In the last few weeks, the FAI has received several New World Record Claims for Aeroplanes and Gyrocopters. The selected World Record Claims listed below show how historical events may inspire new aeronautical achievements.

World Record Claims relating to the Wright Brothers' First Powered Flight

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number 7897 :
Sub-class : C-1d (Landplanes - Take-off weight 1750 to 3000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Cambridge, OH (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA)
Performance : 475 km/h
Pilot : Carl A. LA RUE (USA)
Aircraft : Lancair IV P
Date : 13.09.2003
Current record : new

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number 7903 :
Sub-class : C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) - Salinas, CA (USA)
Performance : 73 km/h
Pilot : D. Wayne WOOLLARD (USA)
Aircraft : Alon A2 Aircoupe
Date : 30.09.2003
Current Record : new

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 7928
Sub-class : E-3a (Autogyros : take-off weight less than 500 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine General Category
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) - San Diego, CA (USA)
Performance : 16 km/h
Pilot : Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Autogyro : Little Wing LW-5
Date : 13.10.2003
Current record : new

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number : 7930
Sub-class : C-1e (Landplanes - Take-off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg)
Group 2 : turboprop
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Kearny, NE (USA) - Dayton, OH (USA)
Performance : 519 km/h
Pilot : J. Jeffrey BRAUSCH (USA)
Aircraft : Piper PA-31T2 Cheyenne IIXL
Date : 18.10.2003
Current record : new

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number : 7931
Sub-class C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Santa Ana, CA (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA)
Performance : 257 km/h
Crew : Fred M. COON (USA) / Mark E. STOLZBERG
Aircraft : Grumman AA-5A Cheetah
Date : 16.10.2003
Current record : new

World Record Claim related to the imminent last flight of Concorde
Since its first flight in 1969, Concorde has already set more than 170 World Records. A few days before its last flight next 24 October, Concorde claimed the following new World Record :

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number 7910 :
Sub-class : C-1 (Landplanes)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of record : Speed over a commercial air route
Course/location : London (UK) - Boston, MA (USA)
Performance : 1'692.47 km/h
Pilot : Mike BANNISTER (UK)
Aircraft : Aérospatiale/BAC Concorde
Date 08.10.2003
Current record : new

World Record Claims related to the 96th FAI General Conference 2003 in Krakow, Poland
As reported in our Press Release 22/03, Mr Steve FOSSETT attended the FAI Awards Ceremony in Krakow to receive the FAI Gold Air Medal and his 4th De La Vaulx Medal. Thanks to the good wind conditions on his flight from North America to Europe, Mr Fossett was able to claim the following four World Records :

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers 7916 and 7917 :
Sub-classes : C-1 (Landplanes) and C-1h (Landplanes - Take-off weight 12 000 to 16 000 kg)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of records : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Goose Bay, NF (Canada) - Berlin (Germany)
Performance : 1'046 km/h
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Aircraft : Cessna 750 Citation X
Date : 08.10.2003
Current records : new

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers 7918 and 7919 :
Sub-classes : C-1 (Landplanes) and C-1h (Landplanes - Take-off weight 12 000 to 16 000 kg)
Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of records : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Goose Bay, NF (Canada) - Krakow (Poland)
Performance : 1'037 km/h
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Aircraft : Cessna 750 Citation X
Date : 08.10.2003
Current records : new

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact figures will be established and the records ratified (if appropriate).

Lausanne, 21 October 2003