132:
awarding over to the national societies. From the beginning the lesser badges were only recorded by local gliding associations, and their criteria varies, although they are usually integrated into organized training programs. For example, in the United States a Bronze Badge is issued for demonstrated pre-cross country flying skills beyond the C level. In
Britain a pilot progresses from the B to the Bronze level and then receives an additional endorsement for cross-country training.
180:
140:
pilot for the FAI registry as a
Diamond Badge holder. The first pilot with the Diamond Badge was the American, John Robinson, in 1950, who had also held the absolute altitude record. Over 7600 people have achieved this level. The FAI also issues a diploma for a flight of 750 km, and additional ones in increments of 250 km, maintaining lists of the holders of these awards. As of 2019 six people had been awarded a 2000 km diploma
674:
638:
625:
271:
156:
889:
254:
168:
502:
781:
449:
591:
576:
538:
487:
436:
387:
351:
311:
752:
400:
131:
In 1932 the FAI recognized gliding, and formed a new section: the
Commission Internationale de Vol Ă Voile (CIVV). This eventually took over the role of ISTUS. The FAI decided that the Silver C was sufficiently meritorious to be internationally recognised, and issued the first 300 before turning the
203:
have been combined into four groups: Open, 15 metre, World Class and
Ultralight. Although female pilots can claim world records in these general categories, there are also additional records in these categories just for female pilots. Because of the number of records the table below only summarises
135:
The E badge (later called the Gold C and now usually just the Gold Badge) was established in 1935. A pilot who has completed the Gold Badge has flown 300 km, though not necessarily to a pre-defined goal, gained 3,000 m in height and has made a five-hour flight (only one has to be done to
139:
The F Badge (now the
Diamond Badge) started in 1949. The Diamond Badge requires three achievements: flying 300 km to a pre-defined goal, going 500 km in one flight (but not necessarily to a pre-defined goal), and gaining 5,000 m in height. Earning all three "diamonds" qualifies the
823:
In March 1995, IGC created the "GNSS FR Approval
Committee" (GFAC) to test recorders and co-ordinate IGC rules, and Annex B to the Sporting Code for gliders (SC3B) was created for FR rules and procedures. GFAC also issues IGC-approval documents for approved types of FR that are posted on the IGC
845:
A public/private key (PPK) encryption system such as RSA or equivalent is used to achieve the validation process above. IGC-approved
Recorders also have a security device such as a microswitch that operates if the recorder is opened. This enables unauthorised modification to the recorder to be
119:
Later the D badge became known as the Silver C, and more often today just the Silver Badge. Earning the Silver Badge shows that a glider pilot has achieved an altitude gain of at least 1,000 m, made a five-hour duration flight, and has flown cross-country for a straight-line distance of at
802:
Data output is in a standard ASCII-based format, the "IGC flight data format". This is used in files with the suffix "IGC" that is specified in detail in
Appendix A of the document "Technical Specification for IGC-approved GNSS Flight Recorders". Organisations outside IGC also use IGC-approved
104:, determined that pilots would be listed as "A" level if they flew a glider for either 300 meters or 30 seconds, and "B" level if they made two flights of 45 seconds in straight lines plus one of 60 seconds in an "S" pattern. (It should be remembered that these flights were made by
863:
These are allocated by GFAC depending on factors such as the security of the type of FR with respect to the latest IGC FR Specification, the age of the FR design and experience of its characteristics, and the integrity of FR flight data and its resistance to "hacking".
58:
When the IGC was founded in 1932, it was called CIVV (Commission
Internationale de Vol Ă Voile) and has also been called CVSM (Commission de Vol Sans Moteur). It is the FAI commission responsible for the international competitions, records and badges that apply to
108:
launches down hillsides.) In time a "C" level, requiring a five-minute flight, was added. A few years later Fritz Stamer, chief flight instructor of an early gliding school, designed the gull insignia which were used for these awards and later for the badges.
116:, was founded in Frankfurt on 13 June 1930, to record international gliding achievements. The founding nations were Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Hungary, Germany, Italy, and the USA. A series of badges for solo gliding was devised called A, B, C, D etc.
