Küppchen – Lasserg Startplatz

Küppchen – Lasserg is a genuinely excellent east-facing site above the Moselle, at about 260 m, praised as scenically stunning and flying-wise top-tier, and it hosts a well-known annual flying festival. Right of the launch direction, toward a castle ruin, a peregrine falcon nests successfully every year, so pilots keep at least 100 m clear of the eyrie during breeding season — from early February to the end of June, overflying that zone below 100 m altitude is banned outright, an area that runs from the eastern part of the castle across the cliff to the hollow just east of it. Practically, that means turning left after launch and flying the ridge on that side during breeding season; the rest of the year, flights east of launch to the hollow have no special restriction. Cars can't drive right up to launch — park a short walk away and continue on foot — and top-landing is possible on the launch meadow. Cross-country pilots need to watch the airspace ceiling too: the launch sits directly under a glider sector capped at 1,372 m within 4 km to the northwest. Getting back to the landing field means crossing the Moselle in good time and with real height, since there's no landing option on the launch side of the river, and valley winds from two converging river systems can bring shifting directions and wind shear near the landing field, especially on thermally active days.

Local rules & hazards

A peregrine falcon nests successfully every year near the launch, so pilots keep at least 100 m clear of the eyrie zone during breeding season (early February–end of June), when overflying that area below 100 m altitude is banned outright — turn left after launch and fly the ridge on that side during this period instead. Cross-country flights are capped under a glider sector ceiling of 1,372 m within 4 km to the northwest of launch. Reaching the landing field requires crossing the Moselle in good time and with real height, and shifting winds and wind shear from two converging valley wind systems are common near the landing field on thermally active days.

Check conditions before you fly

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