29 Jul 2025

Intense competition continues: 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders

After two days of competition at the 2025 FAI F3K World Championships for Model Gliders in Tarp, Germany, the aeromodellers have tackled fluctuating weather conditions with determination and are displaying incredible skill as they battle towards an unpredictable finish.

After Sunday 27 and Monday 28 July, seven Seniors rounds and six Juniors rounds had been completed, out of the scheduled total of 25 qualification rounds for each.

Results via gliderscore

Reporting from the event, where he presides over the Jury , Antonis Papadopoulos, FAI Aeromodelling Commission (CIAM) President, commented: "The competition is very tough. As you can see from the scores, the difference between the competitors is very minor and so the ranking is changing almost after every round."

Unsettled weather

So far, weather conditions have varied not only between days, but almost hourly!

The competitors have therefore adjusted their models between rounds to endeavour to manage the conditions, adding or removing ballast to optimise their aircraft for the task ahead, during the predicted wind. The difference between these ballast bars is tiny: mere grams can make a significant difference to their success. The pilot must select just the right weight to help their glider penetrate the wind, according to their model, its flying style and the task. Too light and their model will not advance forward, too heavy and it will land too early.

F3K aeromodelling 2025 GER

Unpredictable results

These rapidly changing conditions are reflected in the scoring. The rankings are changing almost every round, and the competition is tough. The Junior level has been particularly high, and there is little difference between Junior and Senior performance at this world championship level.

With four more days of qualifications ahead (Tuesday 29, Wednesday 30, Thursday 31st July and Friday 1 August), one thing is for sure: the competition will be intense as each pilot focuses to combine their expertise and technique to climb the rankings.

In 2024's FAI F3K European Championship, it was Germany's Henri Sander who beat Vincent Merlijn of the Netherlands to the top of the podium among the Seniors, with France picking up the team title. The French are certainly ranking well currently, but to try and predict results at this stage would not be rational!

In the Juniors, Mateusz Ptaszek of Poland took the 2024 European Champion title from Luca Brudermann of Austria. With Ptaszek not competing this year, Brudermann must be fully focused on his chance for the podium top spot, and after six rounds he ranked top.