Halde Menteroda SO – Start

Halde Menteroda SO is the southeast-facing launch on an old potash spoil heap near Sondershausen in Thuringia, at about 467 m — one of four separate takeoffs built around the heap, one for each main compass direction, so pilots generally have a launch that matches whatever the wind is doing. Because the heap sits on active operational land rather than open countryside, special rules apply here, and every pilot needs an on-site briefing from a local club member before flying for the first time — a formal site regulation document governs exactly what's allowed. The one hazard worth remembering on every launch here: a high-voltage line runs along the west and north sides of the heap, and it must never be flown under, only crossed with a real safety margin if crossed at all. A practical multi-direction training hill, but one where the briefing and the power line both matter more than the modest height suggests.

Launch & conditions

Southeast-facing launch at about 467 m, one of four direction-specific takeoffs around this former potash heap.

Getting there & local rules

A first-time briefing from a local club member is required before flying, since the site sits on active operational land with its own formal site regulations.

Local rules & hazards

A high-voltage line runs along the west and north sides of the heap — never fly under it, and cross it only with a real safety margin.

Check conditions before you fly

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