Spitzberg kurz Nord – Ost

Spitzberg kurz Nord – Ost is a winch and aerotow flatland site near Schonungen in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, launching from 280 m on north-east wind and landing at the Schonungen Landeplatz 2 field, paired with a south-west-facing lane nearby. Flying is quota-limited: a maximum of 35 days a year and no more than 10 pilots on the field at once, set to protect the adjoining Garstadt bird-protection area from low overflight. The landing ground is narrow and runs long rather than wide, with sections that lie across the wind, so pilots need confident precision-landing technique, tandem crews included. New visitors get a site briefing before their first flight, and the longer of the cluster's tow lines has a tree stand and a row of bushes forming a pinch point mid-run that the ground crew keeps the rope clear of.

Launch & conditions

Launch by winch tow only on north-east wind, with the ground crew keeping visual contact throughout — flying is capped at 35 days a year with no more than 10 pilots at once.

Local rules & hazards

The site borders the Garstadt bird-protection area, which must never be overflown at low altitude, and the narrow, partly crosswise landing field demands confident precision-landing technique from solo and tandem pilots alike. The longer tow line in this cluster narrows mid-run between a tree stand and a row of bushes, so the ground crew keeps the rope clear there and can abort the tow.

Check conditions before you fly

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