Messnerin Startplatz 2

Messnerin Startplatz 2 is the second launch option at this Austrian walk-and-fly site near Oberort, sitting at around 1,695 m — a touch lower than the site's other takeoff, and oriented southeast through south to southwest rather than northwest. That spread of usable directions is the point: pilots can pick whichever launch suits the day's wind rather than being locked into one aspect. Like the rest of the area there's no lift, so reaching the plateau below the summit means a multi-hour hike, but the payoff is reliable thermals on good days and a genuinely grandiose view from the top. Landing is at the shared Messnerin Landeplatz, in the large meadow near the hiking car park where the climb began, so the day's loop closes neatly. Because the wind window here runs from southeast to southwest, check which of the two launches actually matches the forecast before committing to the climb.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Messnerin Startplatz 2, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Messnerin Startplatz 2 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.