Tafelbühl West

Tafelbühl West is a mountain launch in the Black Forest at 1,020 m, flown on west or northwest wind. Every pilot needs a briefing on the site's conditions and hazards before flying, with the nature-protection rules getting special emphasis of their own. Side-wind launches are not allowed here at all — forest lines both sides of the takeoff and creates a lee effect that makes crosswind starts genuinely dangerous. Once airborne, staying above 300 m over the ground is mandatory over the nearby 'Mittlerer Schwarzwald' bird protection area, which is mapped specifically to protect capercaillie habitat, and launches can only happen up to two hours before sunset. Getting to launch has its own rule too — the direct route through the Kostgfäll nature reserve is off-limits, so access has to run outside the reserve via the Gfällstraße and past the Breilerhäusle instead. Down at the Erzenbach-Schätzlehof landing meadow, a power line runs along the southern edge, and keeping clear of it is part of every approach.

Launch & conditions

Works on west or northwest wind. Side-wind launches are not allowed — forest on both sides of the takeoff creates a lee effect. Launches only up to two hours before sunset.

Getting there & local rules

The direct route through the Kostgfäll nature reserve is off-limits; reach launch via the Gfällstraße and past the Breilerhäusle instead, staying outside the reserve.

Local rules & hazards

Every pilot needs a briefing on the site's conditions and hazards, with particular attention to the nature-protection rules. After launch, stay above 300 m over the ground over the nearby 'Mittlerer Schwarzwald' bird protection area, which is mapped to protect capercaillie habitat. At the Erzenbach-Schätzlehof landing meadow, keep a safe distance from the power line along its southern edge.

Check conditions before you fly

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