Monte Grappa – Panettone (Bassano)

The Panettone launch on Monte Grappa is the beating heart of Bassano del Grappa — the answer to every pilot's winter question, 'where can I still fly?' Its south-facing slopes catch sun when the northern Alps are frozen in, drawing pilots from across Europe from autumn through spring. The wide, round take-off (the shape gives it its cake-like name) opens onto the Venetian plain, offering everything from gentle top-to-bottoms to long cross-country flights along the pre-Alps.

Launch & conditions

A generous, rounded grassy launch working best on east-through-southwest flow. The plain below makes it a superb flatland XC springboard in stable conditions.

Getting there & local rules

Mountain roads climb to the launches from the Bassano side. The area has multiple take-offs for different wind directions — check which is in and confirm the day's rules locally.

Check conditions before you fly

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