Ober Büelen

Ober Buelen launches at about 1,560 m above Sachseln in the Swiss canton of Obwalden, an easy takeoff when the wind is right, sitting in the lee of the valley wind though usually above most of it. Thermals typically switch on around 1 p.m. and can be a little turbulent. Getting to launch is an easy, sometimes steep, hike from Sachseln or Flueli, with parking also available off the main high road - ignore any suspiciously straight path shown on topo maps through the forest, since it doesn't actually exist on the ground. Reaching the official landing at Sachseln is straightforward, and flying toward Engelberg is fine too, but pilots heading toward Sarnen or Meiringen need to know the local airspace well first - don't fly toward Sarnen unless you're confident you know what you're doing. A couple of cables are worth knowing about: a low one about 300 m below the summit cross running eastward, and a very low one, about 10 m above the ground, near Stocklikreuz. Storms usually roll in from the south-west, and the ridge at the entrance to the Melchtal can turn quite turbulent in the afternoon.

Launch & conditions

Launch is easy when the wind is right, sitting in the lee of the valley wind though usually above most of it. Thermals typically switch on around 1 p.m. and can be a little turbulent.

Getting there & local rules

Reaching launch is an easy, sometimes steep, hike from Sachseln or Flueli, with parking also available off the main high road. Ignore any suspiciously straight path shown on topo maps through the forest - it doesn't actually exist on the ground.

Local rules & hazards

Flying toward the official landing at Sachseln or toward Engelberg is fine, but pilots heading toward Sarnen or Meiringen need to know the local airspace well first - don't fly toward Sarnen unless you're confident you know what you're doing. Watch for a low cable about 300 m below the summit cross running eastward and a very low one, about 10 m above the ground, near Stocklikreuz; storms usually roll in from the south-west, and the ridge at the entrance to the Melchtal can turn quite turbulent in the afternoon.

Check conditions before you fly

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