CIMA Annual Meeting / A Selection of the New World Record Claims received during the last 10 days for Aeromodelling, Gliding and Aeroplanes.

CIMA (Microlight Commission) Annual Meeting
CIMA Delegates met on 14 and 15 November 2003 for their Annual Meeting at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne (SUI). The organization of the 2004 European Open Microlight Championship has been awarded to Portugal (Castelo Branco / 31 July - 8 August 2004 - Dates to be confirmed) and the 2005 World Microlight Championship to France (Levroux / 12 to 20 August 2005 - Dates to be confirmed). Diamond Colibris have been awarded to Hungarian pilots Csongor LATKY and Andor KANTAS for their humanitarian flight from Budapest to Australia. CIMA President Tormod VEIBY (NOR) has been reelected, together with Carlos TRIGO (Portugal / 1st Vice-President), Tomas BACKMANN (SWE / 2nd Vice-President) and Tom GUNNARSON (Secretary).

FAI has received the following record claims :

Class F (Model Aircraft) / Claim number : 7982
Sub-class : F5-S (Aeroplane, electric motor with rechargeable sources of current)
Category : F5 - Radio Controlled Flight
Type of record : N°173 - Gain in altitude
Course/location : Boralma (Australia)
Performance : 2'573 m
Pilot : Raymond COOPER (Australia)
Date: 09.11.2003
Current record : 2'200 m (19.11.2000 - Wolfgang SCHAEPER, Germany)

Class D (Gliders) / Claim number : 7983
Sub-class : DO - Open Class Gliders, General Category
Type of record : Speed over a triangular course of 100 km
Course/location : Fremont County Airport, Canon City, CO (USA)
Performance : 243.41 km/h
Pilot : Tom K. SERKOWSKI (USA)
Glider : Schleicher ASH 26E
Date: 09.11.2003
Current record : 234.95 km/h (07.05.2000 - James M. PAYNE, USA)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claims number : 7989 - 7992
Sub-class : C-1e (Landplanes - Take-off weight 3 000 to 6 000 kg)
Group 2 : turboprop
Pilot : J. Jeffrey BRAUSCH (USA)
Date : 08.11.2003
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
# 7989 - Course/location : Dayton, OH (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) / 564 km/h / New
# 7990 - Course/location : Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) - Dayton, OH (USA) / 314 km/h / New
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course, round trip
# 7991 - Course/location : Dayton, OH (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) and return / 403 km/h / New

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number : 7992
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 : Dayton, OH (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA)
Performance : 380 km/h
Pilot : Craig S. KERN (USA)
Date: 07.11.2003
Current record : new

Class D (Gliders) / Claims number : 8076 - 8078
Sub-class : DO - Open Class Gliders / General Category
Course/location : Esquel (Argentina)
Pilots : Terrence Raymond DELORE (New Zealand) and Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Glider : Schleicher ASH 25 Mi
Date: 14.11.2003
# 8076 - Out-and-return distance / 1804.7 km / Current record : 1708.4 km (20.12.02 - K. OHLMANN, GER)
# 8077 - Free out-and-return distance / 2002.44 km / Current record : 1715.5 km (20.12.02 - K. OHLMANN, GER)
# 8078 - Speed over an out-and-return course of 1500 km / 156.61 km/h / Current record : 136.82 km/h (20.12.02 - K. OHLMANN, GER)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claims number : 8080 - 8082
Group 1 : piston engine
Course/location : Angleton, TX (USA)
Pilot : Bruce BOHANNON (USA)
Aircraft : Bohannon B-1
Date: 15.11.2003
# 8080 - C-1 (Landplanes) / Altitude in horizontal flight without payload / 14'205 m / Current record : 12'376 m (22.10.02 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)
# 8081 - C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg) / Altitude in horizontal flight without payload / 14'205 m / Current record : 12'376 m (22.10.02 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)
# 8082 - C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg) / Altitude without payload / 14'295 m / Current record : 12'683 m (22.10.02 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claims number : 8083 - 8089
Sub-class : C-1p (Landplanes - Take-off weight 100 000 to 150 000 kg)
Group 2 : turboprop
Course/location : Kyiv (Ukraine)
Pilot : Vitalii HOROVIENKO (Ukraine)
Crew : Igor KURZANTSEV
Aircraft : Antonov An-70
Date: 10.11.2003
# 8083 - Greatest mass carried to height of 2000 m / 55'063 kg / Current record : new
# 8084 - Altitude with 35 000 kg payload / 7'355 m / Current record : new
# 8086 - Altitude with 40 000 kg payload / 7'355 m / Current record : new
# 8087 - Altitude with 45 000 kg payload / 7'355 m / Current record : new
# 8088 - Altitude with 50 000 kg payload / 7'355 m / Current record : new
# 8089 - Altitude with 55 000 kg payload / 7'355 m / Current record : 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 record ratified (if appropriate).

