Schleppstrecke Schecken / Durchhausen

Schecken / Durchhausen is a winch-tow site on the flatlands near Villingen-Schwenningen in southwest Germany, sitting at roughly 740 m. With no hill to launch from, pilots get airborne behind a winch, which makes the site a reliable option when the nearby Black Forest ridges are out of condition or when a club simply wants guaranteed reps for training. The tow line runs along a stretch that only works cleanly with wind roughly out of the northeast or southwest, so the usable window narrows on days when the flow sits across it. Flatland winching suits pilots who already fly independently and understand tow technique, as well as school groups working through early lessons under supervision, since the ground is open and forgiving compared with a mountain landing. Expect a working agricultural landscape rather than a scenic backdrop: this is a functional, club-run strip, not a destination flight. Because the tow crosses a farm track and the field itself is mown pasture, operations are coordinated around the land's actual use rather than left open at all hours. Pilots visiting for the first time should link up with the local towing club before showing up, since winch sites run on a schedule and crew rather than free-fly access.

Launch & conditions

Winch tow only — there is no hill launch, so pilots are pulled up on a cable rather than foot-launching from a slope.

Getting there & local rules

The tow strip crosses a farm track used for agricultural traffic, and the surrounding fields stay in active use, so flying only happens on land that has been mown and cleared for the day.

Local rules & hazards

Flying is closed here from 1 April through the end of May each year to protect nesting birds. Launches only happen from freshly mown meadow, and farm use of the land takes priority over flying at all other times. The farm track that crosses the tow line needs to be secured for the duration of each tow, and putting up any barrier for that requires separate permission from both the local authority and the landowner.

Check conditions before you fly

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