Winter hike and fly in an Italian Championship valley.

Autonomous in thermals on an EN-A/B, ~50 hours since licence, comfortable on a slope launch without an instructor. An intermediate site — not a beginner hill, not a hostile one. There's no gentle training slope here, so this isn't a week for first flights. You'll also need the legs to walk up 30–80 minutes with your wing.

Yes — it's a hike & fly week at heart. Six of the nine launches are reached on foot (30 to 80 minutes), and even the official ones can be walked to. If the group loves hiking, we'll do more of it; if not, we lean on the three launches reached by car.

It's possible — the valley has seen eight flights over 200 km, on high-performance wings in strong spring and summer conditions. It isn't the aim of this week: in late November the flying window is short, so the focus is local flights, building hours and learning the valley. See every flight from the valley on XContest →

Three official launches are reached by car: Belvedere (1,160 m, SW, all day — easy off, but a technical landing if you sink out straight away), Settefrati (1,260 m, SW, all day) and Forca d'Acero (1,550 m, E, 10:00–12:00, technical). Six more are hike & fly, up to 1,500 m. In winter we fly mostly through the middle of the day and land by 15:30 because of sunset. Your lead pilot picks the launch and makes the go/no-go call each day; the official landing is Sant'Andrea.

The programme flexes — a buffer day and a plan B are built in. If a day or two is unflyable, we take a day trip to Rome or Naples, ride rented e-MTBs, hike the valley, or go snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the National Park if there's snow. All optional — you only pay if you join: about €60 for e-MTB rental, about €50 for a day trip to Rome or Naples. Bring hiking gear for wet and cold conditions.

Fly into Rome Fiumicino (FCO): we pick you up at the airport and drop you back at the end of the week. Landing at Ciampino or Naples? Take the train to Cassino and we collect you at the station. Getting to Fiumicino or Cassino is up to you.

Yes — via GLS, for a small fee. Your packed bag must arrive at least 8 working days before the start of your week or stay. Travel hand-luggage only; we store it sealed at your gear station until you arrive.

Your full flying kit — wing, harness with a reserve in date, helmet, instruments — plus warm flying clothes and gloves, hiking boots, and your own radio: a VHF/UHF handheld like the Baofeng GT-5R. We fly on one shared frequency, given at the first briefing. Light gear makes the hike & fly days much easier.

Yes — the week is built for solo pilots to arrive alone and leave as a crew.

English. Briefings, the group and daily life all run in English. If you need something explained in Italian, French or Polish, just ask — we can help.

Antonio does. He has flown this valley for over 11 years, and when he isn't here, he's usually flying in Nepal. Each morning he briefs the group, picks the launch, makes the go/no-go call and helps you off the hill. We're not a school, but he loves sharing what he knows: feedback on your flying and every local trick of the valley. We fly together as a group; if you choose to land early or push further on your own, that's your call — and your responsibility. You fly under your own responsibility, and insurance is checked at check-in.

Yes — both are mandatory. Valid third-party flying liability insurance and your pilot licence are checked at check-in; you fly under your own responsibility throughout the week.

Spain is the classic winter trip, and it's great. This is something different: the Apennines almost to yourself, one all-in price — the house, three meals a day, transport and a lead pilot — a group of eight, and Rome two hours away. For the first edition, at €790.

A €200 deposit, paid by bank transfer (Revolut), secures your place; the remaining €590 is paid on arrival. Cancel before 24 October 2026 and we refund it in full. After that it's non-refundable — but if you have to cancel for a genuine reason, we carry it over as credit for a future week. The week runs from 5 pilots: if fewer than 5 have booked by 28 October 2026, we cancel and refund every deposit in full. If it goes ahead, the remaining places stay open until 1 November 2026.

Weather has been changeable lately — it can be very sunny or very wet. From past seasons, expect 4 to 5 flying days out of the week. Buffer days are built in, and the programme moves with the forecast.

To build the blueprint. The launches are known and approved; what we're testing is everything around them working together — logistics, the rhythm of the days, living together in the house, the meals. We're doing it in winter on purpose, even though it isn't the ideal season, so it's all ready for the main seasons. In return: a much lower price, and a real say in what comes next.

We fly on one radio frequency, announced at the first briefing. First-aid kits travel with the lead pilot and in the van, and Kuba holds the Red Cross European First Aid Certificate. The nearest hospital is in Cassino.

Kuba documents the week himself — photos, video and drone shots — to tell the story of the first edition. Rather not appear? Just tell us and we'll keep you out of it.