58th International Hahnweide Gliding Competition

Hahnweide — History and Myth

Hahnweide Airfield, located about two kilometers southwest of Kirchheim unter Teck at the foot of the Swabian Jura, is one of Germany's most traditional gliding sites. With a grass runway, hangars housing gliders from several decades, and an active flying group, Hahnweide is a magnet for gliding enthusiasts. Its location on the Swabian Jura escarpment offers ideal thermal updrafts, making Hahnweide a natural competition center.

An International Gathering

The Hahnweide Gliding Competition has been held since the 1960s — for the 58th time in 2026. Pilots from Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland, Austria, and other European countries travel with their gliders. The competition is designed as a 'friendship competition': while there is a sporting ranking in several classes, the focus is on the meeting of pilots, exchange, and the shared love of gliding.

Classes and Scoring

Flying takes place in several classes — Open Class, 18-meter, 15-meter, Standard Class, and Club Class. The routes are determined by the competition director in the morning and depend on the weather conditions and thermal forecast. Typical tasks lead over the Swabian Jura, into the Allgäu, the Black Forest, or even Alsace — flights of several hundred kilometers in a single day are the norm.

For Visitors and Spectators

Even those who don't pilot a plane can enjoy Hahnweide Week. The airfield is freely accessible during the competition. You can witness the mass take-offs around 11 AM, examine the gliders up close, and chat with pilots. The airfield restaurant 'Bistro auf der Hahnweide' serves Swabian cuisine and cold beer with a view of the airfield.

Kirchheim and the Swabian Jura

Kirchheim unter Teck, a central town with a good 41,000 inhabitants in the Esslingen district, is picturesquely situated between Stuttgart and the Swabian Jura. The historic old town with its castle complex, the Kornhaus, and St. Martin's Church is worth seeing. Those who wish to combine the flying activities with hiking excursions will find direct access from the airfield to the hiking trails leading to the Swabian Jura escarpment and Teck Castle.