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Informations about the flying site "Monte Baldo"
Monte Baldo is a relaxing and interesting flying site.
Formerly well known and feared because of its strong winds - nowadays loved because of the good weather conditions, laminar winds at the new landing place at Malcesine (on the east side of the lake) and because of the heartly welcome of the local club.
The new cablecar in Malcesine brings pilots comfortably up to the top of Monte Baldo. After 30 min one exits and stands 1.600 m above the Lake of Garda with a breathtaking view on the surrounding mountains, the lake lying to the feets like a turquish jewel. And also the take off is a sensation for itself - a wide, soft descending green without any obstacles! Its difficult to decide, where to lay down the wing :-).
Flying at Monte Baldo is determined by the special wind system of Lake of Garda with its two conquerring winds: the north wind (called: Vento) and the south wind (called: Ora). On a normal day the Vento goes from the early morning until 11 o'clock - mostly too strong for flying (white caps on the lake) - this is the time for wind surfer and kiter. This wind is as well down on the landing place as up on the take off. Depending on wind strength you can soar in the morning on the eastern take-off (S2). If the Vento on the take off diminuished you can fly around the northern end of the back of Monte Baldo to the lake or try to get the local thermal and go on for XC.
Around 11 o'clock the Vento gets weaker and is replaced by the Ora from south. Down at the lake the two winds can change within a few minutes from 20km/h Vento to 20km/h Ora. On the surface of the lake the line between the two winds is recognizable by the colour of the water - sometimes drawn like with a knife. Both winds have in common that they are very strong at the north end of the lake while the south end is calm.
On the take off the wind sack normally shows eastern wind until 12 o'clock, rests a bit and within a few minutes shows western wind. Time to change launch area from S2 to S1. Normally the Ora reaches its peak at ca. 14 o'clock - sometimes with >40km/h - again time for wind surfer and kiter. After ca. 17 o'clock the Ora gets weaker again and the warm wind from south together with evening thermals allow wonderful long and soft flight in the afternoon till late evening.
These "normal" conditions can be different every day. Therefore pilots must always carefully watch the weather and wind conditions. Wind information by phone under +39 339 564 4323. Watch out for thunderstorms from the north end of the lake - they can reach the flying site in very short time.
graphic of the wind system (20Kb) 
Take off In case of strong east winds you can also take off opposite of the take off S1 and soar with the wind to the northern riffs of Monte Baldo. Warning: don't fly directly east and try to land down there - no landing places and rough winds. |
 Landing place
Large green field, <2km from the northern entry of Malcesine. Directly at the street around the lake. A few tips for landing:
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Life vest : Mandatory! Free life vests available at Hotel Ideal in Malcesine (a service of the Paragliding Club Malcesine). General informations: Flying sites in the neighbourhood - Monte San Zeno - Belpo. South end of the Monte Baldo massif. |