Tollhausen

Tollhausen is a winch-launch paragliding site on flat, open ground near Elsdorf in North Rhine-Westphalia, sitting close to sea level at around 89 m and set up to work in both easterly and westerly winds. Since there's no hill to soar, pilots get airborne behind a tow line, and the site runs on strict ground-crew discipline: barriers and warning signs go up at the launch point and at the far end of the tow run before any towing starts, with a route marshal added wherever needed. Any tow is aborted the moment a vehicle or pedestrian strays onto the line. The site sits close to wind turbines, and towing stops altogether when conditions could produce turbulence around them — pilots keep a healthy distance from the towers at all times. Landing circuits are flown to the north side of the tow line to keep the pattern predictable, and a flight log is kept on site so annual launch numbers can be shown to the local nature authority if asked.

Launch & conditions

A winch-launch site on flat ground, worked with easterly or westerly winds; barriers and warning signs go up around the launch and tow run before flying starts.

Local rules & hazards

Towing stops whenever conditions risk dangerous turbulence around the nearby wind turbines, and pilots keep a safe distance from the towers at all times. Landing circuits fly to the north (left) side of the tow line, and any tow is aborted immediately if a vehicle or pedestrian approaches the line.

Check conditions before you fly

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