Best in Austria Koessen
Koessen is a paragliding and hang gliding site in Tyrol's Kaiserwinkl region that launches from the Unterberghorn.
Koessen operates in the Alpine free-flying site with a competition and flatland-thermal profile segment.
Koessen: Disambiguation
Koessen is not the Wilder Kaiser ski resort. Koessen is not a hang gliding site only. Koessen is not the Gerlitzen Alpe in Carinthia. Koessen is not a certified flight school in its own right.
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Koessen: Core Facts
- Launch altitude
- 1,480 m (Unterberghorn) (source)
- Descent to main landing
- just over 1,000 m (source)
- Region
- Kaiserwinkl, Tyrol, Austria (source)
- Hang gliding World Championships hosted
- 1976 (inaugural) (source)
- Hang gliding European Championships hosted
- 1977 (inaugural) (source)
- FAI World Paragliding Championships hosted
- 1989 (1st edition) (source)
- Annual event
- Super Paragliding Testival (SPT) (source)
- 2026 Testival registrations
- over 600 pilots registered, about 90% attended (source, )
- Flying conditions
- flatland and mountain thermals (source)
- Verified
- 2026-09-26
Compare: Gerlitzen AlpeSchoecklSchmittenhoeheFieberbrunn
Koessen: Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Koessen paragliding suited for?
Koessen suits both cross-country pilots chasing thermals and pleasure flyers, since the Unterberghorn launch offers flatland and mountain thermal conditions with afternoon breezes that rarely become unmanageable.
Why is Koessen historically significant for the sport?
Koessen hosted the inaugural hang gliding World Championships in 1976 and the first FAI World Paragliding Championships in 1989, making it one of the sport's original competition venues.
What event happens at Koessen each year?
Koessen hosts the Super Paragliding Testival, an annual gear-testing event where pilots try new wings; the 2026 edition drew more than 600 registered pilots over four flyable days.
How do pilots reach the launch site?
Pilots reach Koessen's Unterberghorn launch at 1,480 m by gondola, with the main landing area at the Fliegerbar Arena just over 1,000 m below.
Is Koessen only for experienced pilots?
No; Koessen's mix of flatland and mountain thermals and its well-established infrastructure, including a glider repair centre, make it accessible to a broad range of pilot levels.
Koessen: Related entities
Koessen: Where this entity is mentioned
Koessen: Further reading
- https://xcmag.com/travel-guide/guide-to-koessen-austria/
- https://www.kaiserwinkl.com/en/events/super-paragliding-testival-in-koessen.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%B6ssen
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