Wildkogel Startplatz 4

Wildkogel Startplatz 4 is another easy-access launch in Austria's Pinzgau region, behind the Gerlos Pass, reached via the Smaragdbahn lift and launching from around 2,091 m into southeast or south wind — a useful option when the wind sits further round than the site's other launches want. Like the rest of the Wildkogel flying area, it has a reputation as forgiving and welcoming: the wide Pinzgau valley below and its many outlanding fields make it a popular spot for pilots easing into cross-country flying, not just for advanced pilots passing through. Zell am See lies almost 50 km away as the crow flies, a distance many pilots choose to cover by wing. The view toward the Großvenediger makes even a short glide worthwhile. As at the other Wildkogel launches, the landing field has been relocated to a damp meadow in the river floodplain next to the railway line, and online maps in the area are not yet up to date.

Launch & conditions

Southeast to south-facing launch at about 2,091 m, reached via the Smaragdbahn lift — an easy, forgiving site that works well when the wind doesn't suit Wildkogel's other launches.

Getting there & local rules

Reached via the Smaragdbahn lift. The landing field was relocated to a damp meadow in the river floodplain next to the railway line — online maps in the area haven't caught up, so don't rely on them for the old location.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Wildkogel Startplatz 4, 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 Wildkogel Startplatz 4 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.