Förlenberg

Förlenberg is a demanding launch above Annweiler in the Palatinate Forest, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, at about 530 m, reached only on foot and flying northeast through north and east wind. The launch sits in a narrow forest gap, and the airflow there hits it at an angle, so crosswind is common and makes launching genuinely tricky — guest pilots aren't allowed to fly without a personal briefing first. Even experienced local pilots treat a pure east wind as seriously dangerous, and the site has a real history of reserve-parachute deployments. Every pilot gets briefed by a knowledgeable local pilot before flying, with the lee-side risk in crosswind specifically called out, and launches only happen when conditions clearly allow a safe launch and the trees in front of the gap can be cleared with height to spare. Wind indicators are placed through the gap to help pilots read conditions. Landing is on a forest clearing at the foot of the mountain.

Launch & conditions

It's a demanding gap launch — the trees in front need to be cleared with height to spare, and wind indicators through the gap help pilots read the often-oblique airflow.

Getting there & local rules

Reached on foot only, walking up from Annweiler.

Local rules & hazards

The launch sits in a narrow forest gap hit by airflow at an angle, so crosswind is common and genuinely dangerous — even experienced local pilots treat a pure east wind as very risky, and the site has a real history of reserve-parachute deployments. Guest pilots aren't allowed to fly without a personal briefing first, which covers the lee-side risk in crosswind specifically. Launches only happen when conditions clearly allow it and the trees in front of the gap can be cleared with height to spare.

Check conditions before you fly

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