luca, Ansermanuevo (69)