Nordhelle Werdohl

Nordhelle, above Werdohl, is a members-only site with no guest or drop-in flying: pilots need to be briefed and vetted before they're allowed to launch, and flight experience is a genuine requirement here, not a formality. The launch sits at around 405 m and works with north, northeast or northwest wind. Flying operates under a landscape-protection exemption granted by the local district authority, so staying inside the agreed conditions matters for keeping the site open at all. A 50 m safety margin from the nearby road is non-negotiable. The main landing field, Nordhelle Werdohl Landeplatz 1, isn't freely exposed to wind, so multiple wind indicators are set out during flying days to show pilots what's actually happening down low — the airflow here can behave differently than it looks from the air. A second landing option exists but is reserved for very experienced pilots only; its approach is genuinely demanding.

Launch & conditions

North, northeast or northwest-facing launch at about 405 m; briefing by the site holder is required before your first flight, and this isn't a site to just turn up at.

Getting there & local rules

Members-only — there's no guest or drop-in flying here, and pilots need vetted flight experience before being allowed to launch.

Local rules & hazards

Keep at least 50 m clear of the nearby road. The main landing field isn't evenly exposed to wind, so watch the wind indicators placed around it rather than trusting a single reading. A second landing option exists but its approach is demanding and reserved for very experienced pilots only.

Check conditions before you fly

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