827:
For IGC-approval, the recorder design includes a security code in the downloaded file of flight data. This code and the file data itself can be checked ("validated") at any time later using a validation program that is posted on the IGC GNSS web site.
813:
Pressure altitude figures must be calibrated to the
International pressure/altitude values of the ICAO ISA (International Standard Atmosphere). Re-calibrations to check any errors from the ICAO ISA are carried out at regular intervals.
795:, national and world records. They replace photographic evidence or ground-based observers to record aircraft position. IGC-approved recorders include a pressure altitude sensor and a Global Navigation Satellite System (
916:
The Lilienthal Medal was instituted in 1938 "to reward a particularly remarkable performance in gliding, or eminent services to the sport of gliding over a long period of time". The first recipient was
810:
inside the recorder. Typical fix intervals, set by the pilot before flight, are 5 seconds for "cruising" flight between turn points, and 1 second near turn points or other points of interest.
873:
788:
With the advent of satellite navigation equipment at an affordable price, the International Gliding Commission of FAI developed a technical specification for approved flight recorders.
1327:
44:
89:
is managed by the FAI Aerobatics Commission (CIVA), which stands for "Commission Internationale de Voltige AĂ©rienne" and also deals with powered-aircraft
820:
GNSS altitude data can be compared with pressure altitude data from the recorder and this is a valuable check that both systems are working correctly.
17:
120:
least 50 km: these three attainments are usually, but not invariably, achieved in separate flights. The first recipients of the Silver C were
1249:
1162:
1274:
841:
That the data in the downloaded file that is being validated is identical to when it was originally downloaded from the recorder.
47:(FAI), or "World Air Sports Federation". FAI is the world body for sporting aviation and the certification of world records for
651:
101:
136:
count for both the Silver and Gold). Up to this level the badges are registered only by the national gliding associations.
1322:
817:
GNSS lat/long data records the track over ground and in particular whether a particular turn point (TP) has been reached.
37:
956:
288:
79:
806:
In IGC-approved recorders, GNSS and pressure altitude data is continuously recorded during flight in fixes stored in
204:
some of the Open Category gliding records as at the beginning of 2008. A full list is available on the FAI web site.
200:
762:
75:
have a separate body called the FAI CIVL Commission, which stands for "Commission Internationale de Vol Libre".
1126:
901:
328:
1076:
618:
1230:
100:
In the early 1920s two flying organizations, the Association of the German Model and Gliding Clubs, and the
1101:
1040:
685:
976:
896:
The Commission makes awards for great achievements and meritorious service. For gliding it presents:
584:
495:
247:
807:
792:
961:
946:
692:
86:
60:
16:
179:
1001:
991:
906:
1234:
1006:
877:
125:
1253:
1166:
941:
918:
1278:
155:
966:
888:
82:
are organised every two years or so by the FAI Gliding Commission and the host nation.
1186:
A History of American Soaring, by Ralph S. Barnaby. Soaring Society of America, 1974.
1316:
1150:
986:
981:
971:
936:
746:
667:
569:
531:
480:
429:
380:
344:
304:
264:
1196:
1016:
780:
167:
64:
52:
199:
The wide variety of records have been defined by the FAI Gliding Commission. The
996:
279:
259:
105:
68:
48:
951:
931:
926:
548:
121:
90:
72:
1216:
1011:
507:
283:
459:
408:
321:
791:
IGC-approved flight recorders provide precise evidence of position for
454:
33:
1307:
1130:
1302:
921:
in recognition of his 577.8 km flight. Its recipients include:
1080:
838:
That the recorder has not been altered from its IGC-approved state,
1227:
912:
The Pirat Gehriger Diploma (for services to international gliding)
887:
779:
1250:"IGC Flight Recorder Specification Edition 2 with AL5 2019-10-30"
1105:
796:
835:
That the file has originated from an approved type of recorder,
1044:
15:
846:
detected and protects the integrity of its output data.
43:
It is one of several Air Sport Commissions (ASC) of the
32:) is the international governing body for the sport of
1064:
803:
flight recorders and the IGC flight data file format.
