01 Aug 2025

Focusing on the finals: 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders

After four days of tough competition, the aeromodelling athletes at the 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders must retain their focus for the last day of preliminary rounds: Friday 1 August. With TV cameras also present to film the competition, there is an atmosphere of intense concentration mixed with excitement at the airfield in Tarp, Germany.

Set with a new task for each round, the pilots must adapt their strategy according to the tasks set. Not only is physical flexibility vital for the launch of the aircraft, but agile thinking is also essential: the teams are discussing together how best to use the ballast, tackle the changeable weather conditions and use their practical skills to optimise each flight. Every point counts.

at the 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders in Tarp, Germany

On Wednesday, the rain arrived and put a stop to the contest. Whilst this gave everyone the opportunity to take a rest, there was much weather-watching and nervous anticipation as pilots awaited the announcement that the competition could re-start. The rain had passed by Thursday and was announced as a flying day: the juniors and seniors were ready to leap into action.

For anyone watching the results closely, they will have seen that the rankings are changing after each round, which makes for an exciting competition! With the groups of six (seniors) and three (juniors) being drawn at random for each round, the competitors compete against each participant at least once. By the end of Thursday 30 July, 13 rounds had been completed in both senior and junior classes.

2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders in Tarp, Germany

Results via gliderscore

Antonis Papadopoulos, FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) President, who is also acting as Jury President at the event, complimented the organisers of the event: "Many thanks to the local club “MFC Tarp” members, who are doing an excellent job to keep the event going smoothly."

Friday 1 August: last day of preliminary rounds

There is much excitement for this final day of the preliminary rounds. The top 12 among the seniors, and the top eight in the juniors will go through to the finals. The ranking from the qualification rounds will define also the team ranking.

But the buzz is not only because of the competition… Sport Deutschland TV channel will film and livestream the competition on Friday, and will also be present to film the finals on Saturday 2 August.