Pleasure builds as opponents from across the globe converge in Limoux, close to Toulouse in southern France, for the upcoming 2024 FAI World Championship for Slope Hovering Mannequin Plane. This occasion, scheduled to happen from 6 to 12 October and organised by the French Aeromodelling Federation, guarantees to be an exciting show of ability, precision, and mannequin glider engineering.
Fifty-six opponents from 19 nations have registered to take part (as of present registration).
Slope hovering gliders belong to the F3F radio management class, and because the identify suggests, competitions are flown in entrance of a slope. This class focuses solely on pace, difficult the pilots to remotely pilot their mannequin plane by a 1000m course, divided into 10 legs, within the shortest time potential.
Success hinges on meticulous preparation and unwavering focus, as opponents attempt to pilot their fashions as near the slope’s ridge and as straight as potential to maximise velocity, benefiting from the updrafts created by the wind.
Opponents fly one after the opposite, thus avoiding any threat of collision. Positioned on the centre of two “bases” set 100m aside, they rely solely on their experience, with exterior help restricted to the preliminary launch of the glider.
For a championship to be thought-about legitimate, a minimal of 4 rounds should be accomplished. Nonetheless, relying on the variety of members and prevailing climate circumstances, competitions sometimes span between 12 to fifteen rounds, offering ample alternative for pilots to showcase their expertise.
Whereas pilots aren’t required to assemble their very own mannequin gliders, establishing the mannequin performs a vital function within the efficiency.
The gliders utilized in competitors are constructed totally of composite supplies and use substantial quantities of carbon for larger rigidity. The empty weight of those fashions is round 2 to 2.4 kg, however it’s potential to double the load of the glider by including ballast to extend the wing load to the authorised restrict of 75 g/dm² and fly even sooner when the winds are sturdy.
Footage of the Championship will likely be revealed commonly throughout the FAI social media channels.
Occasion Schedule
- 6 October: Opening Ceremony
- 7-12 October: Competitors rounds
- 12 October: Prize-giving Ceremony
Picture: previous Slope Hovering Mannequin Plane competitions; credit score: Antonis Papadopoulous