Erbach – Erlenbach Startplatz West

Erbach – Erlenbach Startplatz West is a German training slope at about 381 m, flying on a westerly wind — the site may only be used after checking in with the site holder first. The special landing field at Michelstadt lies about 4.2 km away. A couple of environmental checks apply: before flight operations start each March, the site holder checks whether common buzzards or red kites are showing territorial behaviour over the adjacent forest edge, and if a pair is found breeding there, the launch and landing area is closed until the end of June. There's also a fence along the left edge of the Erlenbach West landing field, which is why training flights here are restricted to students who have already done steering exercises and can fly controlled turns — a beginner's very first flights happen elsewhere before moving on to this site. No changes to the natural terrain or any kind of surface paving are allowed.

Launch & conditions

Training flights here are limited to students who have already done steering exercises and can fly controlled turns, because of a fence along the left edge of the landing field.

Getting there & local rules

The special landing field at Michelstadt lies about 4.2 km away. The site may only be used after checking in with the site holder first.

Local rules & hazards

Before flight operations start each March, the site holder checks whether buzzards or red kites are showing territorial behaviour over the adjacent forest edge; if a pair is found breeding there, the launch and landing area closes until the end of June. No changes to the natural terrain or surface paving are allowed.

Check conditions before you fly

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