Schöckl near Graz

Schöckl is a soaring site above Graz in Styria, Austria, launching from 1,409 m with separate takeoffs oriented for northwest/north and for southeast/south wind, so there's usually a launch that matches the day's direction. Hikers reach the summit on foot as well as by gondola. The south landing field has a reputation for looking trickier than it actually is — most pilots manage it without trouble once they've seen it. Austrian airspace caps flights over the Schöckl at 2,134 m (7,000 ft), and the Graz control zone begins only around 5 km south-southwest of the takeoff, an absolute no-fly boundary worth knowing exactly before you fly. There are separate landing zones depending on whether you fly the north or south side of the mountain, so plan your approach to match the takeoff and wind you actually used.

Launch & conditions

Separate takeoffs serve northwest/north and southeast/south wind, so match your launch to the forecast direction.

Getting there & local rules

Reach the summit by gondola or on foot. Landing fields differ by side of the mountain — use the one matching your takeoff and wind.

Local rules & hazards

Flights over the Schöckl are capped at 2,134 m (7,000 ft) MSL by Austrian airspace rules, and the Graz control zone begins roughly 5 km south-southwest of the launch — treat that boundary as an absolute no-fly limit.

Check conditions before you fly

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