Oberhövels

Oberhövels is a winch-tow flatland site at 220 m in Germany, flown on north and south winds. Two ground rules apply directly around the field: pilots must keep at least 50 m of clearance from the access road leading to the nearby farmstead, and because the site sits close to Betzdorf-Kirchen airfield, the tow operation has to notify that airfield's flight control by phone before towing gets underway each session. Every pilot flying here is required to get a briefing on the local conditions first, specifically covering how close the airfield traffic actually is — this isn't a formality, it's treated as essential given the shared airspace. Between the farmstead buffer and the mandatory airfield coordination, Oberhövels is a site where the ground procedures matter as much as the wind check before you fly.

Local rules & hazards

Keep at least 50 m of clearance from the access road to the nearby farmstead. Because the site sits close to Betzdorf-Kirchen airfield, its flight control must be notified before towing begins, and every pilot needs a briefing on that proximity before flying here.

Check conditions before you fly

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