FAI News 04/06

Top FAI Officials in Vienna / Plenary Meetings : CIG, IGC and CIA /
FAI Young Artists Contest : Important reminder / New World Record Claims

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Top FAI Officials in Vienna

At the invitation of Austrian Aero Club President Dr. Alois ROPPERT, FAI President Pierre PORTMANN and Secretary General Max BISHOP addressed a meeting of the Aero Club's federal board in Vienna on Saturday 11 March 2006.

This invitation arose from Dr Ropperts' suggestion at the FAI Centenary Conference that FAI leaders should be better known in member organizations. The discussions were helpful for both sides and produced useful suggestions for future policy at national and international level.

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CIG Plenary Meeting

The FAI Rotorcraft Commission (CIG) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 2 and 3 March 2006 in Lausanne (SUI).

Championships : The 13th FAI World Helicopter Championship was awarded to Germany and will take place from 13 to 18 August 2008 in Eisenach-Kindel, Thüringen (GER).

Elections : Mr David HAMILTON (NZL) was re-elected CIG President. All CIG Officers were re-elected (see the List of CIG Officers and Delegates).

Next Plenary Meeting : 8 and 9 March 2007, Lausanne (SUI)

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IGC Plenary Meeting

The FAI Gliding Commission (CIG) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 3 and 4 March 2006 in Lausanne (SUI).

Awards : In recognition of the eminent services rendered to the sport of gliding, the Lilienthal Gliding Medal was awarded for the year 2005 to Mr Ian STRACHAN (GBR), and Pirat Gehriger Diplomas were awarded to Martin SIMONS (AUS) and Fransois VAN HAAFF (NED).

Championships : The following 1st Category competitions were awarded :
2nd FAI World Sailplane Grand Prix, 2007 : New Zealand
6th FAI Junior World Gliding Championship, 2009 : Rayskala (FIN)
5th FAI Women's World Gliding Championship, 2009 : Szeged (HUN)

Elections : Mr Robert G. HENDERSON (NZL) was re-elected as IGC President. Mr Göran AX (SWE) was newly elected as Vice-President (Click here for the full List of IGC Officers and Delegates).

Click here to read a more detailed report on the IGC Meeting.

Next Plenary Meeting : 2 and 3 March 2007, Lausanne (SUI)

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CIA Plenary Meeting

The FAI Ballooning Commission (CIA) held its Annual Plenary Meeting on 10 and 11 March 2006 in Dmitrov (RUS).

Awards : In recognition of the sporting performances achieved during the past Montgolfier year, Montgolfier Ballooning Diplomas were awarded to :
Gas Balloons : Bob BERBEN and Benoït SIMEONS (BEL)
Hot Air Balloons : Andy CAYTON (USA)
Rozier Balloons : Greg WINKER (USA)
Contribution to Sport : Pat BRAKE (USA)

Championships : The following 1st Category competitions were awarded :
50th Coupe Gordon Bennett, 2006 : Belgium
LUXGSM Trophy 2006 : Luxemburg
14th Coupe d'Europe & 17th Ladies World Cup, 2006 : France
18th Ladies World Cup, 2006 : Poland
1st FAI South American Hot Air Balloon Championship, 2006 : Brazil
6th MOL International Hot Air Balloon Cup, 2006 : Hungary
11th FAI World Gas Balloon Championship, 2007 : Russia
2007 OMV Challenge & WC test & Austrian Nationals : Austria

Elections : Mr Jean-Claude WEBER (LUX) was re-elected CIA President. All CIA Officers were re-elected (see the List of CIA Officers and Delegates).

Next Plenary Meeting : 28 Feb. to 3 March 2007, Abu Dhabi (UAE)

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FAI Young Artists Contest 2006

IMPORTANT REMINDER to FAI Members :

Theme of the 2006 Contest : "Air Sports and Nature in Harmony"
Deadline : By 18th April 2006, all entries must be received at the FAI Office.

Further information & Rules : FAI Young Artists Contest 2006

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New World Record Claims

Some of the new World Record Claims recently received by FAI :

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim numbers : 13112 / 13114-13115
Sub-class : E-3 (Autogyros)
Group 1 : piston engine / General Category
Course/location : North Little Rock, AR (USA)
Pilot : Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Date: 09.02.2006

Claim # 13112
Type of record : Speed over a closed circuit of 500 km without payload
Performance : 168 km/h
Current record : 139.67 km/h (20.03.2005 - Andrew C. KEECH, USA)

Claims # 13114 & 13115
Sub-classes : E-3 (Autogyros) and E-3b (Autogyros : take-off weight 500 to 1,000 kg)
Type of records: Speed over a closed circuit of 1 000 km without payload
Performance : 174 km/h
Current records : new


Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim numbers : 13117-13119
Sub-class : E-3b (Autogyros : take-off weight 500 to 1,000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine / General Category
Course/location : North Little Rock, AR (USA)
Pilot : Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Date: 14.02.2006

Claim # 13117
Type of record : Distance without landing
Performance : 1 083 km
Current record : 615.34 km (16.04.1989 - Frank ANDERS, USA)

Claim # 13118
Type of record : Time to climb to a height of 3 000 m
Performance : 38 min 41 sec
Current record : new

Claim # 13119
Type of record : Altitude without payload
Performance : 4 419 m
Current record : 3 317 m (22.06.1986 - Charles I. FITZSIMMONS, USA)


Class A (Free balloons) / Claim number : 13160
Size category : AX-04 (Hot-air balloons : 600 to 900 m³)
General Category
Type of record : Duration
Course/location : Blair, NE (USA)
Performance : 13 h 13 min
Pilot : Richard JAWORSKI (USA)
Balloon : Type not indicated
Date: 18.02.2006
Current record : 8h 39 min (20.03.1986 - Coy FOSTER, USA)


Class B (Airships) / Claim numbers : 13163 & 13164
Size category : BX-02 (Hot-air airships : 400 to 900 m³)
General Category
Course/location : Location to be confirmed
Airship : Airship type not indicated
Date: 01.03.2006

Claim # 13163
Type of record : Speed
Performance : 27.45 km/h
Pilot : Valery SHKULENKO (RUS)
Current record : none

Claim # 13164
Type of record : Distance
Performance : 5 160 m
Pilot : Mikhail BAKANOV (RUS)
Current record : none


Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number : 13234
Class C : ABSOLUTE WORLD RECORD
Type of record : Distance over a closed circuit without landing
Course/location : Salina, KS (USA) - Salina, KS (USA)
Performance : 40 721 km
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Aircraft : Scaled Composites M311
Date: 17.03.2006
Current record : 40 212.14 km (23.12.1986 - Richard G. RUTAN, USA)


Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers : 13235 & 13236
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of record : Distance over a closed circuit without landing
Course/location : Salina, KS (USA) - Salina, KS (USA)
Performance : 40 721 km
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Aircraft : Scaled Composites M311
Date: 17.03.2006
Current record : 36 898.04 km (03.03.2005 - Steve FOSSETT, USA)

Claim # 13235
Sub-class : C-1 (Landplanes)

Claim # 13236
Sub-class : C-1g (Landplanes : take off weight 9 000 to 12 000 kg)



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 World Records.