Flying high! Team USA wins gold in the 2017 FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft
Reigning F3A World Champion Team USA triumphed once again in the 2017 FAI F3A World Championship for Aerobatic Model Aircraft, claiming the gold medal and hanging on to the “MAP Trophy” for another two years period.
More than 60 pilots took part in the championship which took place at Villa Gesell Airport in Villa Gesell, Argentina.
The event ran from November 4 (Opening Ceremony) to November 12 (Closing Ceremony).
Completing the team podium line up were Team Japan in silver medal position and Team France in third place.
FAI Jury President Peter Uhlig said: “With its two 1km flight lines, Villa Gesell Airport was a great location to run an F3A World Championship."
“My congratulations go to all the competitors, and particularly Team USA on a well deserved win. It was the only team with four pilots in the final and all members of the team flew brilliantly.”
In the individual general classification, Tetsuo Onda (pictured below), a 29-year-old Japanese pilot, became the new World Champion gold medallist.
His performance allowed him to claim the “King of Belgians Trophy” from previous winner, the French Christophe Paysant-Le Roux, with eight F3A World Champion titles and who got this year the silver medal.
Jason Shulman of the USA took third place, ahead of his teammate Andrew Jesky.
And reigning Junior World Champion, Joseph Szczur also from USA, hung on to his title and the “Floating Trophy” in front of David Oscai of Hungary into second place, and Argentina’s Santos Meneguzzi into third.
All the winners were presented with their medals and trophies at a glittering awards ceremony on the spot and at closing banquet held at the Cumelo Hotel in Carilo City on Saturday November 11.
“The winners were all present to collect their FAI medals and diplomas from FAI and national officials,” Uhlig said.
“I would like to thank the FAA (Federación Argentina de Aeromodelismo) for organising this year’s event.”
