COMPETITIVE SOARING

There are a great variety of competitions within soaring, both thermal, slope and electric. All the thermal and electric events, include some element of duration task i.e. staying up for as long as possible within a predetermined time frame. Other events involve speed , distance and scale sections.

Competition Classes

Class	Type	Description
F3J	Thermal	A duration event with a measured, scored landing. Flown man on man with scores normalised. i.e. best time gets 100, everyone les getting a percentage based on their time in relation to the winners.Flown over matrixed rounds to ensure no one flies against the same people too often. World Championship event.
100s	Thermal	A duration event, flown man on man with scores normalised and matrixed rounds. Models of 100" or less, with 3 functions. (rudder, elevator and airbrakes/spoilers) Used as an entry level class.
F3B	Thermal	Involves duration, speed and distance tasks. Specialised event with small entry. First World Championship event recognised by CIAM.
F3F	Slope	A racing class, flown one at a time. Fastest time for 10 laps of a 100m course set up on the lip of the slope. Normalised scores.
60" EPP Pylon Racing.	Slope	A racing class, flown with 60" models made from EPP foam(almost indestructible). Flown over 70m course on slope with 3-5 planes at a time. first over the line wins and progresses to he next round. Very close, exciting racing with frequent mid air collisions, hence the EPP
Scale	Slope & Thermal	Scale models of real gliders and sailplanes, marked for accuracy and then having to complete a qualifying flight set by organisers.
Cross Country	Slope	Fastest time around a set course (often a couple of miles long ). Course also has waypoints at which gliders has to complete a set task e.g. low pass, 2 clockwise turns. Fastest time or furthest round the course wins.
Electroslot	Thermal	A duration event, with limited motor run time for launch. Scored as for 100s
F5B	Thermal	As for F3B,, but using electric motor for launch
F3K	Thermal	Proposed class for hand launch glider, DLG & HLG (see DLG/HLG flying page) or visit The F3k Website

This is a very basic introduction to the competition classes and anyone interested should seek further information from one of the bodies in the LINKS page, e.g BMFA or BARCS