Praticino / Montrago

Praticino / Montrago launches at 1,260 m in the Tuscan hills, a site with a fairly narrow but well-understood wind window: south to south-west is the main direction that works, west is explicitly not good here, and a light north-east can occasionally be flyable but only when it stays gentle. That narrow band makes checking the exact forecast direction more important here than at a site with a wide flyable arc. Two landing options exist: the Praticino field itself, which is small but thermic, and Gravanella, which has a windsock to help read conditions on approach. The Gravanella option comes with a caveat worth taking seriously — it isn't confirmed to still be available, so pilots are advised to check its status before counting on it for a flight. Between the tight wind window and the landing-field uncertainty, Praticino / Montrago rewards pilots who plan both ends of the flight — launch conditions and landing choice — before committing rather than assuming either will simply work out.

Launch & conditions

Main wind direction is south to south-west; west does not work here, and a light north-east is occasionally flyable but only when gentle.

Getting there & local rules

Two landing options: Praticino (small, thermic) or Gravanella (has a windsock) — Gravanella's availability is unconfirmed, so check before the flight.

Check conditions before you fly

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