Aviation sporting event
The World Gliding Championships (WGC) is a gliding competition held every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission. The dates are not always exactly two years apart, often because the contests are sometimes held in the summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
History
Gliding had been a demonstration sport at the 1936 Summer Olympics and was due to become an official Olympic sport in the Helsinki Games in 1940. However, since the Second World War, gliding has not featured in the Olympics, and so the World Championships are the highest level in the sport. There are now contests for six classes of glider and so in recent years the Championships have been divided between two locations. The women's, junior, grand prix and aerobatic events are also held separately.
Each of the following entries give the year and location of the contest followed by the winner of each class, nationality and the glider used.
Sailplanes at the 1954 Championships with the three Schweizers of the USA team in the foreground
Year
|
Location
|
Class
|
Winner
|
Glider
|
Notes
|
1937
|
Wasserkuppe
|
Open
|
Heini Dittmar
|
Fafnir São Paulo
|
This was thought not to be a true world championship and was just an 'International Competition', but it has been acknowledged as the first World Gliding Championship.[1]
|
1948
|
Samedan
|
Open
|
Per-Axel Persson
|
DFS Weihe
|
|
1950
|
Örebro
|
Open
|
Billy Nilsson
|
DFS Weihe
|
|
1952
|
Madrid
|
Open
|
Philip Wills
|
Slingsby Sky
|
Hanna Reitsch was bronze, the first woman to compete.
|
Two Seater
|
Luis Juez
Roberto Bermúdez
|
DFS Kranich
|
[2]
|
1954
|
Camphill Farm, Great Hucklow
|
Open
|
Gerard Pierre
|
Breguet 901
|
|
Two Seater
|
Zvonimir Rain
Bozidar Komac
|
Ikarus Kosava
|
|
1956
|
Saint-Yan
|
Open
|
Paul MacCready
|
Breguet 901
|
|
Two Seater
|
Nick Goodhart
Frank Foster
|
Slingsby Eagle
|
|
1958
|
Leszno
|
Open
|
Ernst Haase
|
HKS-3
|
|
Standard
|
Adam Witek
|
SZD-22 Mucha Standard
|
|
1960
|
Cologne/Köln
|
Open
|
Rodolfo Hossinger
|
Slingsby Skylark 3
|
Rolf on his Swedish passport.
|
Standard
|
Heinz Huth
|
Schleicher Ka 6BR
|
|
1963
|
Junín[3]
|
Open
|
Edward Makula
|
SZD-19 Zefir 2
|
|
Standard
|
Heinz Huth
|
Schleicher Ka 6
|
|
1965
|
South Cerney
|
Open
|
Jan Wróblewski
|
SZD-24 Foka 4
|
|
Standard
|
François-Louis Henry
|
Siren Edelweiss
|
|
1968
|
Leszno
|
Open
|
Harro Wodl
|
Schempp-Hirth Cirrus
|
|
Standard
|
Andrew Smith
|
Neukom S-3 Standard-Elfe
|
|
1970
|
Marfa, Texas
|
Open
|
George Moffat
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus
|
|
Standard
|
Helmut Reichmann
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS1-c
|
|
1972
|
Vršac
|
Open
|
Göran Ax
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-2
|
|
Standard
|
Jan Wróblewski
|
SZD-43 Orion
|
|
1974
|
Waikerie
|
Open
|
George Moffat
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-2
|
|
Standard
|
Helmut Reichmann
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS2
|
|
1976
|
Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi
|
Open
|
George Lee
|
Schleicher ASW 17
|
|
Standard
|
Ingo Renner
|
Eiri PIK-20B
|
|
1978
|
Châteauroux
|
Open
|
George Lee
|
Schleicher ASW 17
|
|
15 metre
|
Helmut Reichmann
|
Akaflieg Braunschweig SB-11
|
|
Standard
|
Baer Selen
|
Schleicher ASW 19
|
|
1981
|
Paderborn
|
Open
|
George Lee
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
|
|
15 metre
|
Göran Ax
|
Schleicher ASW 20
|
|
Standard
|
Marc Schroeder
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS4
|
|
1983
|
Hobbs, New Mexico
|
Open
|
Ingo Renner
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
|
|
15 metre
|
Kees Musters
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus A
|
|
Standard
|
Stig Øye
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS4
|
|
1985
|
Rieti
|
Open
|
Ingo Renner
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-3
|
|
15 metre
|
Doug Jacobs
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS6
|
|
Standard
|
Leonardo Brigliadori
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus
|
|
1987
|
Benalla
|
Open
|
Ingo Renner
|
Schleicher ASW 22B
|
Gliding Club of Victoria
|
15 metre
|
Brian Spreckley
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS6
|
Standard
|
Markku Kuittinen
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus a
|
1989
|
Wiener Neustadt
|
Open
|
Jean-Claude Lopitaux
|
Schleicher ASW 22B
|
|
15 metre
|
Bruno Gantenbrink
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus C
|
|
Standard
|
Jacques Aboulin
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus
|
|
1991
|
Uvalde, Texas
|
Open
|
Janusz Centka
|
Schleicher ASW 22B
|
|
15 metre
|
