Montlinger Schwamm

Montlinger Schwamm is a north to northeast-facing soaring hill in Switzerland at 1,171 m, with a landing area at Kobelwies/Watt down in the valley. Two practical things to know before flying: the takeoff is only usable in a specific marked-out section of the field, so check the infoboard at launch rather than guessing where to set up your wing, and numerous power lines run through the terrain further down the hill — worth tracing on a map or from the ground before your first flight here. There's also a small flying fee of 5 Swiss francs, which gets refunded if you visit the on-site restaurant at launch and show your parking ticket — a low-cost, low-hassle system as these things go. As a soaring site rather than a big thermal mountain, Montlinger Schwamm suits ridge-running and ground-reference practice more than long cross-country attempts, and it's a manageable size for pilots wanting a straightforward local flight.

Launch & conditions

Only the designated section of the field (marked on the launch infoboard) is usable for takeoff.

Local rules & hazards

Numerous power lines run through the terrain further down the hill — trace their location before your first flight here. A 5 CHF flying fee applies, refunded if you visit the on-site restaurant at launch and show your parking ticket.

Check conditions before you fly

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