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We are a group of dedicated slope pilots,
primarily on the west coast, who actively fly Man-on-Man and F3F style slope
racing. We are recognized by the international F3F community as the
"official" voice of USA pilots that participate in F3F racing.
What is F3F racing?
 F3F
racing is an exhilarating test of a pilots skill at setting up his aircraft and
being able to fly it very quickly around a 100m course.
Here's a small video (3.5MB
mpeg) to show you what it's
all about. (courtesy of Pierre Rondel and
www.planet-soaring.com
)
The flying task is to fly 1000 meters on a closed speed course of 100 meters
in the shortest possible time between two pylons. Multiple rounds are held
throughout the day and times are calculated according to the
rules.
Winners are those with the least amount of time throughout the day. Pilots can
essentially fly any glider they like, but to be competitive, special planes
designed especially for F3F are now available. Examples of these are the Sting,
Acacia, Pike,
and Miraj among
many others.
What is Man-on-Man Racing?
 MoM
racing is a very fun way to get started in racing. Racing is done in heats of 2
to 4 planes on a closed course between two pylons aligned along the slope about
75 meters apart. Each race begins on the ground, each pilot will have 30 seconds
to launch and climb out. Racing begins when the first plane enters the course
after the 30 second countdown. You race 8 laps. There is no timing of the event,
the goal is to beat the other planes in your heat. Simple, exciting, and very
addictive! There are 4 classes of competition and each offers the same
format, but different planes and speed for the pilot. Go
here for our Slope
Racing 101 online guide.
Who does it and why?
All kinds of pilots enjoy racing. No special training is needed until you get
into unlimited Man on Man racing. All we ask is that you work your way up
through the ranks. F3F racing is very easy since you don't fly against other
models, you are only flying against your nerves! The adrenalin of making a fast
series of turns when it counts is about as core to our values as you can get.
You should really try it!
How much does it cost?
The races themselves vary in price depending on
location. In
Southern California, races are approximately
$5 to enter. However, all pilots must
be members of the AMA.
Once you are an AMA member, you simply need to show up with a plane to race that
fits one of the categories.
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