For further information on FAI World Records, please consult : http://www.fai.org/records/

Lausanne, 21 November 2003

Since the end of October, FAI received several New World Record Claims for Hang Gliders, Aeroplanes, Autogyros, Helicopters and Parachuting; Summary.

FAI has received the following record claims :

Class O (Hang Gliders) / Claim number : 7943
Sub-class : O-3 (Paragliders, Multiplace Category)
Type of record : Straight distance
Course/location : Patu (Brazil) - Varzea da Cacimba (Brazil)
Performance : 299.5 km
Pilot : André Luiz Grosso FLEURY (Brazil)
Date: 17.10.2003
Current record : 220.4 km (30.11.2000 - Richard WESTGATE, UK)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number : 7944
Sub-class : C-1 (Landplanes) / Group 3 : turbo-jet
Type of record : Speed over a commercial Air Route in excess of 6 500 km
Course/location : London (UK) - Miami, FL (USA)
Performance : 861 km/h
Pilot : Angela MASSON (USA)
Aircraft : Boeing 777 - American Airlines
Date: 26.10.2003
Current record : 852.48 km/h (04.07.1988 - Keith J. MACKEY, USA)

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 7945
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 : San Diego, CA (USA) - Kitty Hawk, NC (USA)
Performance : 32 km/h
Autogyro : Little Wing LW-5
Pilot : Andrew C. KEECH (USA)
Date: 22.10.2003
Current record : new

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 7946
Sub-class & Group : same as # 7946
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course, round trip
Course/location : Kitty Hawk, NC (USA) - San Diego, CA (USA) and return
Performance : 16 km/h
Autogyro, Pilot & Date : same as # 7946
Current record : new

Class E (Rotorcraft) / Claim number : 7947
Sub-class : E-1c (Helicopters - Take off weight 1000 to 1750 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine / General Category
Type of record : Speed over a recognised course
Course/location : Sydney, NSW (Australia) - Perth, WA (Australia)
Performance : 113.65 km/h
Pilot : Eric Howard WHEATLEY (Australia)
Date: 24.10.2003
Current record : 89.04 km/h (23.04.1994 - Eric Howard WHEATLEY, Australia)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claims number : 7948 to 7958
11 claims for Sub-class C-1q (Landplanes - Take-off weight 150'000 - 200'000 kg) / Group 3 : turbo-jet
Aircraft : Rockwell B-1B
Pilot : William LIBBY (USA)
Date : 25.10.2003
#7948 : Speed over a straight 15/25 km course / 1092 km/h / New
#7949 : Speed over a closed circuit of 100 km without payload / 1'036 km/h / New
#7950 : Speed over a closed circuit of 500 km without payload / 1'116 km/h / New
#7951 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km without payload / 1'103km/h / New
#7952 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 1000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / New
#7953 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 2000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / New
#7954 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 5000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / Current : 1'089.36 km/h
#7955 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 10000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / Current : 1'089.36 km/h
#7956 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 15000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / Current : 1'089.36 km/h
#7957 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 20000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / Current : 1'089.36 km/h
#7958 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 25000 kg payload / 1'103 km/h / Current : 1'089.36 km/h

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claims number : 7959 to 7970
11 claims for Sub-class C-1p (Landplanes - Take-off weight 100'000 - 150'000 kg) / Group 3 : turbo-jet
Aircraft : Rockwell B-1B
Pilot : Troy ASHER (USA)
Date : 26.10.2003
#7959 : Speed over a straight 15/25 km course / 1286 km/h / New
#7960 : Speed over a closed circuit of 100 km without payload / 1'060 km/h / New
#7961 : Speed over a closed circuit of 500 km without payload / 1'033 km/h / New
#7962 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km without payload / 1'013km/h / New
#7963 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 1000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7964 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 2000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7966 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 5000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7967 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 10000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7968 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 15000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7969 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 20000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New
#7970 : Speed over a closed circuit of 1000 km with 25000 kg payload / 1'013 km/h / New

Class F (Model Aircraft) / Claim number : 7965
Sub-class : F1N (Indoor Glider) / F1 - Free flight Category
Type of record : N°118-b - Duration (ceiling 8m - 15m)
Course/location : Tokyo (Japan)
Performance : 1 min 4 sec
Aeromodellers : Akihiro DANJO (Japan) and Mitsuru ISHI (Japan)
Date: 28.10.2003
Current record : 54.8 sec (06.03.2000 - Leonard George SURTEES, Australia)

Class G (Parachuting) / Claim number : 7971
Sub-class G-2 (Group jumps) - Performance / Team records - General Category
Type of record : G-2-E - Freeflying, Longest Sequence
Course/location : 2003 US National Skydiving Championship, Lake Wales, FL (USA)
Performance : 13 points
Parachutists : US Team (USA) - Trenton ALKEK, Jed LLOYD, Stephen BOYD
Date: 22.10.2003
Current record : 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 record ratified (if appropriate).

