První svahové letiště

První svahové letiště (the First Slope Airfield) is a historic gliding site on a hillside above the village of Dubičné, just a few kilometers from České Budějovice in the South Bohemian region. This unassuming hillside is where engineless aviation in southern Bohemia was born, and it still stands as a reminder of the pioneering days of gliding in the region.

How did the airfield in Dubičné come to be?

The western slope of the hill above Dubičné was chosen deliberately: the terrain and prevailing wind direction were well suited to launching gliders using an elastic rubber cord, a common method of getting aircraft airborne without an engine at the time. The site began operating in 1932, launched by the gliding section of the Masaryk Aviation League (MLL) based in České Budějovice. Pilots from across the South Bohemian region came here to gain their first experience in the air.

Who was the first to take off from the slope?

On September 25, 1932, engineer Ludvík Elsnic, chairman of the MLL's gliding section in České Budějovice, became the first to launch from the slope. He was followed shortly after by instructor F. Zettl, and by two teenage boys who were also building their flying experience there — sixteen-year-old Jiří Maňák and fourteen-year-old Josef Maňák. That same autumn, the first formal gliding course was organized, led by Lieutenant Colonel Tesař. These early flights and training sessions quickly turned Dubičné into an important point on the map of Czech gliding.

What records were set here?

The Dubičné airfield earned its place in Czech aviation history through the achievements of its pilots. In 1948, Karel Oberleitner set a slope-soaring endurance record here, staying airborne for 6 hours and 36 minutes. A year later, in 1949, the same pilot pulled off an even more remarkable feat: taking off from Dubičné in a Grunau Baby IIb glider, he flew a distance of 115 kilometers and landed on a football pitch near Šatov. It was one of the first long-distance glider flights of its era and proof that the thermal and slope conditions at Dubičné could support flights of considerable range.

Why is it worth a visit today?

While Dubičné is no longer an active airfield in the sense of a modern aviation facility, the site retains its status as a place commemorating the early days of engineless flight in the region. For aviation history enthusiasts, or anyone looking for a less obvious destination near České Budějovice, it makes for an interesting stop — a chance to picture what flying looked like nearly a century ago, when all it took to get airborne was a hillside, a rubber launch cord, and a bit of courage.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is První svahové letiště located? On a hillside above the village of Dubičné, south of České Budějovice in South Bohemia, Czech Republic.

When was the airfield established? It began operating in 1932, launched by the gliding section of the Masaryk Aviation League in České Budějovice.

What record is associated with this site? In 1948, Karel Oberleitner set an endurance record here of 6 hours and 36 minutes, and a year later flew 115 km from this spot, landing near Šatov.

Can the site be visited today? Yes, it can be visited as a historical site, though it no longer functions as an active airfield in the traditional sense.