By Katie Griggs, Chairman, Junior Balloonist Camps, Balloon Federation of America

This was my first year as Chairman of the Balloon Federation of America (BFA) Junior Balloonist Camps. The Junior Balloonist Program is open to kids aged 13 to 17. Through education, summer camps, training, and mentorship, we provide young people with the opportunity to discover and grow in the sport of ballooning. Our volunteers’ mentor them, helping them to achieve their goals.

Initially inspired by the event Aeronautics and School, which was organised by the German Airsports Aeroclub (DAeC) in Hamburg in 1992, the Rossendorf Aeromodelling Club has been successfully offering the Aeromodelling and Aeronautics programme to schools for more than 25 years. The objective is to provide students with the opportunity to discover the world of aviation and model aircraft in a fun and interactive way.

Electrifly-in success is electrifying!

The 4th Electric Fly-In (12-13 September in Grenchen, Switzerland) has once again garnered a great deal of attention. This year the successful event took place under the new name Electrifly-in.

Article written by Jonathan Perron-Clow (Canada)

FAI has received both World and European Paragliding record claims. Charles Cazaux (FRA) has beaten his own record of speed over 25 km triangle course at Col du Banchet (France) with a 46,9 km/h of average speed on 24 of August 2020.

We contacted Charles to learn more about him and his affection to speed records.

-      How long have you been doing free flight sport? 

I just passed my 27th paragliding birthday

-          What made you begin?

From feathers to high-tech flying machines.

The dream of flying is as old as humanity itself. Countless ancient legends and myths, paintings and other works of art portray humans flying like birds or being carried by birds.

Seventeen-year-old Petra Canovic, a student of the School of Design in Belgrade, took second place in the senior competition of the international FAI Young Artists Contest 2020, on the theme "Flying yesterday and tomorrow". For the first time, a young Serbian artist was among the winning works of this vibrant international art contest.

December 15, 2020:  Both World and European Hang Gliding record claims for "Speed over a triangular course of 25 km" of Jochen Zeischka were ratified. Congratulations!

The story

Greg Principato, 64, has been President and CEO of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) of the USA since October 2016. NAA is an FAI Active Member. It is based in Washington DC and consists of a team of four.

Here, Greg Principato discusses the impact of COVID-19 on his organisation, and the challenges that the NAA is now facing.

What role does NAA play in the COVID-19 crisis vis-à-vis its members?

The Aeromodelling Scholarship of the FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) helps fund young pilots’ education.