For further information on FAI World Records, please consult : http://www.fai.org/records/

Lausanne, 7 November 2003

A Model Plane Crossed the Atlantic Ocean : World Record Ratified. New World Record Claims for Paragliding and Aeroplanes. Coming soon : 19th FAI World Grand Prix.

A Model Plane Crossed the Atlantic Ocean : World Record Ratified

Class F (Model Aircraft) / Claim number : 7882
Sub-class : F3A (Aeroplane, piston motor) / F3 : Radio controlled flight Category
Type of record : N°142 - Distance in a straight line
Course/location : Cape Spear, NF (Canada) - Mannin Beach (Ireland)
Performance : 3030 km
Aeromodellers : Maynard L. HILL (USA), Barrett J. FOSTER, David G. BROWN
Date : 11.08.2003
Previous record : 832.43 km (14.06.1998 - Ronald C. CLEM, USA)

Class F (Model Aircraft) / Claim number : 7883
Sub-class : F3A (Aeroplane, piston motor) / F3 : Radio controlled flight Category
Type of record : N°141 - Duration
Course/location : Cape Spear, NF (Canada) - Mannin Beach (Ireland)
Performance : 38h 52 min 19 sec
Aeromodellers : Maynard L. HILL (USA), Barrett J. FOSTER, David G. BROWN
Date : 11.08.2003
Previous record : 33h 39mn 15s (01.10.1992 - Maynard L. HILL, USA)

For further information on these new World Records, please consult :
FAI - News 16/03 of 15 August 2003 / Photos /
FAI World Records - Aeromodelling / Other FAI World Records established by Maynard L. Hill

The FAI has received the following Class C (Aeroplanes) and Class O (Hang Gliders) record claims :

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim number 7934 and 7935 :
Sub-classes : C-1 (Landplanes) and C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of records : Time to climb to a height of 9000 m
Course/location : Angleton, TX (USA)
Performance : 15 min 33 sec
Pilot : Bruce BOHANNON (USA)
Aircraft : Homebuilt Bohannon B-1
Date : 18.10.2003
Current records : 16 min 03 sec (22.10.2002 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers : 7936 and 7937
Sub-classes and Group : same as above
Type of records : Time to climb to a height of 12000 m
Performance : 25 min 14 sec
Current records : 31 min 03 sec (22.10.2002 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)
Course/location, Pilot, Aircraft, Date : same as above

Class C (Aeroplanes) / Claim numbers : 7938 and 7939
Sub-classes and Group : same as above
Type of records : Altitude in horizontal flight without payload
Performance : 12'860 m
Current records : 12'376 m (22.10.2002 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)
Course/location, Pilot, Aircraft, Date : same as above

Class C (Aeroplanes / Claim number : 7940
Sub-class : C-1b (Landplanes - Take-off weight 500 to 1000 kg)
Group 1 : piston engine
Type of record : Altitude without payload
Performance : 13'350 m
Current record : 12 683 m (22.10.2002 - Bruce BOHANNON, USA)
Course/location, Pilot, Aircraft, Date : same as above

Class O (Hang Gliders) / Claim number : 7941
Sub-class : O-3 (Paragliders), Multiplace Category
Type of record : Straight distance to a declared goal
Course/location : Location to be confirmed
Performance : 275 km
Pilot : André FLEURY (Brazil) / Passenger : Claudia Otilia GUIMARAES RIBEIRO
Paraglider : Paraglider type not indicated
Date: 08.10.2003
Current record : 215 km (30.11.2000 - Richard WESTGATE, UK)

Class O (Hang Gliders) / Claim number : 7942
Sub-class : O-3 (Paragliders), Multiplace Category
Type of record : Straight distance
Course/location : Location to be confirmed
Performance : 284 km
Pilot : André FLEURY (Brazil) / Passenger : Claudia Otilia GUIMARAES RIBEIRO
Paraglider : Paraglider type not indicated
Date: 08.10.2003
Current record : 220.4 km (30.11.2000 - Richard WESTGATE, UK)

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).

Coming soon : 19th FAI World Grand Prix
As reported in our Press Release 21/03 of 1 October 2003, the 19th FAI World Grand Prix will be held from 31 October to 2 November 2003 at Twin Ring Motegi (Japan).

