What exactly is F3B?

The F3B class consists of radio-controlled glider models that are launched using an electric high-lift winch and must complete three flight tasks simply by adjusting their ballast.

• In the endurance flight event, the goal is to fly for exactly 10 minutes and end with a precision landing in a circle.
• In the distance flight, the goal is to fly as many 150-meter legs as possible within 4 minutes of flight time (record: 38 legs).
• In the speed flight, the 150-meter course must be flown four times as quickly as possible (record: 11.8 seconds).

The level of competition at this year’s World Championship was extremely high. Just to clarify: Being one second slower than the competition in the speed flight—where times are in the 14-second range—results in a loss of 67 points. And completing one fewer leg in the distance flight—with a maximum of 20 legs flown—results in a loss of 50 points. A “failed” landing in the 2-meter circle instead of the 1-meter circle results in a 7.2-point deduction, and each extra second results in an additional 1.5-point deduction. ■

Thomas Schorb