Obere Wengi

Obere Wengi is considered a fantastic cross-country site in spring, launching from a large, moderately sloped field in Switzerland's Solothurn region. Takeoff itself is easy and gets heavily used on good days, with reliable thermal activity starting about 100 meters to the left of launch. The field belongs to a farmer who runs a small restaurant right next to the site — buying something there is the expected courtesy in place of a formal launch fee. Getting there means driving through Oensingen, Balsthal and Matzendorf; on good flying days, the local club even runs a bus up from near the kindergarten in Matzendorf on weekdays, or from behind the industrial area at the entrance of town. Basel's controlled airspace sits directly overhead with a 1,700 m ceiling, so climbing above it needs radio clearance and a solid grasp of the local rules. A moderate bise from the northeast or east works fine here, but never launch with wind from the west, northwest or north — it will push you straight into the trees below takeoff. Landing is at the official site near the main road at the eastern entrance of Matzendorf, with plenty of backup fields nearby if you can't reach it, though crops and tall vegetation are off-limits.

Launch & conditions

The takeoff is a large, moderately sloped field that's easy to launch from and gets heavily used on good days, with reliable thermal activity starting about 100 meters to the left. The site belongs to a farmer who runs a small restaurant next door — buying something there is the expected courtesy instead of a formal launch fee.

Getting there & local rules

Drive through Oensingen, Balsthal and Matzendorf. On good flying days, the local flying club runs a bus up from near the kindergarten in Matzendorf on weekdays, or from behind the industrial area at the entrance of town.

Local rules & hazards

Basel's TMA sits directly overhead with a 1,700 m ASL ceiling — don't go above it without radio clearance and a solid understanding of the local airspace, and ask locals for current details. A moderate bise (northeast to east wind) is fine, but never take off if the wind is westerly, northwesterly or north, since it will push you straight into the trees below launch.

Check conditions before you fly

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