Segelflugplatz Holste – Hellingst

Segelflugplatz Holste-Hellingst is a flat-land tow site about 50 km north of Bremen, Germany, launching from just 50 m with a 1,200 m runway used for regular winch and tow launching. The terrain couldn't be flatter, but that's the point: north German lowland sites like this one rely on thermals rather than ridge lift, and pilots here report enough thermal activity on good days to string together solid, high-performance flights despite the lack of any real terrain relief. The airfield is run by a local gliding club that shares the strip with sailplane traffic, so newcomers need to stay alert to glider circuit patterns and general airfield traffic rather than assuming they have the sky to themselves. Guests and pilots new to towed flying are explicitly welcomed here, which makes it a reasonable place to try winch-launched paragliding for the first time if you already fly but haven't towed before. Wind from the southeast or northwest suits the field's usable directions.

Launch & conditions

Watch for glider traffic and airfield circuit patterns during launch and while climbing out — this is an active shared airfield, not a quiet local hill.

Check conditions before you fly

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