Sailplane - Competition Classes of Glider

Competition Classes of Glider

Eight competition classes of glider have been defined by the FAI. They are:

• Standard Class (No flaps, 15 m wing-span, water ballast allowed)
• 15 metre Class (Flaps allowed, 15 m wing-span, water ballast allowed)
• 18 metre Class (Flaps allowed, 18 m wing-span, water ballast allowed)
• Open Class (No restrictions except a limit of 850 kg for the maximum all-up weight)
• Two Seater Class (maximum wing-span of 20 m), also known by the German name "Doppelsitzer"
• Club Class (This class allows a wide range of older small gliders with different performance and so the scores have to be adjusted by handicapping. Water ballast is not allowed).
• World Class (The FAI Gliding Commission which is part of the FAI and an associated body called Organisation Scientifique et Technique du Vol à Voile (OSTIV) announced a competition in 1989 for a low-cost glider, which had moderate performance, was easy to assemble and to handle, and was safe for low hours pilots to fly. The winning design was announced in 1993 as the Warsaw Polytechnic PW-5. This allows competitions to be run with only one type of glider.
• Ultralight Class, for gliders with a maximum mass less than 220 kg.