Imagine trekking through the skies on a thrilling treasure hunt where your team-mate, your wits, your map, and your compass are all you can rely on, to track down your targets...

Beyond simple leisure flying, this is Rally Flying: an exhilarating air sport that combines precision navigation and accuracy landing with the spirit of adventure and purpose. This sport is about raw flying skill, astute observation, and seamless teamwork.

Ahead of the 24th FAI World Rally Flying Championship in Ferrara, Italy, here are five commonly asked questions about the dynamic sport of FAI Rally Flying and how a competition runs:

1) What is Rally Flying?

If you are a pilot with a keen eye for detail, a love of maps and razor-sharp planning skills, Rally Flying could be for you. Here's how it works:

The pilot and navigator take a seat in their aircraft, fully focused and ready to get started on the flight task ahead.

They are handed an envelope. Inside: the clues that will help them quickly but meticulously plot a route.

Using the clues – photographs of landmarks on the ground – the pair will analyse their map to locate a starting point, add turning points, and pinpoint the landing spot, at which they will touch down as close as possible to the marker, and predict a speed and finish time.

A sealed GPS tracker on board helps the judges score, but there are no tech tools available to the pair. They are equipped with only a compass and a stopwatch.

The clock starts ticking as soon as the pair take off. Following their plotted route, they will keep as closely to their planned route as possible – the only “race” is against their own predicted speed and therefore landing time.

2) How do the crews gain points to win a Rally Flying competition?

Following their routes, the teams must mark the targets on their maps: they add the coordinates of their turn points, and the location of the landmarks shown in the photos.

However, to spice things up, there are some fake photos added to the mix! Teams must also identify which are the trick pictures.

Excitement builds as the aircraft approaches the landing. Accuracy here can make or break a team’s score, helping them gain vital points if they touch down within two metres of the marked landing. Video recordings help the judges check the accuracy of each aircraft.

Back at the airfield, the teams hand over their GPS recorder, map and answers to the judges, who analyse the data and the accuracy of the marked points, adding the scores from the accuracy landings to give an overall total.

3) What skills are useful to progress in the sport?

This is the kind treasure hunt which relies on original flying skills. Without technology to help them, the pilot and navigator must use their compass, stopwatch and map, alongside their sharp brains and eagle eyes, to accurately plot their routes and spy the landmarks.

They must also be vigilant when it comes to spotting the fake clues!

Working closely together, communication between the navigator and pilot is essential, especially when it comes to sticking to their anticipated speed.

If you want to progress as a pilot and enjoy logical thinking, the thrill of a treasure hunt, and flying with a purpose, then Rally Flying could be for you!

4) What’s the background of Rally Flying?

The concept of Rally Flying (and Precision Navigation) started in the Scandinavian countries between the two world wars, the object being to encourage development of skills in hunting, flying and cross-country skiing!

Originally, the sport involved flying to a remote location, landing accurately in a mountainous spot, skiing to a predetermined destination, shooting at a target and then returning to the aircraft to find the next spot and repeat the exercise. 

Post WWII, other countries became interested in the concept and over a period of years the sport and its rules developed to create a single flying discipline. Later, this split into two separate sports: Precision Flying (with a solo pilot) and Rally Flying (with a crew of two).

FAI World Championships are held every two years, and crews enter from all over the globe, having succeeded in their national competitions.

5) How do I try Rally Flying, or start competing?

If you are ready to improve your flying and enjoy putting your navigational skills to the test, team up into a pair and try Rally Flying!

You can get started by joining a local club and do not need any special equipment. The community involved in Rally Flying are welcoming and happy to encourage new pilots to try out tasks and head out on treasure hunt rally flying adventures!

The FAI General Aviation Commission (GAC) regulates FAI Rally Flying events.

Follow the FAI World Rally Flying Championship

The FAI World Rally Flying Championships runs from 30th August to 5th September 2025. FAI will publish regular news and social media posts with competition updates:

• Interview with Competition Director with competition details
• Event website
• FAI Facebook
• FAI Instagram

 

Header image credit: Katarzyna Osowska
Other image credits: unless indicated Katarzyna Osowska (from 18th FAI World Rally Flying Championships), images are by Tadeusz Misiasek (from 19th FAI World Rally Flying Championships)
See more photos from FAI Rally Flying events