World Gliding Championships

The World Gliding Championships (WGC) 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.

Gliding had been a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics and was due to become an official Olympic sport in the Helsinki Games in 1940. However since the Second World War, gliding has not featured in the Olympics, and so the World Championships are the highest level in the sport. There are now contests for six classes of glider and so in recent years the Championships have been divided between two locations. The women's, junior, grand prix and aerobatic events are also held separately.

World Gliding Championships

Each of the following entries give the year and location of the contest followed by the winner of each class, nationality and the glider used.

Sailplanes at the 1954 Championships with the three Schweizers of the USA team in the foreground
Year Location Class Winner Glider Notes
1937 Germany Wasserkuppe Open Germany Heini Dittmar Fafnir São Paulo (This was thought not to be a true world championship and was just an 'International Competition', but it has been acknowledged as the first World Gliding Championship.[1]
1948 Switzerland Samedan Open Sweden Per-Axel Persson DFS 108 Weihe
1950 Sweden Örebro Open Sweden Billy Nilsson DFS 108 Weihe
1952 Spain Madrid Open United Kingdom Philip Wills Slingsby Sky
Two Seater Spain Luis Juez
Spain Roberto Bermúdez		 DFS Kranich [2]
1954 United Kingdom Camphill Farm, Great Hucklow Open France Gerard Pierre Breguet 901
Two Seater Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Zvonimir Rain
Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Bozidar Komac		 Ikarus Kosava
1956 France Saint-Yan Open United States Paul MacCready Breguet 901
Two Seater United Kingdom Nick Goodhart
United Kingdom Frank Foster		 Slingsby Eagle
1958 Poland Leszno Open West Germany Ernst Haase HKS-3
Standard Poland Adam Witek SZD-22 Mucha Standard
1960 West Germany Cologne/Köln Open Argentina Rodolfo Hossiger Slingsby Skylark 3 (Rolf on his Swedish passport) nickname "El Sueco"
Standard West Germany Heinz Huth Schleicher Ka 6BR
1963 Argentina Junin[3] Open Poland Edward Makula SZD-19 Zefir 2
Standard West Germany Heinz Huth Schleicher Ka 6
1965 United Kingdom South Cerney Open Poland Jan Wróblewski SZD-24 Foka 4
Standard France François-Louis Henry Siren Edelweiss
1968 Poland Leszno Open Austria Harro Wodl Schempp-Hirth Cirrus
Standard United States Andrew Smith Neukom S-3 Standard-Elfe
1970 United States Marfa, Texas Open United States George Moffat Schempp-Hirth Nimbus
Standard West Germany Helmut Reichmann Rolladen-Schneider LS1-c
1972 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Vršac Open Sweden Göran Ax Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-2
Standard Poland Jan Wróblewski SZD-43 Orion
1974 Australia Waikerie Open United States George Moffat Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-2
Standard West Germany Helmut Reichmann Rolladen-Schneider LS2
1976 Finland Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi Open United Kingdom George Lee Schleicher ASW 17
Standard Australia Ingo Renner Eiri PIK-20B
1978 France Châteauroux Open United Kingdom George Lee Schleicher ASW 17
15 metre West Germany Helmut Reichmann Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-11
Standard Netherlands Baer Selen Schleicher ASW 19
1981 West Germany Paderborn Open United Kingdom George Lee Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
15 metre Sweden Göran Ax Schleicher ASW 20
Standard France Marc Schroeder Rolladen-Schneider LS4
1983 United States Hobbs, New Mexico Open Australia Ingo Renner Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
15 metre Netherlands Kees Musters Schempp-Hirth Ventus A
Standard Denmark Stig Øye Rolladen-Schneider LS4
1985 Italy Rieti Open Australia Ingo Renner Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
15 metre United States Doug Jacobs Rolladen-Schneider LS6
Standard Italy Leonardo Brigliadori Schempp-Hirth Discus
1987 Australia Benalla Open Australia Ingo Renner Schleicher ASW 22B (Gliding Club of Victoria)
15 metre United Kingdom Brian Spreckley Rolladen-Schneider LS6
Standard Finland Markku Kuittinen Schempp-Hirth Discus a
1989 Austria Wiener Neustadt Open France Jean-Claude Lopitaux Schleicher ASW 22B
15 metre West Germany Bruno Gantenbrink Schempp-Hirth Ventus C
Standard France Jacques Aboulin Schempp-Hirth Discus
1991 United States Uvalde, Texas Open Poland Janusz Centka Schleicher ASW 22B
15 metre Australia Brad Edwards Rolladen-Schneider LS6-b
Standard Netherlands Baer Selen Schempp-Hirth Discus
1993 Sweden Borlänge Open Poland Janusz Centka Schleicher ASW 22B
