F3J Winter League

We are following the F3J rules while allowing electric winching. The flight time remains 10 minutes, with a precision landing. Pilots time each other, thereby streamlining the organization. An electronic display showing preparation and flight times—linked to a computer system—is provided, making it possible for any club to organize such a competition.

Flight groups are formed so that a beginner pilot like me is paired with excellent, experienced pilots. That way, the members of my group explain to me in detail how they do things and what I need to pay attention to. When it’s my turn, my teammates take great care of me, coaching me like true professionals. My anxiety subsides and my stress eases as a result. Obviously,
there’s no question of competing with the best, but flying with top-notch pilots allows me to measure myself against them and learn a great deal from them. Throughout the day, we chat, exchange ideas and perspectives, compare equipment, and get to know one another—in short, there’s a real sense of camaraderie.

It was a very windy fall day for the first competition in the French-speaking part of Switzerland, held at the Belechasse airfield. The smaller F3B gliders were perfectly competitive with the larger-wingspan models designed for the category. In these flying conditions, pilots tend to prefer a penetrating glider with a light ballast load. Significant differences in
performance were observed within the groups depending on tow heights and the choice of flying zones. But it was during landing that many pilots—including world champion A. Bohlen—encountered significant difficulties in hitting the target. Despite the challenging conditions, there is always at least one pilot who manages to reach the 10-minute flight time.

32 pilots took part in the opening event of this Winterliga
season. We were thrilled with the day—we learned a great deal—and we encourage clubs in French-speaking Switzerland to give it a try themselves. It’s finally a competition where you get to fly a lot, since six 10-minute rounds add up to a total of one hour of flight time. Results and information can be found at www.winterliga.ch.