Le Vieux Chaillol
📍 Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur , Departement des Hautes-Alpes · Nearest city: Saint-Bonnet-en-Champsaur (10 km)
70 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 3120 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
44.73520, 6.19010Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:01 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1355 m, viento 18 km/h.
base ~1355m · wind 18 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1879 m, viento 14 km/h.
base ~1879m · wind 14 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1412 m, viento 14 km/h.
base ~1412m · wind 14 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20❌ Not recommended · peak 50 at 16h
- Cobertura nubosa >85% — sin radiación para disparar
- Cloud suck alto (100/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
⏰ Useful window: 15:00 – 15:00
| 08 30 ☁️⚠️ | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 35 ☁️⚠️ | 13 30 ☁️⚠️ | 14 40 ☁️⚠️ | 15 45 ☁️⚠️ | 16 50 ☁️⚠️ | 17 50 ☁️⚠️ | 18 50 ☁️⚠️ | 19 40 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 16h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 2.2 · BL top 1440 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3745 m · 0°C at 2960 m · Pro score 74/100 · sun 24° over slope
2026-04-21⚠️ Marginal · peak 55 at 14h
- Día muy estable (CAPE<50, LI>2) — sin térmicas
| 08 30 ☁️⚠️ | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 30 ☁️⚠️ | 13 50 ☁️⚠️ | 14 55 ☁️⚠️ | 15 55 ☁️⚠️ | 16 55 ☁️⚠️ | 17 50 ☁️⚠️ | 18 50 ☁️⚠️ | 19 50 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 14h: CAPE 10 J/kg · LI 3.3 · BL top 1420 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 4757 m · 0°C at 2140 m · Pro score 70/100 · sun 37° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 16:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 0.2°C · Td: -4.8°C
LCL (cloud base): 625 m
BL top: 1440 m
0°C level: 2960 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Wind chart — altitude × time
Color: green < 20 km/h · yellow 20-30 · red >40. Arrows point to where the wind is blowing. Each column = 1 hour. 4 altitudes: 10m surface, 80m first thermal, 1500m (850 hPa) thermal cruise, 3000m (700 hPa) top.
Wind next days (Open-Meteo model)
Wind rose 10m — 2026-04-20
| Date | Morning 08-12h | Midday 12-16h | Evening 16-20h | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-20 | 11 km/h NW | gust 28 | 15 km/h NW | gust 31 | 17 km/h NW | gust 32 |
| 2026-04-21 | 6 km/h NW | gust 27 | 10 km/h W | gust 28 | 10 km/h NW | gust 28 |
Colors: green < 15 km/h (optimal) · orange 15-25 · red >25 (flying not recommended). ⚠️ = shear >25 km/h between 10m and 850 hPa (potentially broken thermals).
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 10 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.79 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.61 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
From the summit of Le Vieux Chaillol mountain, altitude 3163m.
Pilot comments
Many chamois all along the way ! Many big rocks on the summit. Taking off is easier when there is a little snow.
Nearby sites
Col du Palastre (63) · Les Richards (63) · Ancelle (56) · Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (43) · Orcieres (55) · La Bâtie-Neuve (42)