15 metre France Gilbert Gerbaud and France Eric Napoleon Rolladen-Schneider LS6-b
Standard United Kingdom Andrew Davis Schempp-Hirth Discus B
1995 New Zealand Omarama Open New Zealand Ray Lynskey Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
15 metre France Eric Napoleon Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
Standard Finland Markku Kuittinen Schempp-Hirth Discus a
1997 France Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban Open France Gérard Lherm Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
15 metre Germany Werner Meuser Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
Standard France Jean-Marc Caillard Rolladen-Schneider LS8-a
Turkey İnönü, Eskişehir World France Frederic Hoyeau PZL PW-5
1999 Germany Bayreuth Open Germany Holger Karow Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
15 metre Italy Giorgio Galetto Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
Standard France Jean-Marc Caillard Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
Poland Leszno World France Henry Julien PZL PW-5
2001 South Africa Mafikeng Open South Africa Oscar Goudriaan Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
15 metre Germany Werner Meuser Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2ax
Standard France Laurent Aboulin Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
Australia Gawler Club United Kingdom Peter Masson Glaser-Dirks DG-101
Spain Lillo 18 metre United Kingdom Stephen Jones Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
World France Olivier Darroze PZL PW-5
2002 Germany Musbach Club Czech Republic Tomas Suchanek Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
2003 Poland Leszno Open Germany Holger Karow Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4M
18 metre Austria Wolfgang Janowitsch Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2cx
15 metre New Zealand John Coutts Schleicher ASW 27B
Standard United Kingdom Andrew Davis Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
Slovenia Nitra World Poland Sebastian Kawa PZL PW-5
2004 Norway Elverum Club Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD-48-3M Brawo
2006 Sweden Eskilstuna Open Germany Michael Sommer Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
18 metre United Kingdom Phil Jones Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2cxt
15 metre Poland Janusz Centka SZD 56 Diana 2
Standard United Kingdom Leigh Wells Rolladen-Schneider LS8
France Vinon-sur-Verdon Club Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD-48-3M Brawo
World France Christophe Ruch PZL PW-5
2008 Italy Rieti Standard Germany Michael Buchthal Schempp-Hirth Discus 2
Club Germany Matthias Sturm Glasflügel 206 Hornet
World France Laurent Couture PZL PW-5
Germany Lüsse Open Germany Michael Sommer Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
18 metre France Olivier Darroze Schleicher ASG 29-18
15 metre Hungary György Gulyas Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
2010 Slovakia Prievidza Standard Poland Sebastian Kawa Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a 3 July 2010 – 18 July 2010 Official website
Club Germany Arndt Hovestadt Glasflügel Standard Libelle
World France Laurent Couture PZL PW-5
Hungary Szeged Open Germany Michael Sommer Binder EB29 20 July 2010 – 7 August 2010 Official website
18 metre Poland Zbigniew Nieradka Schleicher ASG 29-18
15 metre Italy Stefano Ghiorzo SZD 56 Diana 2
2012 United States Uvalde, Texas Open France Laurent Aboulin Schempp-Hirth Quintus M 28 July – 19 August[4] Official website
18 metre Poland Zbigniew Nieradka Schleicher ASG 29-18
15 metre Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56-2 Diana 2
2013 Argentina Adolfo Gonzales Chaves, Buenos Aires Standard Poland Sebastian Kawa Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a 6 January 2013 – 19 January 2013[5] Official website
Club Argentina Santiago Berca SZD-48 Jantar Standard 2
World Argentina Sebastián Riera PZL PW-5 Last World class world championship
2014 Finland Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi Club France Eric Bernard Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus 22 June 2014 – 5 July 2014 Official website
Standard Belgium Bert Schmelzer Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
20m Multi-Seat United Kingdom Steve Jones
United Kingdom Howard Jones		 Schempp-Hirth Arcus T
2014 Poland Leszno Open Germany Michael Sommer Binder EB29 26 July 2014 – 10 August 2014[6] Official website
18 metre Poland Karol Staryszak Schleicher ASG 29-18
15 metre Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56-2 Diana 2
2015 Lithuania Pociūnai 13.5 metre
Uvalde 2012 award ceremony

