P
About
DHV-XC (Deutschen Gleitschirm- und Drachenflugverbandes Cross-Country) is the leading German online portal for free-flight sport logging and competition management. Pilots can upload GPS-recorded flight tracks in IGC format directly from the web, enabling detailed route visualization, performance analysis, and automatic scoring across multiple competition categories. The platform supports various aircraft classifications including paragliders (Gleitschirme), hang gliders (Drachen), rigid wings (Starrflügler), and tandems, with dedicated competition classes such as Standard, Sport, and Performance. It hosts major events including the Deutsche Meisterschaft im Streckenfliegen (German Cross-Country Championship), the Deutschlandpokal, Bundesliga, Flachlandmeisterschaft, and Fun Cup, as well as club and regional league scoring. Pilots can filter and browse flights by date, XC distance, XC points, flight duration, start type, country, takeoff site, and competition class. Detailed statistics help pilots track personal progress and benchmark against peers. The platform is continuously evolving — currently expanding to support Hike & Fly tracking with combined walking and flying GPS routes in GPX and IGC formats. DHV-XC is used by recreational pilots, competitive athletes, and clubs across Germany and internationally, making it the go-to resource for free-flight data logging, competition ranking, and community engagement in the German-speaking paragliding and hang gliding world.
Key Features
- IGC Flight Log Upload: Submit GPS-recorded flights as IGC files directly via the web for automatic parsing, storage, and scoring.
- Detailed Flight Analysis: View and replay uploaded flights in detail, including route visualization, XC distance, points, and flight duration.
- Competition & Ranking System: Participate in the German Cross-Country Championship, Bundesliga, Deutschlandpokal, and club/regional leagues with automatic scoring across multiple aircraft classes.
- Advanced Flight Filtering: Search and filter flights by date, distance, points, duration, country, takeoff site, aircraft type, and competition class.
- Hike & Fly Tracking (Upcoming): Expanded support for combined hiking and flying GPS tracks in GPX and continuous IGC formats for Hike & Fly events.
Use Cases
- A competitive paraglider pilot submits their GPS-recorded XC flight after landing to automatically score it and earn points in the German Cross-Country Championship.
- A club manager sets up and monitors a club-level regional ranking for their flying school, using DHV-XC to track member progress throughout the season.
- A recreational hang glider pilot reviews detailed replays and statistics of their own uploaded flights to identify areas for distance and efficiency improvement.
- A national competition organizer uses DHV-XC as the official submission and scoring platform for the German Bundesliga free-flight series.
- A Hike & Fly enthusiast submits combined walking and flying GPS tracks to contribute to the development of DHV-XC's new multi-sport tracking feature.
Pros
- Completely Free: The portal is free to use for all registered pilots, with no subscription or premium tier required.
- Official DHV Integration: As the official portal of the German Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association, results and rankings carry institutional authority.
- Rich Competition Ecosystem: Hosts multiple national, regional, and club competitions simultaneously, giving pilots at every level a ranking to compete in.
- Multi-Aircraft Support: Covers paragliders, hang gliders, rigid wings, tandems, and newcomer categories in distinct competition classes.
Cons
- German-Language Focus: The interface and documentation are primarily in German, which may limit accessibility for non-German-speaking pilots despite an English toggle.
- IGC Format Dependency: Flight submission relies heavily on IGC-format GPS files; broader format support (e.g., FIT, KML) is limited outside of the upcoming Hike & Fly feature.
- Germany-Centric Rankings: While some international rankings exist, the platform is most useful for pilots participating in German national or regional competitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What file format do I need to submit a flight?
Flights must be submitted as IGC files — GPS-recorded track logs in the standard IGC format. The upcoming Hike & Fly feature will also accept GPX files.
Is DHV-XC free to use?
Yes, DHV-XC is completely free. You simply need to register an account (or link an existing DHV membership) to start submitting and analyzing flights.
What competitions are hosted on DHV-XC?
The platform hosts the Deutsche Meisterschaft im Streckenfliegen (German XC Championship), Deutschlandpokal, Bundesliga, Flachlandmeisterschaft, Fun Cup, Tandemwertung, Newcomer rankings, and many club and regional leagues.
Which aircraft types are supported?
DHV-XC supports paragliders (Gleitschirme), hang gliders (Drachen), rigid wings (Starrflügler), flexis, and tandem flights, each with their own competition classes.
Can I use DHV-XC if I am not based in Germany?
Yes — the platform includes international rankings and pilots from other countries can submit flights and participate in select competitions, though the primary focus is on German national and regional events.