Brad Edwards
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS6-b
|
|
Standard
|
Baer Selen
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus
|
|
1993
|
Borlänge
|
Open
|
Janusz Centka
|
Schleicher ASW 22B
|
|
15 metre
|
Gilbert Gerbaud
Eric Napoleon
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS6-b Rolladen-Schneider LS6-b
|
|
Standard
|
Andrew Davis
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus B
|
|
1995
|
Omarama
|
Open
|
Ray Lynskey
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
|
|
15 metre
|
Eric Napoleon
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
|
|
Standard
|
Markku Kuittinen
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus a
|
|
1997
|
Château-Arnoux-Saint-Auban
|
Open
|
Gérard Lherm
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
|
|
15 metre
|
Werner Meuser
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
|
|
Standard
|
Jean-Marc Caillard
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS8-a
|
|
İnönü, Eskişehir
|
World
|
Frederic Hoyeau
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
1999
|
Bayreuth
|
Open
|
Holger Karow
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4
|
|
15 metre
|
Giorgio Galetto
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
|
|
Standard
|
Jean-Marc Caillard
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
|
|
Leszno
|
World
|
Henry Julien
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
2001
|
Mafikeng
|
Open
|
Oscar Goudriaan
|
Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
|
|
15 metre
|
Werner Meuser
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2ax
|
|
Standard
|
Laurent Aboulin
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus-2a
|
|
Gawler
|
Club
|
Peter Masson
|
Glaser-Dirks DG-101
|
|
Lillo
|
18 metre
|
Stephen Jones
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2
|
|
World
|
Olivier Darroze
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
2002
|
Musbach
|
Club
|
Tomáš Suchánek
|
Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
|
|
2003
|
Leszno
|
Open
|
Holger Karow
|
Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4M
|
|
18 metre
|
Wolfgang Janowitsch
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2cx
|
|
15 metre
|
John Coutts
|
Schleicher ASW 27B
|
|
Standard
|
Andrew Davis
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
|
Nitra
|
World
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
2004
|
Elverum
|
Club
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD-48-3M Jantar 3
|
|
2006
|
Eskilstuna
|
Open
|
Michael Sommer
|
Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
|
|
18 metre
|
Phil Jones
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2cxt
|
|
15 metre
|
Janusz Centka
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
|
Standard
|
Leigh Wells
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS8
|
|
Vinon-sur-Verdon
|
Club
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD-48-3M Jantar 3
|
|
World
|
Christophe Ruch
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
2008
|
Rieti
|
Standard
|
Michael Buchthal
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2
|
|
Club
|
Matthias Sturm
|
Glasflügel 206 Hornet
|
|
World
|
Laurent Couture
|
PZL PW-5
|
|
Lüsse
|
Open
|
Michael Sommer
|
Schleicher ASW 22 BLE
|
|
18 metre
|
Olivier Darroze
|
Schleicher ASG 29-18
|
|
15 metre
|
György Gulyas
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus-2a
|
|
2010
|
Prievidza
|
Standard
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
3 – 18 July 2010[4]
|
Club
|
Arndt Hovestadt
|
Glasflügel Standard Libelle
|
World
|
Laurent Couture
|
PZL PW-5
|
Szeged
|
Open
|
Michael Sommer
|
Binder EB29
|
20 July – 7 August 2010[5]
|
18 metre
|
Zbigniew Nieradka
|
Schleicher ASG 29-18
|
15 metre
|
Stefano Ghiorzo
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
2012
|
Uvalde, Texas
|
Open
|
Laurent Aboulin
|
Schempp-Hirth Quintus M
|
28 July – 19 August[6]
|
18 metre
|
Zbigniew Nieradka
|
Schleicher ASG 29-18
|
15 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
2013
|
Adolfo Gonzales Chaves, Buenos Aires
|
Standard
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
6 – 19 January 2013[7]
|
Club
|
Santiago Berca
|
SZD-48 Jantar Standard 2
|
World
|
Sebastián Riera
|
PZL PW-5
|
Last World class world championship
|
2014
|
Räyskälä Airfield, Loppi
|
Club
|
Eric Bernard
|
Schempp-Hirth Standard Cirrus
|
22 June – 5 July 2014[8]
|
Standard
|
Bert Schmelzer
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
20m Multi-Seat
|
Steve Jones
Howard Jones
|
Schempp-Hirth Arcus T
|
2014
|
Leszno
|
Open
|
Michael Sommer
|
Binder EB29
|
26 July – 10 August 2014[9] Photo-gallery [10]
