Monte Maddalena Startplatz 1

Monte Maddalena Startplatz 1 sits at 624 m on the ridge above Brescia in Lombardy, a compact hill site long used by local pilots for short soaring and after-work flights close to the city. The launch works with a south-west wind component, and the site currently has an official landing field, Monte Maddalena Landeplatz, at the base of the hill. Local reports note that of the hill's traditional launch points, only the upper east-facing take-off is now in regular use: the west launch has become overgrown and is no longer usable, and the lower south-east launch near Buren is likewise encroached by small acacia trees. That makes route-finding to the currently flyable take-off more important than at a site with a single obvious launch, so it is worth confirming conditions with pilots who fly the hill regularly before your first visit. As a low, city-adjacent hill, Monte Maddalena suits a quick evening soaring session more than a big cross-country day, and its modest altitude means it is workable across a good part of the year whenever the south-west wind sets up cleanly.

Launch & conditions

Of the traditional launches, only the upper east-facing take-off is currently maintained and in regular use; the west and lower south-east (Buren) launches are overgrown.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Monte Maddalena 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 Monte Maddalena 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.