A list of future events is available here

World Grand Prix Gliding Championships

Gliding Grand Prix, or Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP), is a newer type of gliding competition. It has simpler rules and a more spectacular appearance than conventional soaring competitions.[7]

Season Location Winner Second Third
Pilot Glider Pilot Glider Pilot Glider
2005 France Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56 Diana 2 Germany Mario Kiessling Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax Czech Republic Petr Krejcirik Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax
2006-2007 New Zealand Omarama Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56 Diana 2 Germany Uli Schwenk Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax New Zealand Ben Flewett Schleicher ASW 27
2008-2009 Chile Santiago Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56 Diana 2 Chile Carlos Rocca Vidal Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2b Germany Mario Kiessling Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax
2010-2011 Germany Wasserkuppe Italy Giorgio Galetto Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax Germany Sebastian Nägel Schleicher ASW 27 Austria Peter Hartmann Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax
2012-2014 France Vaumeilh near Sisteron France Didier Hauss Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cxa Poland Sebastian Kawa SZD 56 Diana 2 Germany Uli Schwenk Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2cxa

Women's World Gliding Championships

The Women's World Gliding Championships (WWGC) is a women-only gliding competition. From 1979 to 1999 women's gliding competitions were held as International European Women's Gliding Championships.[8]

Year Location Class Winner Glider Notes
2001 Lithuania Pociūnai Club Russia Tamara Sviridova SZD-48 Jantar Standard
Standard United Kingdom Sarah Steinberg Schleicher ASW 24
15 metre United Kingdom Gillian Spreckley Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
2003 Czech Republic Jihlava Club Germany Christine Grote Glasflügel Standard Libelle
Standard Germany Cornelia Schaich Rolladen-Schneider LS8-b
15 metre Czech Republic Alena Netusilova Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
2005 Germany Klix Club Czech Republic Hana Vokrinkova Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
Standard Czech Republic Jana Veprekova Rolladen-Schneider LS8-b
15 metre Denmark Mette Pedersen Schleicher ASW 27B
2007 France Romorantin Club United Kingdom Gillian Spreckley Rolladen-Schneider LS1-f
Standard United Kingdom Sarah Kelman Schleicher ASW 28 née Steinberg
15 metre Germany Kathrin Senne Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
2009 Hungary Szeged Club France Nathalie Hurlin Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
Standard Germany Sue Kussbach Rolladen-Schneider LS8-b
15 metre Germany Susanne Schödel Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
2011 Sweden Arboga Club Denmark Agnete Olesen Glasflügel Standard Libelle WL
Standard Germany Sue Kussbach Rolladen-Schneider LS8-b
15 metre Germany Susanne Schödel Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2ax
2013 France Issoudun Club Germany Christine Grote Glasflügel Standard Libelle WL
Standard Germany Sue Kussbach Rolladen-Schneider LS8-b
15 metre France Anne Ducarouge Schleicher ASG 29

Junior World Gliding Championships

The Junior World Gliding Championships (JWGC) is a competition for glider pilots under the age of 26. From 1991 to 1997, international junior gliding competitions were held as European Junior Gliding Championships.

Year Location Class Winner Glider Notes
1999 Netherlands Terlet Standard Germany Gunther Stahl Schempp-Hirth Discus-2b
Club Germany Robert Scheiffarth Schleicher ASW 19b
2001 France Issoudun Standard United Kingdom Jay Rebbeck Rolladen-Schneider LS8
Club Denmark Peter Toft Glasflügel Standard Libelle
2003 Slovenia Nitra Standard United Kingdom Jeremy Hood Rolladen-Schneider LS8
Club Germany Michael Streit Schleicher ASW 19
2005 United Kingdom Husbands Bosworth Standard United Kingdom Mark Parker Rolladen-Schneider LS8
Club Germany Christoph Nacke Rolladen-Schneider LS1
2007 Italy Rieti Standard Germany Patrick Gai Rolladen-Schneider LS8
Club France Killian Walbrou Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus 75
2009 Finland Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi Standard Germany Felipe Levin Schempp-Hirth Discus-2
Club Germany Volker Sailer Glasflügel Standard Libelle
2011 Germany Freudenstadt Musbach Standard Germany Felipe Levin Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
Club Netherlands Tim Kuijpers Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
2013 Poland Leszno Standard Netherlands Peter Millenaar Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
Club France Valentin Grit Glasflügel 206 Hornet

FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships

World Glider Aerobatic Championships take place each year[9] (every two years until 2011) since 1985 under the auspices of the FAI. They are administrated by the FAI Aerobatics Commission "Commission Internationale de Voltige Aerienne" (CIVA).[10] The 2001 championships were part of the World Air Games. Since 1994, European Glider Aerobatic Championships are held in the years between the World Championships. Since 2010, an additional event is organized in a slightly less demanding "Advanced" category - the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (WAGAC). WAGAC is organized yearly, usually accompanying the WGAC.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://sailplane-grandprix-2011.aero/spannende-luftrennen-%C3%BCber-der-rh%C3%B6n-zu-erwarten/ Translation http://translate.google.de/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fsailplane-grandprix-2011.aero%2Fspannende-luftrennen-%25C3%25BCber-der-rh%25C3%25B6n-zu-erwarten%2F&sl=de&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8
  2. ↑ http://equipoespvav.info/wgc1952/
  3. ↑ 1963 WGC newsreel
  4. ↑ {{cite web title=Uvalde championship web-site url=http://wgc2012uvalde.com/accessdate=21 July 2012}}
  5. ↑ {{cite web title=Argentinian 2012 world gliding championship web-site url=http://www.wgc2012.com.ar/ accessdate=21 July 2012 }}
  6. ↑ {{cite web title=33rd World Gliding Championship web-site url=http://www.wgc2014.hb.pl/ accessdate=13 August 2014 }}
  7. ↑ FAI: 1st World Sailplane Grand Prix in Saint Auban and Salon Européen du Vol à Voile – accessed 2008-04-11
  8. ↑ http://www.aweu.org/ext_files/Gill_van_der_Broeck_History_of_the_Women.pdf – accessed 2008-02-15
  9. ↑ http://www.fai.org/downloads/civa/SC6_Part2_2014 - accessed 2014-06-29
  10. ↑ Website of the FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) – accessed 2008-03-09
  11. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/ - accessed 2014-06-29
  12. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=163 – accessed 2008-02-15
  13. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=163&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  14. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=161 – accessed 2008-02-15
  15. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=158 – accessed 2008-02-15
  16. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=156 – accessed 2008-02-15
  17. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=156&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  18. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=155 – accessed 2008-02-15
  19. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=155&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  20. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=147 – accessed 2008-02-15
  21. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=147&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  22. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=221 – accessed 2008-02-15
  23. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/chronology.asp?id=705 – accessed 2008-02-15
  24. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=705&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  25. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/chronology.asp?id=1224 – accessed 2008-02-15
  26. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=1224&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  27. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/chronology.asp?id=1167 – accessed 2008-02-15
  28. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=1167&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-15
  29. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=2265 – accessed 2008-02-02
  30. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=2265&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-02
  31. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/EventDetails.asp?id=3795 – accessed 2008-02-02
  32. ↑ http://events.fai.org/aerobatics/fullresults.asp?id=3795&gender=o – accessed 2008-02-02
  33. ↑ http://segelkunstflug.mediacluster.de/d/430 accessed 2009-10-26
  34. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2011/WGAC11/multi_R003s01s02s03s04.htm accessed 2012-02-05
  35. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2011/WAGAC11/team_R005s01s02s03s04.htm - accessed 2014-06-29
  36. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com./2012/WGAC_2012/multi_R008s01s02s03s04s05s06.htm accessed 2012-08-29
  37. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2013/WGAC_2013/multi_R003s01s02s03.htm
  38. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2013/WGAC_2013/team_R003s01s02s03.htm
  39. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2014/WGAC_2014/multi_R003s01s02s03.htm
  40. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2014/WGAC_2014/team_R003s01s02s03.htm
  41. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2014/WAGAC_2014/multi_R003s01s02s03s04.htm
  42. ↑ http://www.civa-results.com/2014/WAGAC_2014/team_R006s01s02s03.htm
  43. ↑ http://www.wgac2015.cz - Official Event Website

Sources

External links