Wixberg Startplatz West

Wixberg's west-facing launch, in the Sauerland hills near Altena, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, sits at about 420 m and covers southwest, west and northwest wind. Like the site's other launch point, access here is restricted to members of the local flying club. Two adjacent nature reserves, Pragpaul and Tiefenbach, are strict no-fly zones, and every pilot gets briefed on their boundaries and the landscape authority's conditions before flying. Because the nearby Altena-Hegenscheid airfield has its own traffic pattern, pilots stay well clear of its circuit. No camping, gear storage, caravans or open fires are allowed on or near the launch, and cars can't drive up to it — everyone parks at the nearest proper lot instead. The launch meadow and its forest clearings are mowed at least once a year, though never before 25 July, and both launch points keep a shared flight log recording each pilot's name, date and time, available to the nature authority on request.

Local rules & hazards

Two nature reserves, Pragpaul and Tiefenbach, sit close by and must never be overflown; pilots also stay clear of the nearby Altena-Hegenscheid airfield's circuit traffic. No camping, gear storage, caravans or fires are permitted on or near the launch, and driving up to or parking at the site itself isn't allowed. The launch meadow and forest clearings are mowed at least once a year, though never before 25 July.

Check conditions before you fly

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