Hirzer Startplatz 1

Hirzer Startplatz 1 launches at 1,386 m above the Passeier valley in South Tyrol, and is one of the more convenient Alpine sites to reach: a public road runs all the way to the launch, so no hike-in is required, with parking available at the middle station of the Hirzerbahn cable car. The site catches wind from the south-west and west, giving a fairly typical Alpine afternoon window rather than an all-day flyable direction. The one hazard worth planning around is on the ground rather than in the air: a high-voltage power line runs along the north-west edge of the landing field, so pilots need to keep that boundary in mind when judging the final approach, especially if wind or traffic pushes the pattern wider than planned. With drive-up access and a straightforward launch, Hirzer suits a low-effort soaring session above the Passeier valley, provided the landing approach respects the power line at the field's edge.

Launch & conditions

Reached by public road all the way to launch; parking is at the middle station of the Hirzerbahn cable car.

Local rules & hazards

A high-voltage power line runs along the north-west edge of the landing field — keep this boundary in mind when judging the final approach.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Hirzer Startplatz 1, 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 Hirzer Startplatz 1 with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.