Moncuni

Moncuni is a modest thermal hill site above the village of Reano in Piedmont, northern Italy, launched from just below the summit cross on the northwest side. Pilots fly it occasionally rather than as a regular cross-country venue — altitude gain is limited, so flights tend to be short, though the views over the valley are worth the trip on their own. It still works in winter when cloudbase is low, for a brief glide, and picks up again on summer evenings once the west-facing slope catches the sun. Reaching launch means driving to Reano and then walking roughly 20 minutes up a gravel track from where the asphalt ends. Flying over the nearby Lake Avigliana nature reserve is not permitted, and pilots share the sky with ultralight and general-aviation traffic in the area, so a lookout is worth keeping. Avoid flying in foehn conditions, and expect a strong valley breeze — sometimes over 50 km/h — through the Susa valley on summer afternoons.

Launch & conditions

Launch sits just below the summit cross on Moncuni hill's northwest side.

Getting there & local rules

Drive to the village of Reano (via Avigliana/Trana or Rosta), park where the asphalt road ends, then walk about 20 minutes up the gravel track to launch.

Local rules & hazards

Flying over the nearby Lake Avigliana nature reserve is not permitted, and the area sees ultralight and general-aviation traffic worth watching for. Avoid foehn conditions, and expect the Susa valley's summer-afternoon breeze to build past 50 km/h.

Check conditions before you fly

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