France dominating at FAI World Paramotor Championships in Popham

France is dominating the FAI World Paramotor Championships, with a huge score of 16,200 after five tasks – 4,000 points more than their closest rival, the Czech Republic. Behind the Czech Republic by only 331 points in third is Poland.

French pilots top the individual foot launch category too, with Boris Tysebaert, Julien Barbier and current Paramotor World Champion Alex Mateos in positions 1, 2 and 3. France also holds 1, 2, 3 in the tandem trike category.

The latest official results were published on Thursday evening.

In the FAI World Microlight Championship, which is being held at the same place at the same time, no overall scores have been published.

However, pilots have been flying and a highlight this week was a task which took the pilots across the rolling green fields of the southern counties of England to Sandon Airfield on the Isle of Wight. This involved crossing the Solent, a famous stretch of water between England and the small island just off the south coast.

Pilots had to fly a series of course-lines before landing at the grass airstrip. After lunch at Sandon Airfield, the return flight took the form of a navigation task, complete with a touch-and-go landing to finish.

The weather forecast is good for the final day of the competition, which officially ends tomorrow, Saturday 27 August 2016.

Photo Credit: Wolfgang Lintl