For further information during the competition, please consult :
http://www.fai.org or
Haute-Voltige

Lausanne, 27 October 2003

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

After a thorough evaluation of the four valid bids FAI received in April, the WAG Coordinating Committee has invited Italy, Malaysia and Poland to proceed to the second phase of the bidding process leading to the award of the 3rd FAI World Air Games 2005 in November 2003.

Four highly motivated bidders
During the first phase of the Bid Process to host the 3rd FAI World Air Games (WAG), which ended on 15 April 2003, FAI received four highly motivated letters of intention to bid for the organization of the 3rd WAG in 2005. After thoroughly evaluating the four files, the WAG Coordinating Committee (WAGCC) decided in principle to invite all four Bidders to enter the second phase. However, because of the close proximity of the next Commonwealth Games, due to be held in Melbourne in 2006, and the rival claims that these Games will make on available sources of funding, Aerospace of Australia Ltd (in association with the NAC of Australia) wisely decided to postpone its bid (which was centred on Wangaratta in the State of Victoria), to a later date. There follows a short description of the three remaining Bids for 2005:

Italy
Bidding Committee : Aero-Club d'Italia
Region proposed : Lazio (East of Rome)
Main venue proposed : Rieti
Mountainous venues : Poggio and Monte Cucco
Secondary airfields : Terni, Perugia, Aquila
Period proposed : End of August 2005

Malaysia
Bidding Committee : Malaysian Sports Aviation Federation
Region proposed : Langkawi Island
Main venue proposed : Langkawi Island
Mountainous venues : Langkawi Island
Secondary airfields : Alor Setar, Kedah, Batu Pahat
Period proposed : July to September 2005

Poland
Bidding Committee : Aero-Club of Poland
Region proposed : Euro-Region Beskidy (South-West of Krakow)
Main venue proposed : Bielsko-Biala
Mountainous venues : Szczyrk, Zar
Secondary airfields : Gliwice, Katowice, Nowy Targ
Period proposed : End of July or beginning of August 2005

Phase 2 of Bid Process
During the second phase of the Bid Process, which opened on 14 May 2003, the three remaining Bidders have been invited to confirm their interest in hosting the 3rd FAI World Air Games in 2005, and to provide FAI with detailed information regarding their proposed venues and infrastructure, initial program of events, budgets and marketing strategy. The results of this second phase will be known by mid-July 2003.

Lausanne, 20 May 2003

version française

This is the final Press Release this year from the FAI, the World Air Sports Federation. First of all, we thank you very much for the attention you have given to the information we released throughout the year. To round the year off in style, we have news of an exciting new achievement in skydiving – see details of the latest World Record claim FAI has just received. As the holiday season starts in a few days, we finally remind you about the creative opportunity that FAI offers each year to young people : the FAI Young Artists Contest. We look forward to keeping you informed about Air Sports and FAI activities in 2003, and send you our best Season’s Greetings.

With best regards,

Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
Jean-Marc BADAN
Promotional Manager

World Record Claim in Class G (Parachuting)
Type of record : Largest freefall formation (G-2-C)
Location : Eloy, Arizona (USA) / 13 December 2002
Performance : An international team of 300 skydivers built, and held for over 7 seconds, a linked formation in freefall, beating the current record of 282 skydivers, set on 16 December 1999 in Thailand, also by an international team.
Information : About the record / About the organizers / About FAI World Records in Parachuting.

The details shown above are provisional. When all the evidence required has been received and checked, the exact performance will be established and the record ratified, if appropriate. The FAI congratulates all members of the international team on their outstanding performance.

2003 Young Artists Contest
General information and recent winners / Rules for the 2003 Young Artists Contest.

Good luck to all participants!

Winter Holidays
We inform you that the FAI Office will be closed from 25 December 2002 to 1 January 2003 inclusive.

Lausanne, 18 December 2002

On 3 July 2002, Steve Fossett completed the first circumnavigation of the earth in a balloon in the Southern Hemisphere. After completion of a detailed analysis of the evidence for the flight, FAI confirms that the flight was conducted in full compliance with all the applicable rules of the FAI Sporting Code. Following five World Records have been ratified :

Absolute World Record / Claim # 7402
Type of record : Shortest time around the World
Location : Northam (AUS) / 03.07.02
Performance : 320 h 33 min
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Balloon : Cameron/Cole R-550
Previous record : 370 h 24 min / 20.03.99 – Bertrand PICCARD (SUI) and Brian JONES (GBR)

World Record in Category AM-14 (Mixed balloons 16’000 to 22’000 m3) / Claim # 7401
Type of record : Shortest time around the World
Location : Northam (AUS) / 03.07.02
Performance : 320 h 33 min
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Balloon : Cameron/Cole R-550
Previous record : new

