FAI General Aviation Commission (GAC)
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Pilots and navigators ready for take-off at the 23rd FAI World Rally Flying Championship
Twenty-five planes representing 12 nations are revving their engines at the Mȃcon-Charnay aerodrome in France ready for the 23rd FAI World Rally Flying Championships. The well-known teams of Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania and Slovakia will be joined by reigning champions South Africa, Germany, Spain and Portugal, with a warm welcome being extended to China and Italy.
Dancer to pilot: a lifechanging opportunity for Mary de Klerk
Mary de Klerk had established a career as a dancer and seamstress before a “life-changing” encounter navigated her towards embarking on her pilot’s license and a subsequent career in sports flying, in which she gained many titles before retiring after her bronze medal at the 22nd FAI World Rally Flying Championships.
70 years since Jacqueline Cochran became first woman to break sound barrier on 18 May 1953
Jacqueline Cochran was already a highly decorated pilot with numerous speed records to her name when she slid into the cockpit on 18 May 1953 ready for another record attempt.
The aircraft was a Canadian-built F-86 Sabre Mk, loaned to Cochran by the Canadian Air Force. Her goal was a speed record, over a distance of 100km above Rogers Dry Lake, California, USA.
In her autobiography, published in 1987* the famous American pilot recalled her challenge:
Polish pilots dominate South African skies: 22nd World Rally Flying Championships
The much anticipated 22nd FAI World Rally Flying Championships in South Africa brought together 12 nations to compete in four days of tasks between 13-19 November at Brits Airfield.
Who will become the next World Rally Flying Champion?
A total of 74 pilots representing 12 countries will take part in the 22nd World Rally Flying Championships from 13-19 November at Brits Airfield, North-West Province in South Africa. The event has been postponed since 2020 and so there is much excitement about the competition within the community.
Practice Days under way at the 25th FAI World Precision Flying Championships
Fifty Precision Pilots representing 12 nations have gathered at Albi Le Séquestre aerodrome to begin landing and navigation practice before the 25th FAI World Precision Flying Championships commence on 22 August. Competition days run until 25th August (with 26th as reserve day), and anticipation is high for this contest, with the previous (24th) edition taking place back in 2019, when Poland took top spot on the Teams podium. Will they be knocked off their top spot in 2022?