|
18 metre
|
Karol Staryszak
|
Schleicher ASG 29-18
|
15 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
2015
|
Pociūnai
|
13.5 metre
|
Stefano Ghiorzo
|
Diana 2 Versus
|
2–15 August 2015
|
2016
|
Pociūnai
|
Club
|
Jan Rothhardt
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS1-d
|
31 July – 13 August 2016[11]
|
Standard
|
Louis Bouderlique
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
20m Multi-Seat
|
Laurent Aboulin
Julien Duboc
|
Schempp-Hirth Arcus T
|
2017
|
Benalla
|
Open
|
Russell Cheetham
|
Jonker JS-1C
|
9 – 21 January 2017[12]
|
18 metre
|
Killian Walbrou
|
Jonker JS-1
|
15 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
2017
|
Szatymaz
|
13.5 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
GP 14 VELO
|
3–15 July 2017 [13]
|
2018
|
Ostrów Wielkopolski, Poland
|
Club
|
Rasmus Ørskov
|
Schleicher ASW 20
|
7–21 July 2018 [14]
|
Standard
|
Sjaak Selen
|
Schempp-Hirth Discus 2a
|
15 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
Schleicher ASG 29
|
2018
|
Hosín, Czech Republic
|
Open
|
Michael Sommer
|
Binder EB29
|
27 July – 11 August 2018 [15]
|
18 metre
|
Wolfgang Janowitsch
|
Schempp-Hirth Ventus 3T
|
20 m Multi-seat
|
Christoph Matkowski
Sebastian Kawa
|
Schleicher ASG 32 Mi
|
2019
|
Pavullo nel Frignano, Italy
|
13.5 metre
|
Stefano Ghiorzo
|
Diana VersVS
|
1–14 September 2019[16]
|
2021
|
Montluçon – Guéret
|
15 metre
|
Sebastian Kawa
|
SZD 56-2 Diana 2
|
7 – 21 August 2021
|
Standard
|
Simon Schröder
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS8
|
Club
|
Uwe Wahlig
|
Rolladen-Schneider LS3
|
Uvalde 2012 award ceremony
A list of future events is available here
World Grand Prix Gliding Championships
Gliding Grand Prix, or Sailplane Grand Prix (SGP), is a newer type of gliding competition. It has simpler rules and a more spectacular appearance than conventional soaring competitions.[17]
Women's World Gliding Championships
The Women's World Gliding Championships (WWGC) is a women-only gliding competition. From 1979 to 1999 women's gliding competitions were held as International European Women's Gliding Championships.[18]
Junior World Gliding Championships
The Junior World Gliding Championships (JWGC) is a competition for glider pilots under the age of 26. From 1991 to 1997, international junior gliding competitions were held as European Junior Gliding Championships.
FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships
World Glider Aerobatic Championships take place each year[19] (every two years until 2011) since 1985 under the auspices of the FAI. They are administrated by the FAI Aerobatics Commission "Commission Internationale de Voltige Aerienne" (CIVA).[20] The 2001 championships were part of the World Air Games. Since 1994, European Glider Aerobatic Championships are held in the years between the World Championships. Since 2010, an additional event is organized in a slightly less demanding "Advanced" category – the World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (WAGAC). WAGAC is organized yearly, usually accompanying the WGAC.[21]
- 1st FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Mauterndorf, Austria, 26 August – 3 September 1985[22][23]
- 2nd FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Bielsko-Biała, Poland, 1–15 August 1987[24]
- 3rd FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Hockenheim, Federal Republic of Germany, 15–26 August 1989[25]
- 4th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Zielona Góra, Poland, 18–31 August 1991[26][27]
- 5th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Venlo, the Netherlands, 15–28 August 1993[28][29]
- 6th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Fayence, Var, France, 11–23 September 1995[30][31]
- 7th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Antalya, Turkey, 9–21 September 1997[32]
- 8th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Niederöblarn, Austria, 15–28 August 1999[33][34]
- 9th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships and 2nd World Air Games Glider Aerobatics Championships, Palma del Río, Córdoba, Spain, 19 June – 1 July 2001[35][36]
- 10th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Pér, Hungary, 2–15 August 2003[37][38]
- 11th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Serpuchov, Russia, 20–30 July 2005[39][40]
- 12th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Niederöblarn, Austria, 16–25 August 2007[41][42]
- 13th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships, Hosín, Czech Republic, 10 July 2009 – 19 July 2009[43]
- 1st FAI World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships, Jämijärvi, Finland, 17–24 July 2010.
