Spitzberg lang Süd – West

Spitzberg lang Süd – West is the longer of two south-west-facing tow lanes near Schonungen in Lower Franconia, Bavaria, launching from 330 m and landing at the Schonungen Landeplatz 2 field alongside its shorter sister lane. The same rules bind every lane in this cluster: flying is capped at 35 days a year with no more than 10 pilots on the ground at once, protecting the neighbouring Garstadt bird-protection area from low overflight. Landings demand real precision — the field is narrow and long rather than wide, with sections lying across the wind, so both solo and tandem pilots need confident technique here. New visitors get a site briefing before their first flight, and being the cluster's long lane, this one is specifically named for the hazard mid-run: a stand of trees and a row of bushes narrow the tow line, and the ground crew keeps the rope's path clear through that pinch point on every tow.

Launch & conditions

Launch by winch tow only on south-west 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. This lane's own pinch point sits mid-run, where a stand of trees and a row of bushes close in on the tow line, 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 lang Süd – West, 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 lang Süd – West with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.