Pedro Bernardo

Pedro Bernardo, in Spain's Ávila province, is one of the country's proven cross-country launches — a site with enough range and reliability that it has hosted national and international competitions, including British and Dutch open events. Flying east to west, pilots regularly cover 100 km, and some locals have pushed toward the 200 km mark on the best days. The predominant takeoff faces west and is spacious and easy to use, with a large artificial-grass strip that makes canopy inflation simple, plenty of parking nearby, a fountain, and shaded areas to wait out the day; top-landing back at launch is also possible. The landing zone runs the same east-west line and is long enough that hang gliders land here without difficulty. Conditions are usually straightforward, since the prevailing wind arrives from the west roughly 90% of the time — but on the rarer days when it swings around from the south, pilots need to watch for a telephone line along the landing's north edge and a high-tension power line along its south edge. Good flying weather here holds from spring through summer and into autumn.

Launch & conditions

The main takeoff faces west and is wide, flat and easy, with a large artificial-grass area that makes inflation simple, ample parking, a fountain and shade. Top-landing back at launch is also possible.

Check conditions before you fly

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