A brief english version with flying information in Voss.



Webcams Voss:

The take off Hanguren seen from south

At the take off.

Voss seen from take off.

PARAGLIDING IN VOSS

- cable car to main take off Hanguren - south facing take off - approximately 600m height difference to landing - main landing in the center of Voss by the lake (45 masl) - cafe at the landing - xc-possibilities in 5 directions - alternative starts on different wind directions - a local club with friendly and welcoming atmosphere, Voss Hang- and Paraglider Club.

Minigolfen - cafe at the landing

The meeting place for pilots is at the cafe at the lakeside. We call it the 'Minigolf'. If it is flyable, you will find pilots here drinking their morning coffee around 11:00. From the Minigolf to the bottom of the cable car it takes 2 minutes by car or 10-15 minutes by walking. You can see the cable car from the Minigolf.

The take off is 100 meters to the right when you arrive at the top. It is a nice grassy slope which ends in a fairly sharp edge. At the take off there is space enough to lay out many glider.

The south facing mountain sets up nice thermals. Early in the day you will often find the thermals at the left hand corner of the take off, near the wind sock. Later the termals rise over the mast of the cable car to the right, drifting right over the Hanguren restaurant and continue over the plains behind. Pay attention when trying to catch this thermal and avoid the cables.  In the afternoon we search for thermals over the gaps in the forest 1-2 km west of the restaurant. Cloudbase at Voss is normally around 1500 - 1800 meters asl during the summer time and above 2000 meters on the best days. Landing by the lake is at about 45 meters asl.

About half way down below the take off you will see some sharp cliffs. These are normally your last chance to stay up. If you miss it here, it is advisable to head for the landing. It is very rare pilots manage to catch thermals from altitudes below this cliff. Remember that you need enough altitude to cross Voss center in order to reach the landing by the lake. Just below the cliff you find a nice, grassy plain. This farmland is called Mølstertunet and hold a museum. However, it is strictly forbidden to land your paraglider on this private land. Except for this land owner, most of them are fairly nice and friendly in Voss. In the afternoon comes the seabreeze from west. This gives sidewind at take off, and both starting and flying becomes difficult and risky. Some days the seabreeze becomes so strong it causes problems at landing. Always keep an eye at the lake to see when the wind pics up and go for the landing in due time.

Above take-off and Voss

During the winter we fly mostly at Bavallen. At this time of year we have a lot of  easterly winds, and the pilots take the trip around the mountain from the south facing Hanguren to east facing Bavallen. We take the 2-chair lift up Bavallslia. At the top there is about 150m flat to go to the start. Bavallen is just above the tree border, so the snow covered take off area is large and and has a perfect slope. The height difference is about 800 meters to the landing at the lakeside. The large and smooth plain at the top makes it perfect for top landings. Even though we mostly fly ridge soaring at Bavallen, you can encounter thermals at late winter and spring. We do some flying here during the summer as well, but the take off is a bit tricky and uneven without the snow.

Special precautions:
Accidents happens mostly on easterly winds or when pilots understimate the strength of the seabreeze. With easterly winds the landing at the Minigolf becomes turbulent due to the line of trees towards east. It is then recommended to land at "Grandane" which is the gravel beach towards the estuary. Also with strong seabreeze we recommend you land at Grandane which gives you more room for error. Look for more site details under Flying Sites.


Useful phone numbers:

Voss Camping: 56 51 15 97
Voss Fjellheiser (ski lifts): 56 51 12 12

If you see somebody land in the power lines, call Voss Energiverk: 56528350

FLYING SITES



HANGUREN SE-SW


            

Hanguren is the most frequently used site in Voss, due to its easy access and good thermals. You take the cable car Hangursbanen, and the take off is approximately 100 meters to the east when you enter at the top. Direction of take off is south, and altitude is 620 meters above sea level, (approximately 570 meters above landing). The take off is a nice and smooth grassy slope, not very steep, with an edge with trees below. The south facing mountain side produces nice thermals from March to September. In June the seabreeze will start to become troublesome and give sidewind at takeoff in the afternoon. The landing is the grassy plain by the lake Vangsvatnet in the center of Voss (47 m above sea level). Watch the lake surface to see when the breeze is starting to build up. Normally the sea breeze will be 5-6 m/s, but can reach 10 m/s in rare occasions. Hanguren is sometimes flown on days with week easterly winds (lee thermic). This can become quite risky, and is only for very experienced (or stupid?) pilots.

Note:
Pay attention and stay clear of the cables for the cable car which runs on your right hand side from take off. It is strictly forbidden to land on Molstertunet, the grassy farm plain just under take off (emergency landings only). During warm summer days the landing by the lakeside can be crowdy with kids and sunbaders. Consider to land at the gravel beach towards the river estuary instead (called Grandane). Watch the sea breeze. Paraglider accidents in Voss mostly happen on days with easterly winds. Turbulence! There has also been incidents where pilots have landed in the lake. Students in particular should wear a boyancy jacket.

