Just a few short years ago I was introduced to thermal soaring having flown only electric park fly models before then. I had no idea what I had let myself in for.
I had heard about thermal soaring but did not have any idea how it worked or how hard it was

My first glider that was capable of thermalling was a Multiplex Cularis. At the time I was into attaching small video cameras to my models in order to get some aerial video footage. The Cularis, being a 2.6m foam glider seemed like a good stable camera platform.

After a few flights I discovered that at times it would just stay up or seemingly float around longer. I was catching thermals without even knowing!

It was at this point that I got invited to fly with some “real” glider boys. I was blown away by some of the sophisticated gliders they had. Most of the proper competition thermalling gliders are made from very high tech composite materials. After witnessing the apparent ease with which these gliders caught updrafts and “stayed” up in the sky, I knew what I had to get involved. I started looking around and bought a second hand unused composite glider. Soon I got involved in competition gliding events.

F5J is very similar to F3J except that the rules have been amended to allow for an electric motor on the plane to launch the glider. F5J has taken the thermal duration world by storm. In Europe, England USA and Australia it has become one of the most popular soaring competition classes.

At this stage we have 5 organized F5J competitions per year including the Nationals. The competitions in 2013 will be hosted at GEMS near Bapsfontein, BERG near Krugersdorp and SGC near the Sammy Marks museum in Pretoria. This does not prevent you from organizing an event at your local club.

If you have ever wondered if soaring would be interesting or challenging, then F5J is for you. I find the soaring pilots to be very helpful and eager to introduce new pilots to the sport. The F5J competitions are always relaxed and friendly.

Please feel free to drop me an email if you would like to find out more or if you would like to visit one of the above mentioned clubs in order to see the planes in action. If you have a motorized glider you're welcome to bring it along.

Check out the MGA website http://mgasa.blogspot.com/ for more information and contact details.