Swiss F5J Championships in Malval, GE

On October 11, the Swiss F5J Championships took place in Malval, GE. This discipline, little known to the uninitiated, proved to be very exciting for the group hosting the event.

Since not everyone is familiar with it, F5J is a thermal gliding competition in which gliders are launched to altitude by an electric motor that is allowed to run for no more than 30 seconds to bring the glider up to the desired altitude. Microelectronics onboard each glider automatically shut off the motor after 30 seconds if the pilot has not decided to shut it off earlier. The altitude reached at that point is stored in memory. The glider must then fly for 10 minutes (including motor time) and land within a target area without exceeding the required time limit. The points awarded for a flight depend on the team’s performance, and pilots have every reason to shut off the engine as low as possible! This discipline is gradually replacing the very similar F3J category (non-powered), which requires an electric winch launch—and thus involves more labor-intensive setup and infrastructure. Tactics play a major role in the flight, since 7 pilots fly simultaneously; competitors watch each other closely to avoid climbing higher than their rivals and to find thermal updrafts as close to the ground as possible in order to aim for the 10-minute flight. The gliders, with a wingspan generally ranging from 3.50 m to 4 meters, are incredibly light (min. 12 g/dm²). But weight isn’t the only deciding factor. Pilots must also be able to climb against the wind and have high glide ratio to reach favorable areas. In reality, F5J gliders, due to their technology, are more closely related to “hand-launched” gliders that fly close to the ground.

For the group hosting such an event, the organization is minimal. The course is made available to the drivers—29 this year, including several juniors. The club organizes lunch, and a few members take charge of timing.

For once, it was our German-speaking Swiss neighbors who had to get up early to travel (for them!) to the other end of Switzerland. The weather was calm, cold, and gloomy, generally spared from rain, even though the finals were interrupted briefly to let a shower pass. The performances amazed more than a few locals who hadn’t expected a day with thermals… but then again, we are competing against the best pilots in Switzerland! Five rounds resulted in seven pilots qualifying for two 15-minute “fly-offs.” The gliders used were X-plus, Ultima2, and Explorer models. That doesn’t mean other models wouldn’t stand a chance. There is now a wide selection of gliders designed specifically for F5J on the market.

As for the standings, the top contenders lead the pack, with a newcomer, Marco Cantoni, climbing to second place behind Thomas Wackerlin but ahead of Koni Oetiker. I found a club that was enthusiastic and highly motivated to offer services in true “Romandy” style: delicious, well-prepared food and bottles of wine as souvenirs for each participant… and members deeply committed to flawless timing. It’s great publicity for this discipline, which is just waiting to grow. Congratulations on this flawless performance! ■

Text: Thierry Ruef
Photos: Fritz Infanger