Puy Aillaud
📍 Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur , Departement des Hautes-Alpes · Nearest city: Saint-Martin-de-Queyrieres (8 km)
68 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 1628 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
44.85040, 6.47937Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-20 13:17 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2279 m, viento 13 km/h.
base ~2279m · wind 13 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2436 m, viento 12 km/h.
base ~2436m · wind 12 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~1604 m, viento 8 km/h.
base ~1604m · wind 8 km/hDía volable, condiciones decentes, base de cúmulos ~2861 m, viento 8 km/h.
base ~2861m · wind 8 km/hComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20✅ Flyable · peak 60 at 14h
| 08 30 ☁️⚠️ | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 30 ☁️⚠️ | 13 40 ☁️⚠️ | 14 60 ☁️⚠️ | 15 55 ☁️⚠️ | 16 55 ☁️⚠️ | 17 55 ☁️⚠️ | 18 55 ☁️⚠️ | 19 60 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 14h: CAPE 0 J/kg · LI 3.3 · BL top 1780 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 3828 m · 0°C at 3000 m · Pro score 80/100 · sun 36° over slope
2026-04-21⚠️ Marginal · peak 55 at 13h
- Cloud suck alto (63/100) — base bajo freezing con CU
| 08 40 | 09 30 ☁️⚠️ | 10 30 ☁️⚠️ | 11 30 ☁️⚠️ | 12 30 ☁️⚠️ | 13 55 ☁️⚠️ | 14 55 ☁️⚠️ | 15 55 ☁️⚠️ | 16 55 ☁️⚠️ | 17 55 ☁️⚠️ | 18 50 ☁️⚠️ | 19 50 ☁️⚠️ | 20 50 ☁️⚠️ |
Peak 13h: CAPE 10 J/kg · LI 3.9 · BL top 1880 m · w* 0.0 m/s · cloud base 4140 m · 0°C at 2870 m · Pro score 73/100 · sun 40° 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: 15.6°C · Td: -2.0°C
LCL (cloud base): 2200 m
BL top: 1780 m
0°C level: 3000 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 SE | gust 12 | 9 km/h SE | gust 18 | 6 km/h S | gust 14 |
| 2026-04-21 | 3 km/h E | gust 12 | 7 km/h S | gust 23 | 11 km/h SW | 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) | 12 | High |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.85 | 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
In 'Vallouise' take to the right on the front of the church a little road to 'Puy Aillaud'. the first way start 300m before the village, on your left (walk 10mn). the second way start above the village, 'La Blanche' direction (by walk too...).
Nearby sites
Le Prorel (58) · Col du Granon (51) · Col d'Izoard (59) · Refuge de l Aigle (57) · Orcieres (55) · Mont guillaume (47)