FAI News 28/04

Best Season's Greetings FAI Young Artists Contest : Reminder Coming soon : Next Competitions New Flags, Medals and Diplomas New World Record Claims for Gliding, Airships and Balloons. Best Season's Greetings This is the final Press Release this year from FAI, the World Air Sports Federation. First of all, we thank you very much for the attention you have given to the information we released throughout the year. We look forward to keeping you informed about Air Sports and FAI activities in 2005, the year of FAI Centenary, and we send you our best Season's Greetings.

With best regards, Fédération Aéronautique Internationale Jean-Marc BADAN Promotional Manager FAI Young Artists Contest As the school holidays started a few days ago, we remind you about the creative opportunity that FAI offers each year to young people, the FAI Young Artists Contest. For further information, please consult the following pages : FAI Young Artists Contest and FAI Young Artists Contest2005 Contest - Rules and Theme. 3. Coming soon : 2 competitions in January 2005 The first FAI competition in 2005 is the FAI Young Artists Contest15th FAI World Hang Gliding Championships (6 to 19 January 2005, Hay, AUS); for further information, please consult the FAI Young Artists ContestOfficial Website. The second competition, which is also the first event celebrating the FAI Centenary, is the FAI Young Artists Contest21st FAI World Grand Prix (24 to 28 January 2005, Al Ain, UAE). We wish all competition organizers and athletes very successful and fair competitions. 4. New FAI Flags, Championship Medals and Diplomas New flags, medals and diplomas featuring the recently introduced new FAI Logo will be used at all FAI competitions starting in January. So 2005, the year of the FAI Centenary, will open with a new "look". FAI Flags FAI Statute 1.7.1.3 describes the new FAI Flags as follows : The new FAI Flags have a blue background. The FAI logo, comprising an image of an eagle in white on top of a golden earth, is superimposed on a background of pale blue meridians and parallels symbolising FAI’s worldwide reach. Each FAI Championship organizer will automatically receive one flag. Additional flags (vertical or horizontal versions) are available on request at a price of CHF 80.- each (postage and packing included).  Images of the new FAI Flags Championship Medals and Diplomas  The FAI Championship Medals and Diplomas have been completely redesigned to reflect the new FAI visual identity and to confer on them a modern and prestigious look. Images of the new Championship Medals and Diplomas. 5. New World Record Claims Some of the new World Record Claims recently received by FAI : Class D - Gliders / Claims number : 10357 Sub-class : D15 (15m Class Gliders), General Category Type of record : Distance using up to 3 turn points  Course/location : Chapelco (ARG)  Performance : 1 820 km  Pilot : Diether MEMMERT (GER)  Glider : Schempp-Hirth Ventus 2 CM - 15m Date: 17.12.2004 Current record : No record registered yet - minimum achievement for the first record : 1434 km Class D- Gliders / Claim number : 10358 Sub-class : DO (Open Class Gliders), General Category Type of record : Speed over an out-and-return course of 1 000 km Course/location : Chapelco (ARG)  Performance : 196 km/h  Pilot : Manfred ALBRECHT (GER)  Crew : Margitta ALBRECHT (GER)  Glider : Schleicher ASH 25 M Date: 17.12.2004 Current record : 172.2 km/h (06.12.2003 - Klaus OHLMANN, GER) Class D - Gliders / Claim number : 10362 Sub-class : DO (Open Class Gliders), General Category Type of record : Distance using up to 3 turn points  Course/location : Chapelco (ARG)  Performance : 2 140 km  Pilot : Manfred ALBRECHT (GER)  Crew : Margitta ALBRECHT (GER) Glider : Schleicher ASH 25 M Date: 17.12.2004 Current record : No record registered yet - minimum achievement for the first record : 2051 km Class B - Airships / Claim number : 10359 - 10360 Size category : BX-03 - Hot-air airships : 900 to 1 600 m³, General Category Course/location : Rosedale, near Drumheller, AB (Canada)  Pilot : David HEMPLEMAN-ADAMS (UK) Airship : Type not indicated Claim number : 10359 Type of record : Altitude  Performance : 6 858 m   Date: 13.12.2004 Current record : 3 159 m (27.08.1982 - Ronald W. TAAFFE, AUS)  Claim number : 10360 Type of record : Duration  Performance : 4 h  Date: 14.12.2004 Current record : 3h 41mn 55s (20.03.1988 - Oscar LINDSTRÖM, Sweden) Class A - Free ballons / Claim number : 10361 Size category : AX-05 - Hot-air balloons: 900 to 1 200 m³, General Category Type of record : Altitude Course/location : Rosedale, near Drumheller, AB (Canada)  Performance : 9 906 m  Pilot : David HEMPLEMAN-ADAMS (UK)  Balloon : Type not indicated Date: 15.12.2004 Current record : 9 540 m (08.12.1979 - Carol R. DAVIS, USA) The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the record ratified (if appropriate). For further information on World Records, please consult the latest news, including all claims pending ratification, at FAI Young Artists ContestFAI World Records.