BAVALLEN NE-SE

           


Bavallen is the most frequently used site during the winter months. Take the chair-lift (the one at the left hand side) for two persons at Bavallen, and there is approximately 150 meters flat to walk easterly at the top. Start direction is east, and altitude above sea level is 820 meters. During the winter months from december to march we have a lot of easterly winds, which can produce nice ridge soaring at Bavallen. The take off is big, and the power lines which used to cross the take off is now put in the ground, so there is plenty of room for top landing, too. During the winter we land on farmland towards the river underneath take off (Jordbrukskulen), wereas during the summer we prefer fly around the mountain to the right and land by Minigolfen, the main landing in center of Voss. But not when the wind is strong and easterly!

Because the take off is facing east, it is often smart to be at take off early in the day. From end of February and beginning og March you can catch light thermals on sunny days. During the summer this take off is not so much used because the surface is a bit uneven.

GJELLE NE

         


Gjelle is facing north west and is located right across the lake from Hanguren. Altitude is apprx. 450 m above sea level. This site is used a bit for thermic ridge soaring during the summer. Access on ok dirt road by normal car.  From the Minigolf you get there by crossing the bridge over river Vosso and take frist road to the right, towards Gjelle. When you see the lake again, there is a cross road. Landing is the big field to the right between you and the lake (and river estuary), and the road to take off goes up to the left. Then you have to take another right onto the gravel road after a km or so. Take off is a grassy slope surrounded by pine trees. Facing north, but can proiduce thermals on good days. Landing has to be clarified with farmer. Check availability with local pilots. With some thermals you might reach the main landing by the minigolf.

Note:
Power lines by the landing field. The landing can be a bit turbulent on northern wind. Students should wear boyancy aid. No cars on the landing field, whatsoever!

HORGALETTEN/SLETTAFJELLET SE-S

            

Horgaletten is located on the ridge which stretches from Bavallen towards Lonahorgi (1410 m asl), the large mountain with a huge antenna on top. Access by 4x4 car on private dirt road. The site is facing south east, with altitude apprx. 900 mas. The name Slettafjellet means "smooth mountain", and the area is really nice and smooth with many possible take-offs. Because of the complicated access, this wonderful site is not used so much.

SONVE/ROKNE NE

         


Sonve is facing north west and located on the hill of Sonve, above Gjernes. Altitude apprx 400 meters. Access by 4x4 car or 20-30 min walk from the farm. Drive towards Bordalen and just before you enter Bordalen you take to the left to a farm. From this farm there is a toll road which requires 4x4 car. The take off is just by the road and pretty small. Ok with a light wind in. Landing on farmland underneath if permitted, or you can reach the main landing in the center with modern glider. The area in front of take off has some power lines. The site is not much used.

TVERRBERG W

Tverrberg is located east of airport Bomoen. Drive towards Raundalen and take to the right across the river and up un the other side. Nice gravel road all the way. This site is facing west and should be good when the sea breeze makes it unflyable on all the other sites. The hangglider pilots have an old take off here, and the paraglider take off is just 100m further along the road. The altitude is about 400 m and cliff start. Requires wind and experienced pilots. Large grassy fields underneath, but landing must be clarified with landowner. This site is not used so much, but has a big potential!

         
LIASET W

                   

Liaset is located on the east side of Lonavatnet. The access is a bit complicated to explain. See map. At the end there is a toll road on nice gravel road and 5 minutes flat walk. Take off is a large grassy slope in front of some huts, or walk a couple of hundred meter up behind the huts. Because the valley is south to north, the seabreeze can give you some sidewind from the left, but often there is little wind here in spite of windy at Vangsvatnet. Nice site for late evening flights. Several fields to land under take off, but must be clarified with land owner. Best to cross the valley and land on the wetland where the river runs into the lake, or even better, top landing which is easy here. The site is not so much used due to its complicated access.

HOLA SE

         

Hola is 30 minutes north of Voss, where the road runs up to the high mountain plain of Vikafjellet. The site is a bowl at the end of the valley, and direction of take off is facing south east. Park the car on the top of the curvy road and walk 150 meters up to the right. Several places to start on small wetland plains. The take off is at about 800 meters above sea level. Landing in the valley 2-300 meters below on grassy fields. Note the power lines running down the valley at the landing. Low wind days will often give tailwind due to the snow and cold air floating down from the mountain areas behind.

SITE MAP


Note the NO FLY AREA by the airport east of Voss. This area is a drop zone for paracutists and landing airea for glider planes and must be avoided by paraglider pilots!



         

AIRSPACE
Heigth limitation at Voss is 2895m.



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