Armutswiesen

Armutswiesen is a training slope near Waiblingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, run by a local flying school and used mainly for practice flights rather than serious cross-country days. Access here depends entirely on the local farmer's goodwill: the field can only be flown with the landowner's consent, and flying is off-limits whenever the vegetation is tall enough that wing-dragging or foot traffic could damage the crop — ignoring that isn't just bad etiquette, it risks the site's access for everyone else too. Getting there also means leaving the car behind: vehicles have to be parked in the village of Brend, and the last stretch to the launch is on foot only, no exceptions. Launching from 400 m with a hill that faces east, the site works for a narrow but reliable window of conditions rather than an all-day soaring session. The dedicated training landing field, Armutswiesen Übungshang Landeplatz, keeps the pattern simple for students working through their early flights here.

Getting there & local rules

The field may only be flown with the local farmer's consent, and never when vegetation is tall enough to be damaged — respecting both is what keeps the site open.

Local rules & hazards

Vehicles must be parked in the village of Brend — the site is reachable on foot only.

Check conditions before you fly

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