Falzeben (Meran2000)

Falzeben (Meran2000) launches from 1,890 m above Merano, on what the source calls a nice grassy slope in summer — winter conditions are a different picture, more suited to pilots already familiar with the site's cold-season character. Getting up is easy: a cable car from Naif or a gondola from Falzeben both work, and either is reachable by the No. 225 bus from Merano's train station, running every 30 minutes, so no driving is required. Flyable directions are south-west and west. The landing zone, near Torgglerhof, comes with real hazards worth knowing before you commit to the approach: two high-voltage power lines sit close to the landing area, and lee rotor turbulence is a known issue off Torgglerhof itself. On top of that, the source is emphatic that only very few emergency landing options exist here, so this isn't a site where a marginal approach has an easy backup plan — plan the landing carefully rather than improvising it.

Launch & conditions

A nice grassy slope in summer; winter conditions are a different picture and suit pilots already familiar with the site.

Getting there & local rules

Reach the top by cable car from Naif or gondola from Falzeben — both served by the No. 225 bus from Merano train station, every 30 minutes.

Local rules & hazards

The landing zone near Torgglerhof sits close to two high-voltage power lines, and lee rotor turbulence is a known issue there. Only very few emergency landing options exist at this site — plan the approach carefully rather than improvising.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Falzeben (Meran2000), 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 Falzeben (Meran2000) with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.