- individual results:
- Johan Gustafsson (Sweden), glider: Pilatus B-4
- Michael Spitzer (Germany), glider: MDM-1 Fox
- Jochen Reuter (Germany), glider: MDM-1 Fox
- team winners:
Germany: Michael Spitzer (MDM-1 Fox), Jochen Reuter (MDM-1 Fox), Sebastian Dirlam (MDM-1 Fox)
Sweden: Johan Gustafsson (Pilatus B4), Daniel Ahlin (MDM-1 Fox), Pekka Havbrandt (MDM-1 Fox)
Czech Republic: Petr Biskup (MDM-1 Fox), Miloš Ramert (MDM-1 Fox), Jan Rolinek (MDM-1 Fox)
- 14th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited) and 2nd FAI World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced), Toruń, Poland, 26 July 2011 – 7 August 2011[44][45]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- individual results:
- Benoit Merieau (France), glider: Swift S-1
- Luca Bertossio (Italy), glider: Swift S-1
- Aurelien Durgineux (France), glider: Swift S-1
- team winners:
Germany: David Friedrich (Swift S-1), Jochen Reuter (MDM-1 Fox), Michael Spitzer (MDM-1 Fox)
France: Benoit Merieau (Swift S-1), Aurelien Durgineux (Swift S-1), Daniel Devillers (Swift S-1)
Sweden: Daniel Ahlin (MDM-1 Fox), Johan Gustafsson (Pilatus B-4), Pekka Havbrandt (MDM-1 Fox)
- 15th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited) and 3rd FAI World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced), Dubnica, Slovakia, 9 August 2012 – 18 August 2012[46]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- individual results:
Italy: Luca Bertossio, glider: Swift S-1
Italy: Marcello Tedeschi, glider: Swift S-1
Italy: Sasa Marvin, glider: Swift S-1
- team results:
Italy: Luca Bertossio (Swift S-1), Marcello Tedeschi (Swift S-1), Sasa Marvin (Swift S-1)
Germany: Nicolas Soehner (MDM-1 Fox), Eberhard Holl (MDM-1 Fox), Dirk Maslonka (MDM-1 Fox)
Poland: Magdalena Stróżyk (Solo Fox), Katarzyna Żmudzińska (MDM-1 Fox), Sławomir Talowski (Swift S-1)
- 16th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited) and 4th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced), Oripää Airfield, Oripää, Finland, 18–27 July 2013[47]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- individual results:
Sweden: Johan Gustafsson, glider: SZD-59 Acro
Poland: Sławomir Talowski, glider: Swift S-1
Sweden: Daniel Ahlin, glider: Salto
- team results:
Poland: Sławomir Talowski (Swift S-1), Katarzyna Żmudzinska (Swift S-1), Magdalena Stróżyk (Swift S-1)
Czech Republic: Michal Čechmánek (Swift S-1), Ivo Červinka (Swift S-1), Jan Rolinek (Swift S-1)
Italy: Sasha Marvin (Swift S-1), Pietro Filippini (Swift S-1), Lapo Simone Dressino (Swift S-1)
- 17th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 5th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category) Toruń Airfield, Toruń, Poland, July 22 – August 2, 2014.
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- 18th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 6th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category), August 5–15, 2015, Zbraslavice Airport, Czech Republic.[53]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- (NEEDS CORRECTION! 19th WGAC was in Hungary in 2016, results are missing) 19th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 7th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category), July 27 – August 5, 2017, Toruń, Poland.[58]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- 20th FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 8th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category), August 1 – 11, 2018, Zbraslavice Airport, Czech Republic.[63]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- 21st FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 9th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category), July 18–26, 2019, Deva, Romania.[68]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category
- 22nd FAI World Glider Aerobatic Championships (Unlimited category) and 10th World Advanced Glider Aerobatic Championships (Advanced category), July 29–August 6, 2021, Leszno, Poland.[73]
- Unlimited category
- Advanced category