Rauchbauer

Rauchbauer is a moderately steep grass launch in Austria between Rieding and Rieding-Koralpe, at about 1,318 m and facing southwest to west, used by both hang gliders and paragliders. The site is particularly well suited to hang-glider flights, thanks to the longer flight path down to the landing area in Wolfsberg — a glide that rewards the extra performance a hang glider carries over a paraglider on the same line. Landing is in a large meadow opposite the football stadium in Wolfsberg-Gries, easy to spot from the air and simple to find on the ground afterward. Between the moderate launch angle and the mixed hang-glider/paraglider traffic, it's a straightforward site logistically, though paraglider pilots should expect a shorter glide to the same landing than the hang gliders sharing the hill.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Rauchbauer, 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 Rauchbauer with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.