World Record in Category AM-15 (Mixed balloons 22’000 m3 and above) / Claim # 7520
Type of record : Shortest time around the World
Location : Northam (AUS) / 03.07.02
Performance : 320 h 33 min
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Balloon : Cameron/Cole R-550
Previous record : 370 h 24 min / 20.03.99 – Bertrand PICCARD (SUI) and Brian JONES (GBR)

World Record in Category AM-14 (Mixed balloons 16’000 to 22’000 m3) / Claim # 7407
Type of record : Distance
Performance : 33’195.1 km
Location : Northam (AUS) / 03.07.02
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Balloon : Cameron/Cole R-550
Previous record : 22’910 km / 07.08.98 – Steve FOSSETT (USA)

World Record in Category AM-14 (Mixed balloons 16’000 to 22’000 m3) / Claim # 7408
Type of record : Duration
Location : Northam (AUS) / 03.07.02
Performance : 355 h 50 min
Pilot : Steve FOSSETT (USA)
Balloon : Cameron/Cole R-550
Previous record : 300 h 57 min / 17.08.01 – Steve FOSSETT (USA)

The FAI congratulates Steve Fossett on his outstanding performance.

For further information :
Our Press Release of 2 July 2002
Steve Fossett's list of World Records
FAI Sporting Code, section Ballooning

Lausanne, 5 December 2002

While cold winds make Northern Hemisphere shiver, the high season for air sports has started in the Southern Hemisphere. FAI has received the three following record claims :

World Record Attempt in Class D (Gliders) / Claim # 7554
Type of record : Speed over a triangular course of 500 km / Sub-class DO – Open Class Gliders
Location : Omarama (NZL) / 15.11.02
Performance : 187.12 km/h
Crew : Steve FOSSETT (USA) and Terrence Raymond DELORE (NZL)
Glider : ASH 25
Current record : 171.10 km/h / 31.12.90 – Hans Werner GROSSE (GER)
Information : New Zealand is experiencing incredible wave conditions this season, probably the best in a decade.
In July 2002, Steve FOSSETT completed the first circumnavigation of the earth in a balloon in the Southern Hemisphere. He is currently working on the Perlan Project, aiming to soar to 100’000 feet using stratospheric mountain waves and a special pressurized high altitude sailplane.

World Record Attempt in Class D (Gliders) / Claim # 7555
Type of record : Free distance using up to 3 turn points / Sub-class DO – Open Class Gliders
Course : Chapelco – Esquel – Domuyo – Tecka - Chapelco (ARG) / 12.11.02
Performance : 2’624 km
Pilot : Klaus OHLMANN (GER)
Glider : Nimbus 4 DM
Current record : 2’463.7 km / 26.11.00 – Klaus OHLMANN (GER)
Information : Klaus OHLMANN is currently holding 7 ratified World Records in Gliding.

World Record Attempt in Class D (Gliders) / Claim # 7556
Type of record : Free out and return / Sub-class DO – Open Class Gliders
Course : Chapelco – Lago Belgrano East - Chapelco (ARG) / 16.11.02
Performance : 1'709.0 km
Pilot : Klaus OHLMANN (GER)
Glider : Nimbus 4 DM
Current record : 1'550.2 km/ 21.11.00 – Klaus OHLMANN (GER) - Stemme VT10
Information : see above.

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.

The FAI congratulates all pilots on their outstanding performances.

Lausanne, 21 November 2002

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Adopting a proposal from the Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK), the 95th FAI General Conference 2002 held in October approved the creation of a new FAI Medal, the “Sabiha Gökçen Medal”, which will be awarded to women performing the most outstanding achievements in any air sport.

Who was Sabiha Gökçen ?
Sabiha was born in Bursa in 1913 and lost her parents during World War I. While visiting Bursa in 1922, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the President of Turkey, adopted the orphan girl and gave her the surname of “Gökçen”, which means “belonging to the sky”. Starting her glider training at the age of 22, Sabiha got her military pilot’s license in 1937, thus becoming the world’s first female military pilot. She trained for combat, flew Breguet 7 and Curtiss Hawk II aircraft and, in June 1938, she accomplished a six-day solo flight covering four Balkan Countries in a Vultee–V bomber. Mrs Gökçen retired from the aviation training school in 1954 but continued flying until 1975. During her career, she performed a total of 10’000 flight hours on about 15 different types of aircraft and became an inspiration to women pilots. Mrs Sabiha Gökçen died on 22 March 2001.

