San Simeone – Bordano

San Simeone – Bordano launches from 1,129 m in Friuli, on a grassy slope rated an easy takeoff, with landing described as very easy too, near a football field, and top-landing also an option if you'd rather not walk down. Flyable directions cover a wide swing from east through south-east, south and south-west to west, giving room to work with as conditions shift through the day, and the site supports thermal, soaring and cross-country flying. Getting to launch is the harder part: the access road is narrow, winding and demanding — an old military track — so most pilots use the local shuttle instead of driving up themselves, meeting at the Trattoria alle Sorgenti in Bordano. The one hazard the source is unambiguous about: a north wind here is genuinely dangerous, not just unpleasant, so that direction is a clear no-fly signal rather than something to test cautiously.

Launch & conditions

Grassy slope, rated an easy takeoff. Landing near the football field is also easy, with top-landing available too.

Getting there & local rules

The access road is narrow, winding and demanding — an old military track. Most pilots use the local shuttle instead, meeting at the Trattoria alle Sorgenti in Bordano.

Local rules & hazards

A north wind here is genuinely dangerous — treat it as a clear no-fly signal, not something to test cautiously.

Check conditions before you fly

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