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12 November 1906: The first flight by Santos-Dumont

Mix110 years ago, exactly today, the first officially observed flight in Europe that was longer than 25m was performed in Paris (FRA) by the Brazilian Aviation Pioneer Alberto Santos-Dumont, resident in France and famous for his experiments with small airships and balloons.

 

 

 

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Krushevo Hang Gliding Class 5 World and Class 1 European: Best Ever?

Krushevo5

Krushevo best ever hang gliding cross-country World or Continental Championship? It was the opinion of many after the award ceremony was through.

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Profile of a world champion: Ferenc Toth

Ferenc Toth WGAC2016 copyFerenc Toth has been at the top of his game since the turn of the century. The FAI Glider Aerobatics World Champion won his first major competition in 2000, aged 32. That was the FAI European Aerobatic Glider Championships, held in Provence, France, and it was a close battle between him and Jerzy Makula – the ‘grandfather’ of glider aerobatics – for the top spot.

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Hungary comes out top: Watching Ferenc Toth take gold

Ferenc podium WGAC2016“I think it was enough,” said Ferenc Toth as he stepped out of the glider after his final competition flight at the FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships in Hungary, on Friday 29 July 2016.

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It’s a family affair: Jerzy and Jan Makula

Machula WGAC2016“I have four sons, Jan is the youngest. But you know, when he was very little he was afraid of flying, he would not even touch the glider.” Jerzy Makula is a legend in glider aerobatics, often called the ‘grandfather of the sport’. A commercial pilot he has been at the forefront of developing glider aerobatics for four decades, pushing the boundaries and coaching individual pilots and national teams. He has been Glider Aerobatics World Champion seven times.

Now, his son Jan, 22, is following in his father’s footsteps and competing in the Unlimited class at the World Glider Aerobatic Championships. “I don’t remember when I first went flying with my dad, but I was young,” explains Jan.

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Mikhail Mamistov gets ready for the 20th FAI European Aerobatic Championship

CIVA AerobaticsPilot_Mikhail_MamistovAs the 20th FAI European Aerobatic Championships in Moravská Trebova (CZE) is coming up in August 2016, the powered aerobatic Champion, Mikhail Mamistov and his team Russia, is preparing for the competition. Having a busy schedule and focusing on all the arrangements, he took some time to have a little chat with us.

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Fedor Konyukhov Solo Around-The-World in a Balloon – Official World Record Claims received!

2016 07_14_Fedor_Konyukhov_in_capsuleThe FAI received the following records claims from the Russian balloonist Fedor Konyukhov, 64, who completed his circumnavigation on Saturday 23 July 2016 by landing near Bonnie Rock (AUS) in a Roziere combined hot-air and helium gas balloon:

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Done! Solar Impulse 2 completes First Round-The-World Solar Flight and writes Aviation History!

2016 07_26_Si2_completedThey did it! After over 12 years of research and design, Swiss pioneers Dr. Bertrand Piccard (Initiator, Chairman and Pilot) and André Borschberg (Co-founder and CEO and Pilot) finished the first round-the-world solar flight, powered only by the sun with no fuel or polluting emissions. After 17 months since the first departure in March 2015 in Abu Dhabi (UAE), they landed at its original take-off point at this morning, 26 July at 02:05 CET (00:05 UTC, 04:05 Local Time). Since the beginning of the adventure, FAI has received 19 world record claims from the Solar Impulse Team.

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40 Years Ago Today: Eldon Joersz became the fastest man in the world – a record that still stands today

8879 Black BirdOn this day in history Eldon W Joersz officially became the fastest man in the world, when he flew his US Air Force Blackbird plane at an astonishing 3,529.56km/h (2,194 mph).

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23 July 2006: The FAI World Record of Charles Cazaux

cazauxOn 23 July 2006, 10 years ago, French pro paraglider Charles Cazaux set a FAI World Record when he reached 41.15 km/h in the category “Speed over a triangular course of 25km”. In April 2010 he broke his own FAI World Record with 46,8 km/h which has not been superseded. He holds still multiple FAI World Records and knowing him, we are sure more is about to come from the French Paragliding Champion.

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19th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships takes off

WGAC2016The 19th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships start on Wednesday 20 July 2016 – and there will be brand new trophies for the winners at the end of the 10-day competition.

The competition is the highlight of the international Glider Aerobatics calendar and will take place at Matko Airport in Hungary.

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