NEW F3A ACROBATIC FLIGHT ROUTINES IN 2026

Before we can participate in international programs, we need a regional and national training program. The NOS Model Flying Association has been addressing this issue for years and has launched the “Young Silentwings” youth sports promotion program, which enables beginners to gain experience in aerobatics.

The program includes the following stages:

• Assembling an ARF model with the help of a build supervisor
• Programming the necessary settings
• Test flying and adjusting the completed model
• Regular training flights with a well-structured sequence of maneuvers
• Optional participation in a Sportflyers competition with coaching

The former regional championships have been replaced by Sportflyers competitions, and participants are eligible to compete in all of them. The goal of this supraregional approach is to help promote aerobatics in various regions and to offer multiple competitions for beginners. The BOW, NWS, and NOS regions organize such competitions; other regions are welcome to join.

While the international programs change every two years, the programs in the beginner segment are intended to remain in place for as long as possible. In addition, the maneuvers flown are intended to serve as systematic preparation for the more difficult programs. For this reason, the founding fathers of the Sportflyer programs have given careful consideration to what the programs should look like starting in 2026. The following principles remain:

• Competition organization as simple as possible; simple scoring
• No rules necessary; diagrams of the maneuvers are sufficient
• The programs can be flown with a wide variety of models, including affordable ones
• Participation is possible—and encouraged—across regions
• Experienced coaches and judges will also provide tips for improvement at the competitions
• The competitions are intended to promote skill development and the exchange of experiences

Introduction to a simple aerobatic routine flown during the official F3A window. Learn the basic maneuvers—loop, roll, turn, Immelmann, and spin—as well as simple combinations of these basic maneuvers. Nine maneuvers are flown, and the routine lasts about four minutes. It can be flown with all types of commercially available models and various propulsion systems.

The sequence of maneuvers follows the Basic program as closely as possible. The basic maneuvers are supplemented with additional challenges: dotted partial rolls, rolls in opposite directions, maneuvers from a inverted flight position, and a broken inverted spin. Thirteen maneuvers are performed, and the program lasts about six minutes.

The organization of the “Swissliga” national competitions is outlined in the terms of reference of the SMV’s F3A Technical Group. It also compiles the selection rankings for national teams participating in European and World Championships. Swiss champions are crowned in the “Advanced” and “F3A-FAI” classes.

The regions are responsible for sports promotion programs and for organizing Sportflyer competitions. If desired, they receive support from representatives of the F3A Section.

The F3A Technical Group has set itself the goal of improving the flow of information among interested aerobatic pilots and judges. Regular email updates and an F3A aerobatics chat group are intended to help achieve this. Those interested should contact the secretary of the F3A technical group, Matthias Bosshard.
Entry forms and Aresti diagrams for all programs mentioned in this article can be found here: www.modellflug.ch

Notes:

• Central figures (1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 12) in the center of the flight window

• All rolls in the center of the straight line

• For rolls in opposite directions, but with no pauses in between

• Figure 1: Roll length can be chosen freely