The Icaro 2000 landing field is served by two launch sites, Sasso del Ferro and Monte Nudo.
Sasso del Ferro is reached by a cable car running from the centre of Laveno, with open pods ideal for taking up hang gliders or paragliders, and an exciting experience even for non-flying participants. The trip up takes about 15 minutes. At the top you will find a bar and restaurant, plenty of space to assemble your hang glider, and the famous launch ramp: just three steps and you’re flying. Altitude 930 m, vertical distance 700 m. From here, in about 10 minutes paraglider pilots can walk up to the top of Sasso del Ferro, where there is a launch site for them, altitude 1,060 m, vertical distance 830 m.
Monte Nudo is served by shuttle vans leaving from the landing field. The trip takes about half an hour. The launch site is near a secondary summit named Crocetta, height 1,115 m, vertical distance 885 m. It is well-maintained, with lots of space for both hang gliders and paragliders.
Sasso del Ferro and Monte Nudo are positioned on a sequence of ridges producing generous thermals that can take you up to heights of 2,000 metres and beyond in spring, offering excellent cross-country flying potential, in addition to ideal conditions for beginner pilots. These launch sites cannot be used in conditions of north wind.