Wirtsberg West (Bartholomä)

Wirtsberg West is a launch near Bartholomä in Germany, at 685 m, working on a west wind. This is a coordinated-access site rather than an open hill: flying only happens in agreement with the local flying school, and because the launch sits right next to the special-use Bartholomä-Amalienhof airfield, an operating agreement with that airfield's operator has to be in place before anyone starts flying — sailplane and ultralight traffic share this airspace, so the coordination isn't a formality. Once that's sorted, it's a straightforward west-facing launch, with the Wirtsberg landing field below. Treat the paperwork as part of the flight plan here, not an afterthought — this is a site that exists on good terms with an active airfield right next door.

Local rules & hazards

Flying here requires prior coordination with the local flying school. There's also a special-use airfield right at the site (Bartholomä-Amalienhof) — an operating agreement with its operator must be in place before you fly, since sailplane traffic shares this airspace.

Check conditions before you fly

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