06 Mar 2025

Competition heats up at the 2025 FAI F5J World Championships for Electric Powered Thermal Duration Gliders

The 2025 FAI F5J World Championships for Electric Powered Thermal Duration Gliders is now in its fourth day of competition in Córdoba, Argentina.

In both the senior and junior classes, 11 rounds have been completed, and the latest results can be checked at the link provided. The delay caused by bad weather on Monday has been nearly recovered, thanks to the efforts of the organisers, the patience of the timekeepers, and the cooperation of the teams. The good spirit of the event is certainly worth noting.

The competition schedule is as follows:

3–7 March – Qualification rounds
7–8 March – Final fly-off rounds
8 March – Prize Giving, Closing Ceremony, and Banquet

Two more days remain for the qualification rounds before the final rounds take place at the end of the week. The expected number of qualification rounds is 15.

Weather conditions have varied each day, and competitors are continuously adjusting their models and strategies accordingly. The competition is intense, with minimal differences between the competitors. As seen in the scores, rankings are shifting almost every round, heavily influenced by the weather. Mornings have brought favourable conditions with plenty of thermals, but by midday, strong winds have developed—though always within the limits of the rules.

It is worth mentioning that the Junior class is just as competitive, with barely any noticeable difference in performance between the seniors and juniors.

A technical meeting is scheduled for today after the flights. While informal, it will be an important opportunity for FAI to gather feedback from top competitors and explore possible rule improvements.

For today, Thursday, three senior and three junior rounds are scheduled.