Gimpertshausen West

Gimpertshausen West is a winch-launch flatland site near Nuremberg in Bavaria, flying on easterly winds from around 504 m. It's the training-suitable half of a paired tow site — of the two Gimpertshausen launches, only the west one is set up for student flight operations. Guest pilots always get a briefing from the site operator on the local particulars before their first flight, and both the launch and landing areas are cordoned off with tape or similar markers whenever flying is underway, to keep bystanders out. Access paths feeding into the site are secured against unauthorised entry during towing whenever needed. Tandem flights only go ahead when conditions and the pilots' experience together rule out any dangerous approach of the tow line to nearby obstacles, and the winch operator watches closely for a row of bushes and trees south of the tow route — the tow is aborted if the line risks contact with them. Throughout, the priority is keeping the tow line clear of every obstacle along its path.

Launch & conditions

This is the training-suitable half of the paired Gimpertshausen tow site — of the two launches, only West is set up for student flight operations.

Local rules & hazards

Guest pilots get a briefing from the site operator on local particulars before their first flight. Launch and landing areas are cordoned off during flying, and a row of bushes and trees south of the tow route means the winch operator watches closely for line contact, aborting the tow if needed. Tandem flights go ahead only when conditions and pilot experience together rule out a dangerous approach to nearby obstacles.

Check conditions before you fly

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