Schwaney – Hoppenberg

Schwaney-Hoppenberg is a freely exposed hill near Paderborn, western Germany, used for both soaring and practice flying. It only works by arrangement: flying here needs prior agreement and a briefing from the site holder, and every pilot has to be briefed on the site's specific conditions before their first flight. Launching and landing are confined to a single registered plot, kept at least 40 meters clear of the neighboring parcel, and no more than 15 people are allowed to fly on any given day. The land sits inside a protected landscape area, so parking on the site or the adjoining field track isn't allowed. Paderborn Airport's controlled airspace sits close overhead — a TMZ starting at 2,500 ft MSL, roughly 1,000 ft above the ground — and every pilot needs to know it's there. Flying alongside model aircraft isn't permitted, and guests may only fly with a club member present and their sign-off.

Launch & conditions

Freely exposed hill for soaring and practice. Launching and landing are confined to one registered plot, kept at least 40 m clear of the neighboring parcel, and no more than 15 pilots may fly on any given day.

Getting there & local rules

Flying here needs prior arrangement and a briefing from the site holder — every pilot is briefed on the site's conditions before their first flight. Guests may only fly with a club member present and their approval. No parking on the site or the adjoining field track (protected landscape area).

Local rules & hazards

Paderborn Airport's controlled airspace sits close overhead — a TMZ from 2,500 ft MSL, roughly 1,000 ft above ground — so know it's there before you fly. Flying alongside model aircraft isn't permitted.

Check conditions before you fly

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