A FAI Medal Reserved for Women
By approving the creation of a new FAI General Award, the 95th FAI General Conference held in October in Dubrovnik not only recognised a life dedicated to aviation, but also gave FAI its first medal reserved for women performing the most outstanding achievements in any air sport, the Sabiha Gökçen Medal.

FAI Medals and Diplomas
The purpose of FAI Medals and Diplomas is to give public recognition to those who have made outstanding contributions to aeronautics and astronautics, especially in the field of sporting aviation. Including the new Sabiha Gökçen Medal, ten general FAI Medals and Diplomas may be awarded at the discretion of the FAI Vice Presidents. The oldest and most prestigious medals are :

The FAI Gold Air Medal : established in 1924, this medal is reserved for those who have contributed greatly to the development of aeronautics. Among other celebrities, Capt Charles “Chuck” Yeager (USA/1947), Sir Geoffrey de Havilland (GBR/1961) and Mrs Sabiha Gökçen (TUR/1990) received the FAI Gold Air Medal.

The De La Vaulx Medal : created in 1933, this Medal is awarded to all holders of recognised absolute World Records. J. Steven Fossett (USA/1995-1997-1998) is the fifth aviator to enter the exclusive group of people who received three De La Vaulx Medals.

The Louis Bleriot Medal : established in 1936, this Medal is awarded to holders of the highest records for speed, altitude and distance in a straight line by light aircraft. In 2000, the Medal was awarded to Hans Georg Schmid (SUI) for the Around the World flight he completed with his Long-Ez.

Apart from these General Awards, 28 other FAI Medals and Diplomas for Individual Disciplines are at the disposal of Air Sport or Technical Commissions to be awarded in recognition of particular sporting performances or achievements.

For further information, please refer to following links :
- FAI Awards
- Sabiha Gökçen
- Chuck Yeager
- Geoffrey de Havilland
- Louis Blériot or biography in French
- Hans Georg Schmid

Lausanne, 7 November 2002

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On 1 November 1962, Eugene ANDREEV jumped from an altitude of 25’458 m over the Soviet city of Volsk. Opening his parachute at 958 m, he covered a record distance of 24’500 m in free-fall. Forty years later, this World Record still remains unbroken.

Eugene ANDREEV was born on 4 September 1926. A Master of Sports in the former USSR, and holder of FAI Sporting Licence #3812, he boarded the Volga balloon on that first day of November 1962 wearing a T-1-3 parachute on his back. Barograph #506 was attached to Andreev’s harness to register his performance (see pictures below). The balloon took off from the city of Volsk (N 52°02’ E 047°20’) at 07.44 (Moscow time) and climbed to an altitude of 25’458 m. After leaving the nacelle, Eugene Andreev covered a distance of 24’500 m in freefall, before opening his parachute at 958 m. Andreev landed safely near the city of Saratov (N 51°48’ E 048° 12’) at 10.21. (FAI Record file #1623)

Barograph #506 and its trace

Will the Record be Broken in 2003 ?
Forty years later, as the “G-1-A : Altitude jumps (freefall distance)” World Record still remains unbroken, at least two teams are trying to break this 40-year-old record. Information available at :
Project of Jean-Michel Fournier
Stratoquest Project of Cheryl Stearns.

Lausanne, 1 November 2002

Following our Press Release of 26 July 2002, FAI today publishes the results of international competitions in the sports of Gliding and Precision Flying. We also draw your attention to a new World Record in Parachuting and to the remarkable 20-year sporting career of Tomas Suchanek (CZE), the new European Standard Class Gliding Champion.

15th WORLD PRECISION FLYING CHAMPIONSHIP
7.- 14.7.02, Lucko (CRO)

Winners
Individuals : Lubos HAJEK (CZE)
Teams : Czech Republic

Information
Competition / FAI – General Aviation Commission (GAC)

11th EUROPEAN GLIDING CHAMPIONSHIP
6.- 28.7.02, Bekescsaba (HUN)

Winners
Standard Class : Tomas SUCHANEK (CZE)
15 m Class : Frédéric HOYEAU (FRA)
18 m Class : Petr KREJCIRIK (CZE)
Open Class : Tassilo BODE (GER)

Information
FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC)

6th EUROPEAN GLIDER AEROBATIC CHAMPIONSHIP
16.- 26.7.02, Pasewalk (GER)

Results not validated, as the competition could not be completed due to bad weather conditions.

