Despite rainy weather, there were 12 rounds in each class at the 2023 FAI F3DE World Championships for Pylon Racing Model Aircraft in Drachten, Netherlands, where the home team claimed the champion title in F3E, and visitors from the USA claiming gold in F3D. 

FAI Aeromodelling Commission CIAM F3 pylon racing events are flown around a 400 metre triangular course. There are ten laps, with penalties or disqualifications should the aircraft not complete the full course on any of these ten laps. F3D is considered the pinnacle of RC pylon racing. Models are powered by a 6.6cc (.40 ci) glowplug engines and have a maximum span of 1800mm and a minimum weight of 2250 grams. F3E (electric) is the former F5D event that has been bought within the jurisdiction of the F3 pylon race subcommittee and is run alongside F3D at World Championship level. These aircraft have to be fitted with a performance limiting device (1000w/min).

• More images
• Full results

Final Results 

F3D

1. Emil Broberg         SWE
2. Randy Bridge        USA
3. Gino del Ponte      USA

F3D - Team

1. USA
2. Sweden
3. Czech Republic

F3E

1. Jan Sedláček         CZE
2. Christoph Meier     GER
3. Tjarko van Empel   NED

F3E - Team

1. Netherlands
2. Australia
3. Germany

Podium of the F3D category

Images: Peter van Doesburg