Les Richards
📍 Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur , Departement des Hautes-Alpes · Nearest city: La Batie-Neuve (13 km)
63 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1530 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
44.68110, 6.23152Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-20 13:21 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2183 m, viento 19 km/h.
base ~2183m · wind 19 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2291 m, viento 20 km/h.
base ~2291m · wind 20 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~1525 m, viento 24 km/h.
base ~1525m · wind 24 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~1120 m, viento 12 km/h.
base ~1120m · wind 12 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20⚠️ Marginal · peak 60 at 14h
- Cloud suck alto (70/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 30 | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 40 ☁️⚠️ | 13 50 ☁️⚠️ | 14 60 ☁️⚠️ | 15 55 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 16 60 ☁️⚠️ 🏔️ | 17 55 ☁️⚠️ | 18 55 ☁️⚠️ | 19 50 ☁️⚠️ | 20 60 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 14h: CAPE 10 J/kg · LI 3.3 · BL top 1445 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3517 m · 0°C at 2900 m · Pro score 73/100 · sun 37° 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 45 ☁️⚠️ | 17 55 ☁️⚠️ | 18 50 ☁️⚠️ | 19 50 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 14h: CAPE 10 J/kg · LI 3.3 · BL top 1555 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3517 m · 0°C at 2880 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: 14:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 15.7°C · Td: -0.2°C
LCL (cloud base): 1987 m
BL top: 1445 m
0°C level: 2900 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 | 3 km/h S | gust 14 | 14 km/h SW | gust 26 | 7 km/h SW | gust 24 |
| 2026-04-21 | 4 km/h SW | gust 17 | 13 km/h SW | gust 28 | 11 km/h W | gust 32 |
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 | 0.80 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.51 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Takeoff description
Alti: 1550m you can see it from the valley, on the top of a little hill with a pretty little village: 'Les Richards'. Grass, large take off. From the landing area take the road to the mountain, cross the little village (pass a farm) and park your car near the take off. Don't forgot to close the enclosure in your back.
Pilot comments
Sorry, I never used the landing. I use this site only for XC. It seems that I have the site record: landing at 'Chamonix', official landing (Bois du Bouchet). 187km with 2 points: Chamrousse and Megève. take off at 11h30, landing at 18h30. South wind conditions. (Nico)
Nearby sites
Col du Palastre (63) · Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes (43) · Ancelle (56) · Orcieres (55) · Le Vieux Chaillol (70) · La Bâtie-Neuve (42)