Information
Competition / FAI – Aerobatics Commission (CIVA) / FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC)

NEW WORLD RECORD IN PARACHUTING
7.7.02, Pujaut (FRA)

FAI has ratified the following new World Record :
Type of record : G-2-C Formation Skydiving, longest sequence (4-Way) / Claim # 7405
Location : Pujaut (FRA) / Coupe de France de Vol Relatif 2002
Performance : 42 formations
Team : France Maubeuge NPC (FRA) with David MOY, Erwan POULIQUEN, Marin FERRE, Julien LOSANTOS, Laurent PECHBERTY
Previous record : 39 formations (23.9.99 – Arizona Airspeed Team / USA)

Information
FAI - World Records / FAI – Int. Parachuting Commission (IPC) / Féd. Française de Parachutisme

TOMAS SUCHANEK (CZE) – 20 YEARS OF HIGH-LEVEL SPORTING PERFORMANCE

The new European Standard Class Gliding Champion, Tomas SUCHANEK, already has a large number of victories to his credit in two other air sports : Hang Gliding and Microlight Flying.
After starting to compete in Hang Gliding in 1982, he won the “Czechoslovak Nationals” in 1986 and started competing at international level in 1988. World Champion in Hang Gliding in 1991, 1993 and 1995, and European Champion in 1994 and 1996, he also became European and World Champion in Microlight Flying in 1993 and 1994. Tomas Suchanek’s name has been appearing among the winners of international gliding (sailplane) competitions since 1998, when he won the 2nd place at the European Club Class Sailplane Championships.

To crown his sporting career, Tomas Suchanek holds 10 World Records in Hang Gliding : Straight distance / Speed over a triangular course of 25, 50, 100, 150 and 300 km / Speed over an out-and-return course of 100 and 200 km).

Information
About T. Suchanek / FAI – World Records / FAI – Gliding Commission (IGC) / FAI – Hang Gliding & Paragliding Commission (CIVL) / FAI – Microlight Commission (CIMA)

The FAI congratulates all sports(wo)men on their outstanding performances.

Lausanne, 31 July 2002

(Information about next FAI international competitions : FAI – Competitions)

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Steve Fossett has completed the first circumnavigation of the earth in a balloon in the Southern Hemisphere, as per FAI rules, and the first earth circumnavigation in a balloon crewed by only one person. The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale – The World Air Sports Federation - salute a remarkable flight.

Subject to detailed analysis of the evidence for the flight and subject to confirmation that it was conducted in full compliance with all the applicable provisions of the FAI Sporting Code, Mr Fossett looks likely to be able to claim new FAI world records in the following categories :

AM 14 (Rozier Balloons with a volume of between 16000 and 22000 m3) :

Time Around the World : no record yet achieved by AM14 balloon.

Distance : with approximately 31’300 km flown, the current record set by Steve Fossett (22’910 km flown in 1998) should be broken.

Duration : the current record of 12 days 12 hours 57 minutes set by Steve Fossett in 2001 should also have been broken.

Depending on the performance he achieves, it is also possible that he may be in a position to claim the Absolute World Record (for any type or size of free-flying balloon) for Shortest Time Around the World – currently standing at 15 days, 10 hours and 24 minutes, set by Bertrand Piccard and Brian Jones in Breitling Orbiter 3 in 1999. Since his Round the World track is shorter, he is probably unlikely to be in a position to break the Absolute Distance Record of 40 814 km also set by Piccard and Jones in 1999.

When the flight is complete, Official Observers will immediately start their analysis of the flight data. Since Mr Fossett is the holder of a FAI Sporting Licence issued in the USA, the records claimed must first be ratified as US National Records by the National Aeronautic Association in Washington DC, the FAI’s member organisation in the USA. Once this has been done, the evidence will be carefully checked by FAI’s experts and ratification by the FAI as world records will follow soon thereafter.

The Observers will be checking especially the evidence for the exact time and place of take-off and landing, and the precise trajectory followed by Mr Fossett’s balloon. They will also wish to make quite sure that the balloon did not touch the earth’s surface at any intermediate point between the launch and landing.

For further information :
www.fai.org
www.spiritoffreedom.com (discontinued website)

History of World Records set by J. Stephen FOSSETT
Round the World Flight Rules
The Rules Explained
Previous Around the World Ballooning Attempts (1980 -1998)
Longest Balloon Flights

Lausanne, 2 July 2002

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Troy Bradley has broken three World Records, one of which was the oldest of all FAI World Records, on the books since 1922. In his amateur-built gas balloon, Troy Bradley covered a distance of 1’971 km in 35 hours and 18 minutes. The second oldest unbroken FAI World Record still belongs to the LZ 127 “Graf Zeppelin” airship.

