Schriesheim / Ölberg

Schriesheim/Ölberg is an attractive but genuinely tricky launch at the edge of the Odenwald, at about 380 m facing west, where a west wind can deliver hours of ridge soaring. Mannheim Neuostheim airport's approach sector sits directly over the launch and is marked as a safety zone that pilots must not linger in. The launch itself is steep-edged, opening into a deep forest clearing, and the paraglider has to be pulled up from flat ground with any abort decided in a split second; south to southwest wind brings strong turbulence, so real flight experience and solid wing handling matter here. A 7 m hang glider ramp sits in the same clearing right at the edge, with easy launches for hang gliders in southwest-to-west-northwest wind or even no wind at all. Both wings share the same 210 m landing field, so watching each other's very different flying speeds matters, and modern high-performance hang gliders need a precise landing turn to use it well. Every pilot needs a briefing before their first flight here, and paraglider pilots must have held their license for at least a year with plenty of flights logged since.

Local rules & hazards

A safety-zone sector for Mannheim Neuostheim airport's approach lies directly over the launch and pilots must not linger in it; coordination with the airport on flight timing is mandatory and binding for every pilot. South to southwest wind brings strong turbulence at this steep, forest-clearing launch, so real flight experience and good wing handling are expected — paraglider pilots need at least a year on their license plus roughly 50 logged flights since, and training flights are not permitted here. An altimeter and a GPS with altitude logging are required, and pilots must keep 100 m horizontal and vertical clearance from a nearby quarry to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

Check conditions before you fly

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