Hohen Unkel

Hohen Unkel is a winch-tow flying site near Bonn, Germany, at around 185 m, working wind from the north, east or west. Airspace is the defining fact here: because the site sits close to Cologne-Bonn Airport, altitude is capped at 4,500 ft MSL across the site, tightening further to just 2,500 ft MSL immediately north of the field — real ceilings that shape every flight rather than a formality to skim past. On the ground, pilots are asked to clear the adjacent forest areas with real height margin rather than skimming the treetops, and to go easy on the vegetation around launch and landing. With three workable wind directions, there's usually a flyable heading, but the altitude caps are the constraint that actually defines how high — not just whether — you can fly here.

Local rules & hazards

Altitude is capped at 4,500 ft MSL, tightening to 2,500 ft MSL directly north of the site, due to proximity to Cologne-Bonn Airport. Clear the adjacent forest with real height margin and go easy on the vegetation.

Check conditions before you fly

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