Record breaking flight on board a homebuilt gas balloon
On Thursday, January 3th, 2002, the balloonist Troy Bradley (New Mexico / USA) took off from Amarillo (Texas) with his brand-new homebuilt Class AA-3 gas balloon containing 402 m3 (14’200 cubic feet) of helium. 35 hours and 18 minutes later, as he safely landed at Enon Valley (Pennsylvania), Troy BRADLEY had covered a distance of 1’971.81 km (1’225.23 miles), not only beating three World Records (Class AA-3, AA-4 and AA-5), but also breaking the FAI’s oldest aviation World Record. The previous distance record for Class AA-3 gas balloons was set on July 1st, 1922, when Georges Cormier (France) flew 804,17 km (499.69 miles).

FAI classification of aerostats
To allow a fair comparison of performances and as the level of performance differs significantly between different types of aerostats, the FAI recognizes various sub-classes in Class A (free balloons) and Class B (airships). Class A is divided into 5 sub-classes (AA – no airborne heater / AX – hot air balloons / AM - mixed, etc.), each containing 15 categories according to size (AA-1 : 250 m3 and less / AA-3 : 400 to 600 m3 / AA-4 : 600 to 900 m3, and so on up to AA-15 : more than 22’000 m3). Balloons of Sub-class AA are not equipped with an airborne heater and they obtain their buoyancy from a lighter-than-air gas (helium, hydrogen), without pressurisation of the envelope. Sand or water serves as ballast and is dropped overboard in small amounts to let the balloon go higher. When the pilot wants to land, he opens a valve at the top of the envelope to release small amounts of the lifting gas. To fly the maximum distance, the balloonist has to ration his use of both ballast and gas, while searching for the fastest winds at different altitudes. It is a sport of endurance and strategy.

Second oldest unbroken FAI World Record still belongs to the “Graf Zeppelin”
According to the FAI World Record files, the second oldest unbroken world record performance is still held by the famous airship LZ 127 “Graf Zeppelin”. The flight started on October 29th, 1928, at the Lakehurst Naval Air Station (NJ) and ended at Friedrichshafen (Germany) on November 1st. Dr Hugo ECKENER was at the controls of the airship and, together with his 41 crew members, 24 passengers and one stowaway (!), he covered a total distance of 6’384 km.

Lausanne, June 6th, 2002

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At 7.52 AM, May 20th, 1927 a small single-engine aircraft took off from Roosevelt Field, Long Island. 33 ½ hours later, on May 21st, the same aircraft landed at Le Bourget Airport, Paris. At the controls of the Ryan monoplace named Spirit of St Louis, a 25-year-old mail pilot, Captain Charles Lindbergh. On August 31st, 1927 the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) ratified Lindbergh’s performance as the new World Record for non-stop flight. The FAI opens its archive files …

The Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) - the World Air Sports Federation - is the sole organisation authorized to certify aeronautical and astronautical world records worlwide. 75 years after the first non-stop solo Transatlantic flight, the FAI opens its archives to celebrate the event that changed the course of aviation history.

As Raymond Orteig, a New York hotel owner, offered a $25,000 prize to the first aviator to fly an aircraft directly across the Atlantic Ocean between New York and Paris, Charles Lindbergh started to build a special plane. On May 20th, 1927 the heavy loaded Spirit of St Louis took off with 451 gallons of gas, two canteens of water and … 4 sandwiches ! After clearing the obstacles at the end of the runway, Charles Lindbergh continued his flight over Cape Cod and Nova Scotia. As darkness fell and low fog started to form over the sea, Lindbergh headed for the open Atlantic. After several hours fighting against nature, avoiding storm clouds and trying to find a way around the fog, the first indication of his approach to the European coast was a fishing boat. After flying over Ireland and England, he saw the French city of Cherbourg passing below his wings as the sun went down for the second time during the flight. He circled the Eiffel Tower, flew over the airfield and finally landed at Le Bourget at 10.22 PM. Charles Lindbergh had conquered the Atlantic alone, covering 3610 miles in 33 ½ hours and won the Orteig prize.

The certification of this flight required several documents to prove the performance. A sealed barograph, an instrument working with atmospheric pressure, was loaded on the aircraft; its six-hour cylinder recorded the altitudes flown and proved that the flight was uninterrupted. The start of the flight was attested by the US National Aeronautic Association and the Procès-verbal established by the Aéro-Club de France on Lindbergh’s arrival attested that the barograph was found sealed and reported that 322 litres of gas (85 gallons) remained in the sealed tanks. This Procès-verbal was signed by no less than 13 French officials, the US Ambassador Myron Herrick, the Belgian Air Attaché Willy Coppens and, of course Charles Lindbergh himself. Finally, the FAI General Secretary Paul Tissandier informed the National Aeronautic Association on August 31st, 1927, that Lindbergh’s flight was certified as the « Class-C World Record for non-stop flight over a distance of 5809 kilometres ».

The four pages long Procès-verbal
Two pictures of the barograph
An extract from the barograph trace

Lausanne, May 17th, 2002