Grand Prix gliding
Encyclopedia
FAI World Grand Prix Gliding Championships are gliding competitions
promoted by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
(FAI) for gliders
that are both more spectacular and more easily understood by the public than conventional gliding competitions.
. This was at the Salon Européen du Vol à Voile (European Sailplane Show/Exhibition) in 2005 as part of the FAI's marketing strategy to promote the sport of gliding by establishing annual international competitions.
Gliding competitions
Some of the pilots in the sport of gliding take part in gliding competitions. These are usually racing competitions, but there are also aerobatic contests and on-line league tables.-History of competitions:...
promoted by the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale is the world governing body for air sports and aeronautics and astronautics world records. Its head office is in Lausanne, Switzerland. This includes man-carrying aerospace vehicles from balloons to spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles...
(FAI) for gliders
Gliding
Gliding is a recreational activity and competitive air sport in which pilots fly unpowered aircraft known as gliders or sailplanes using naturally occurring currents of rising air in the atmosphere to remain airborne. The word soaring is also used for the sport.Gliding as a sport began in the 1920s...
that are both more spectacular and more easily understood by the public than conventional gliding competitions.
Origins
Gliding competitions existed before the Second World War but as the technologies evolved, the performance of the gliders has taken them away from the public view. Furthermore the scoring is complex and gliders can start at different times. Proposals were made in 1970 but it was not until 2005 that first world gliding competition in Grand Prix format was held in France at Saint AubanChâteau-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban is a commune in the department of Alpes-de-Haute-Provence in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur in southeastern France.-Population:Its inhabitants are referred to as Jarlandins.-Places of interest:...
. This was at the Salon Européen du Vol à Voile (European Sailplane Show/Exhibition) in 2005 as part of the FAI's marketing strategy to promote the sport of gliding by establishing annual international competitions.
Competition formula
In a gliding Grand Prix the gliders race in competition close together around a pre-set task. A smaller number of competitors reduces the risks of the simultaneous start. A place-scoring system provides rewards for excellence without unduly punishing a poor performance.- A task, typically 2-3 hour in duration and between 200 and 400 km in length is set.
- All gliders start at the same time (similar to a yacht race).
- The gliders must cross the short start line not above a set height and not faster than a set maximum speed.
- The start/finish line is generally close to the airfield so that it can be observed by spectators.
- Gliders race around the task. No team flying is permitted. The first one home wins as they all started at the same time and there is no handicapping.
- A place scoring system is used, with 1 point for every finisher you beat, plus a bonus point for coming home first. (similar to a Motor Grand Prix).
Tactics
- Pilots aim to fly as fast as possible, because there is little incentive to keep fellow competitors in sight to preserve a big lead overall by only losing by a few points on a given day
- Flying around the task with a group of other gliders is often not beneficial, because if you come home only a few seconds behind the group, you could lose many points
- The aim is to be in front at the finish, so making bold tactical moves can mean a big difference in results
See also
- FAI World Grand Prix 2007FAI World Grand Prix 2007The second FAI World Grand Prix 2007 was a gliding Grand Prix at the Omarama airfield in New Zealand during December 19 - December 24. Was the second Gliding Grand Prix race to take place in New Zealand.-Overall results:-Qualifying:...
- FAI World Grand Prix 2008FAI World Grand Prix 2008The third FAI World Grand Prix 2008-2009 was a gliding Grand Prix that took place in 2010 in Santiago, Chile.The qualifying races did take place during 2008-2009 flying season world wide.-Overall results:-Qualifying races:-Final:...
(Grand Prix final on 2-9 January 2010, Santiago de Chile) - FAI World Grand Prix 2010-2011FAI World Grand Prix 2010-2011The FAI World Grand Prix 2010-2011 will be the fourth gliding Grand Prix. The qualifying races will take place during 2010-2011 worldwide flying season.-Qualifying races:- External links :* http://www.fai.org/gliding/QSGP2010_2011...
- EuropeanEuropean Gliding ChampionshipsThe European Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so.Gliding is a competitive sport and was even a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics. It was due to become an official Olympic sport in the Helsinki Games in 1940. However since the war, gliding has not...
and World Gliding ChampionshipsWorld Gliding ChampionshipsThe World Gliding Championships is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.... - First UK Gliding Grand Prix at Cambridge Gliding CentreCambridge Gliding CentreCambridge Gliding Centre is a gliding club based near Cambridge in the United Kingdom on the Bedfordshire/Cambridgeshire county border. Nearby major towns include Bedford, Cambourne, Huntingdon, Royston, Sandy, St. Ives and St...