07 Aug 2024

The FAI World Gliding Championships returns to Uvalde, Texas

The FAI World Gliding Championships returns to Uvalde, Texas on 17 August 2024 for the 38th edition of this prestigious competition. This is the fifth time the world’s premier gliding event will be held in the United States, and the third time in Uvalde, renowned for its outstanding gliding conditions: daily task lengths of over 500 kilometres and achieved winning speeds approaching 160 kph are regularly achieved here.

With over 80 top pilots participating, competition will be tough over the two weeks in the Open, 18 Metre, and 20 Metre Multi-seat Classes. Current Champions in each of those classes - Felipe Levin (Germany), Christophe Abadie (France), and Ivan Novak/Petr Krejcirik (Czechia) - will be fully focused on defending their titles.

Cloud streets, above Uvalde

Uvalde is located close to the Mexican border where the dry southern desert meets “Texas Hill Country” to the north. In the 2012 FAI World Gliding Championships (WGC), a record total of kilometres flown in a WGC was clocked up by competitors.

Concordia 2012WGC
A Concordia, at the 2012 WGC. Credit: Paul Remde

Among the new gliders present at the championships will be three new state-of-the-art Electric Self-launch sailplanes competing in the 18 Meter class, the AS33 Me from Schleicher Sailplanes, the Ventus 3E from Schempp Hirth, and the JS3 RES from Jonker Sailplanes. In the Open Class, making their WGC debut are the Jonker Sailplanes new flagship sailplanes, the JS5, and the Nixus fly-by-wire Open Class entry from Brazil, which has been flying in Uvalde since early July.

The Uvalde Soaring Association is organising the event and will welcome pilots from 23 countries, including Australia, New Zealand, China and South Africa.