Schnathorst

Schnathorst is a winch-tow site just south of the Wiehengebirge ridge, launching from a field next to a historic windmill. With a thermal connection above the ridge, pilots can push north into the flat lowlands of northern Germany — a rare cross-country option for a flatland site. Because a power line runs close to the field, pilots are told to keep it firmly in mind on every tow. The surrounding terrain carries real conservation weight: a Natura 2000 site protecting an eagle owl sits nearby and may not be overflown within 200 m of the nest, and ground-nesting lapwing, skylark, quail and partridge use the launch and landing fields during the March–June breeding season, so the strip is checked for occupied nests before flying starts each year. Tow direction is fixed by wind: the east route only runs in winds from 45–135°, the west route only from 235–280°, and every tow needs a reliable radio link between pilot and winch operator plus an altimeter to judge release height.

Launch & conditions

Watch the power line close to the launch field on every tow. Stepped-tow launches only run in specific wind windows — 45–135° for the east route, 235–280° for the west — with a working radio link between pilot and winch operator and an altimeter to judge release height.

Local rules & hazards

The site borders a protected eagle-owl nesting zone that may not be overflown within 200 m, and ground-nesting birds use the fields during the March–June breeding season, so the strip is checked for occupied nests before the season's first flights. Landing area S1 must clear a 10kV power line and a footpath by at least 50 m AGL; landing area S2 needs at least 50 m clearance from roads.

Check conditions before you fly

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