Wernsbacher Weg Nord

Wernsbacher Weg Nord is a winch and aerotow site on the flatlands of Mittelfranken in Bavaria, launching from 435 m and flying best on wind from the south to south-west. Unlike a hill or mountain takeoff, pilots get airborne here behind a tow vehicle or winch line, which makes it a popular spot for building airtime and cross-country technique when there's no ridge or thermal lift nearby. The airspace overhead is tighter than it looks on a map: Class E is lowered to 1,000 feet above the ground directly over the tow field, so every pilot needs to fly to visual flight rules minima, and anyone heading out cross-country has to watch for the circuit traffic of the Nürnberg and Ansbach airfields close by. The site also sits near an active military airfield, so flying is run as an organized, coordinated tow operation with a ground crew rather than a casual drop-in hill — expect scheduled tow days rather than solo launches.

Launch & conditions

Launch is by winch or aerotow line only, run by an organized ground crew — there's no ridge or thermal takeoff here, so check tow-day scheduling before you drive out.

Local rules & hazards

Because the site sits close to a military airfield, every tow session needs radio coordination with air traffic control beforehand, and pilots must fly to visual flight minima under the lowered Class E airspace overhead. Minimum safety heights and clearances from buildings, roads, railways and power lines apply throughout the flight, and the tow rope must stay clear of any obstacle while a tow is running.

Check conditions before you fly

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