Auf dem Birnbaum

Auf dem Birnbaum is a winch-tow flatland site in Germany at about 325 m, working best in northerly to northwesterly wind. There's no scenic description attached to it — what defines the site instead is a tight set of operating rules built around the farmland it sits on and the roads nearby. Grassland plots in use and existing trees and hedges must not be affected by flight operations. When the tow rope is laid out, care has to be taken that it can't catch in the orchard trees during the tow. Where the rope crosses agricultural paths, those crossings must be secured with suitable means so farm traffic isn't put at risk. A proper safety distance has to be kept from both the B450 federal road and the L3198 state road nearby. And throughout every tow, there must be direct visual contact between the launch point and the winch operator — no towing on trust alone.

Local rules & hazards

Existing trees and hedges must not be disturbed by flight operations. The tow rope must be laid out so it can't catch in orchard trees, and any agricultural path it crosses must be secured. Keep a safety distance from the B450 and L3198 roads nearby, and maintain direct visual contact between the launch point and the winch operator throughout towing.

Check conditions before you fly

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