Olne

Olne is an unregulated site in Belgium's Liège region, launching from 228 m — pilots do not have the landowner's permission to take off here, and it is absolutely not a beginner's launch; local guidance describes it as something closer to a paragliding base jump, and the standard advice is not to go without someone who already knows the site. The takeoff itself is very narrow and very steep, with room for only one person at a time, no space to run, and barbed wire along the upper edge. Pilots are told never to launch without a real thermal breeze or wind: without it, the trees directly in front are where you end up. The routine is to raise the canopy overhead first and only commit to launching once it's clearly supporting full weight. The site sits under Liège TMA airspace, and conditions turn very turbulent once wind passes about 20 km/h. Landing is in a large field in front of takeoff — turbulent toward the center, with the zone near the ruins best avoided, though otherwise it's an easy landing. Getting back to launch means crossing a river via a bridge at the end of the field, then following a small path that skirts a garden — never cross the garden itself — while watching for a small, nippy dog that a splash of water usually deters.

Launch & conditions

The takeoff is very narrow, very steep and fits only one person at a time, with no room to run and barbed wire along the upper edge; never launch without a real thermal breeze, since without it the trees directly ahead are where you'll end up. Raise the canopy overhead first and only commit once it's clearly carrying your full weight.

Check conditions before you fly

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