Rucas

Rucas is a beginner-friendly launch above Bagnolo Piemonte in Piedmont's Cuneo province, at 1,480 m, with a big grass slope wide enough for eight to ten gliders to set up and launch at once. Big parking sits right next to takeoff, so there's no walk-in required, and the takeoff itself faces southeast. Getting up means following the road from Bagnolo Piemonte toward Montoso, then on to the Rucas winter station, finishing on a gravel road under a set of large TV antennas. The landing is an easy, no-fuss meadow near the road down in Bagnolo Piemonte village at 360 m — the only real caution is that pilots flying older, lower-performance gliders can sometimes struggle to reach it comfortably. In the air, west, northwest, north and northeast winds are all conditions to avoid, and flying directly over the stone quarries near takeoff is explicitly forbidden — stick to landing inside the designated field rather than drifting toward them.

Launch & conditions

The grass slope at 1,480 m is big enough for eight to ten gliders to launch together, facing southeast, with parking right next to takeoff — no walk-in needed.

Getting there & local rules

From Bagnolo Piemonte, follow the road toward Montoso, then continue to the Rucas winter station, finishing on a gravel road under a set of large TV antennas to reach the parking area.

Local rules & hazards

Avoid flying in west, northwest, north or northeast wind. Flying directly over the stone quarries near takeoff is forbidden — stay clear of them and land inside the designated field. Pilots on older, lower-performance gliders can sometimes struggle to reach the landing comfortably.

Check conditions before you fly

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