About
where2fly is the go-to mobile companion for paragliding and hang gliding pilots, covering every aspect of flight planning and in-flight decision-making. The app aggregates detailed site data on more than 15,000 takeoff spots and 4,000+ landing zones from sources including paraglidingearth.com, DHV.de, FFVL, and Flyland.ch, all displayed on an interactive map. Pilots can filter sites by wind direction, altitude, accessibility by public transport, and much more — all from a fully offline-capable local database. For Swiss pilots, where2fly integrates over 28,000 public transport stations and timetable connections, making it easy to plan transit to any takeoff or back from a landing zone. The app also bundles roughly 50,000 live webcams worldwide (sourced from windy.com and camscollection.ch) so pilots can check real-time and historical weather conditions at any site. Thermal hotspot data for all of Europe (from kk7) helps pilots find the best thermal entry points, filterable by season and time of day. Offline map support includes OpenTopoMap, OpenStreetMap, and swisstopo layers. The integrated flight logbook lets pilots log each flight with full parameters or import flights from XContest. The base app is completely free and ad-free, available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs. The flight logbook is unlocked with a small one-time in-app purchase.
Key Features
- 15,000+ Takeoff & Landing Sites: Access detailed data on over 15,000 takeoff spots and 4,000+ landing zones across 100+ countries, displayed on an interactive map with powerful search filters.
- Live Weather, Webcams & Forecasts: View ~50,000 worldwide webcams, real-time wind and weather data, and integrated flight forecasts from paraglidable.com to identify ideal flying conditions.
- Thermal Hotspots for Europe: Pinpoint the best thermal entry points across Europe using kk7 hotspot data, filterable by season and time of day for optimal flight planning.
- Offline Maps & Worldwide Database: All site data is stored locally for full offline use. Offline map layers include OpenTopoMap, OpenStreetMap, and swisstopo, perfect for remote areas.
- Digital Flight Logbook: Record flights with detailed parameters, create custom sites for hike-and-fly or off-field landings, and import flights directly from XContest.
Use Cases
- Paraglider pilots planning a flying trip to the Alps who need to identify suitable takeoff and landing sites based on wind direction and altitude.
- Hang glider pilots traveling in Switzerland who want to use public transport to reach a launch site and return from a remote landing zone.
- Pilots scouting new flying locations who need to check live webcam feeds and weather forecasts before committing to a flight.
- Pilots flying in remote or mountainous areas with no mobile data connection who rely on fully offline maps and site information.
- Recreational pilots who want to maintain a detailed digital flight logbook tracking all flights with parameters like takeoff, landing, duration, and equipment.
Pros
- Completely Free & Ad-Free: The core app is free with no advertisements, offering exceptional value for recreational and professional pilots alike.
- Full Offline Functionality: The local database means the app works without internet in remote mountain areas — only live map tiles and real-time data require connectivity.
- Massive Global Dataset: With data from multiple authoritative sources and 100+ countries covered, where2fly is one of the most comprehensive site databases available.
- Swiss Public Transport Integration: 28,000+ Swiss transit stations and timetable lookups make it easy to plan car-free access to takeoff spots and return trips from landing zones.
Cons
- Apple Ecosystem Only: The app is available exclusively for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs — Android users have no access.
- Flight Logbook Requires Purchase: The digital flight logbook, one of the app's key features, is behind a one-time in-app purchase rather than being fully free.
- Interface Primarily in German: Based on the scraped content, the app and its documentation appear to be primarily in German, which may limit accessibility for non-German-speaking pilots.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is where2fly free to use?
Yes, the core app is completely free and ad-free. The flight logbook feature requires a small one-time in-app purchase, but you can try it for free before buying.
Does where2fly work offline?
Yes. All site data, takeoff and landing spots, and worldwide database entries are stored locally on your device, so the app works without an internet connection. Only live map tiles and real-time weather data require connectivity.
How many sites are in the database?
where2fly contains data on over 15,000 takeoff spots and more than 4,000 landing zones from over 100 countries, sourced from paraglidingearth.com, DHV.de, FFVL, and Flyland.ch.
Which devices does where2fly support?
where2fly is available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac computers with Apple Silicon processors. It is not available for Android devices.
Can I import my existing flights into the logbook?
Yes, where2fly supports importing flights directly from XContest, so you can consolidate your existing flight history into the app's digital logbook.
