In a couple of weeks, the Test event of the 18th FAI World Paragliding Championships will take place in the Chamoux-sur-Gelon in France. We have spoken to Julien Wirtz a local pilot and n4 in World paragliding XC ranking* about the peculiarities of flying there.
The next PG Worlds will take place in Chamoux. How long have you been flying in this area?
The Balloon Live Team is very excited to announce the release of a major update and new version of the FAI Balloon Live app.
The new version has been completely redesigned and rewritten to offer an even better pilot experience and optimal in-flight features:
The 116th FAI General Conference, scheduled from 1st to 3rd November 2022, will take place online.
The event was originally planned to be organised by FAI Member the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC) and the Wuhan Municipal Government in Wuhan. However, the continuing uncertainties posed by the pandemic led the FAI Executive Board, in agreement with ASFC, to reconsider and opt for a virtual event.
FAI has ratified a record claim from Platform Aerospace, owner of Vanilla Unmanned UAV for an unrefuelled, uncrewed flight duration of 192 hours and 50 minutes. The Vanilla UAV aircraft launched on 24 September 2021 and was recovered on 2 October 2021 having flown 19,634 km over Edwards Air Force Base, California, USA.
The Hungarian Association of Modellers (MMSZ) hopes that by investing in programs to attract young participants, the sport of aeromodelling will enjoy a renaissance.
Aerobatics – whether with control-line or RC models – can only be performed successfully with extensive training and good technology. With requirements becoming ever more demanding, the road from novice to successful competition pilot also gets longer. This is a huge challenge for junior aeromodellers and their mentors.
The full story of Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett's France Team 2 - Eric Decellieres & Benoit Havret - who finished just 3.58km behind 1st place.
Congratulations to Eric & Benoit, recipients of the 2022 Montgolfier Diploma for their extraordinary performance in a Gas Balloon in 2021.
By Eric Decellieres, France Team #2, 64th Coupe Aéronautique Gordon Bennett.
by Lynne Newton, Exhibitions Curator, Anderson Abruzzo Albuquerque International Balloon Museum
FAI Ballooning Commission meets in Rome
By Hiromi Furukawa (JPN), Balloon Pilot, Officials Subcommittee member
The 2022 meeting of the FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) was held in Rome, Italy in March. It was a very successful in-person meeting after 2 years of virtual meetings.
In about a fortnight the 5th FAI Paragliding Championship will launch in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil. It is one of the most famous Brazilian paragliding destinations. During the last 20 years, about 20% of all Paragliding cross country Category 2 championships took place in Valadares. Basically, it means that they had an event there almost every year. It will be a very remarkable event - for the first time in the history of the Pan-American Championships, there will be no guest pilots.