114:(Internationale Studienkommission fĂĽr motorlosen Flug)
874:
Organisation Scientifique et Technique du Vol Ă Voile
1077:"FAI Hang Gliding and Paragliding Commission – CIVL"
36:. It is governed by meetings of delegates from
560:Speed over a triangular course of 500 km
522:Speed over a triangular course of 300 km
471:Speed over a triangular course of 100 km
420:Distance over a triangular course (see below)
831:This validation program checks three things:
8:
1065:Fédération Aéronautique Internationale - FAI
67:. The term "sailplanes" is sometimes used.
880:and pilots to share experience and opinion
1244:
1242:
1163:"Gliding Certificates/Badges & Awards"
876:(OSTIV) which facilitates contact between
1328:Sports organizations established in 1932
1275:"List of recipients of Lilienthal Medal"
849:There are three levels of IGC-approval:
704:
335:Free distance using up to 3 turn points
211:
1029:
151:
45:Fédération Aéronautique Internationale
1035:
1033:
7:
853:All flights including world records
371:Distance using up to 3 turn points
1102:"FAI Aerobatics Commission – CIVA"
14:
909:Gliding Medal (for female pilots)
1308:International Gliding Commission
750:
672:
636:
623:
589:
574:
536:
500:
485:
447:
434:
398:
385:
349:
309:
269:
252:
178:
166:
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26:International Gliding Commission
1252:. 3 August 2017. Archived from
1197:"National Soaring Museum(USA)"
1151:SSA FAI Badge Record Home Page
1041:"FAI Gliding Commission – IGC"
652:Windward Performance Perlan II
1:
1127:"Specification of the badges"
295:Free out-and-return-distance
146:FAI Gliding Commission Badges
38:national gliding associations
859:Badge Flights up to Diamonds
856:All Badge and Diploma fights
784:LXNav Nano 3 flight recorder
1228:FAI List of gliding records
80:World Gliding Championships
1344:
604:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
555:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
517:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
466:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
415:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
366:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
85:Within FAI, the sport of
55:and was founded in 1905.
902:Lilienthal Gliding Medal
329:Schempp-Hirth Nimbus-4DM
102:Rhön Soaring Association
893:
872:An associated body is
785:
21:
891:
783:
776:GNSS flight recorders
686:Lancaster, California
128:on 15 February 1931.
19:
1323:Gliding associations
977:George B. Moffat Jr.
878:glider manufacturers
793:gliding competitions
763:Romanin-les-Alpilles
701:Discontinued records
693:Schweizer SGS 1-23 E
289:Schleicher ASH 25 Mi
808:non-volatile memory
1233:2006-12-05 at the
947:Hans-Werner Grosse
894:
786:
609:Absolute Altitude
208:Open class records
22:
1217:IGC 2000km badges
773:
772:
698:
697:
201:classes of glider
87:glider aerobatics
1335:
1290:
1289:
1287:
1286:
1277:. Archived from
1271:
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1214:
1208:
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1165:. Archived from
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1129:. Archived from
1123:
1117:
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1104:. Archived from
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1088:
1079:. Archived from
1073:
1067:
1062:
1056:
1055:
1053:
1052:
1043:. Archived from
1037:
1002:Richard Schreder
992:Helmut Reichmann
907:Pelagia Majewska
892:Lilienthal medal
769:Arsenal Air 100
756:
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1235:Wayback Machine
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1021:
1007:Karl Striedieck
886:
870:
824:GNSS web site.
778:
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751:
749:
703:
688:
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658:Gain of Height
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585:Kathrin Woetzel
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195:Gliding records
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126:Robert Kronfeld
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1303:Gliding at FAI
1298:
1297:External links
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967:Paul MacCready
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1281:on 2017-09-15
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1256:on 2019-05-08
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1169:on 2019-05-08
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1144:
1133:on 2011-08-15
1132:
1128:
1122:
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1108:on 2016-03-03
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1097:
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1083:on 2006-11-20
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1047:on 2012-04-14
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987:Derek Piggott
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982:Klaus Ohlmann
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972:Edward Makula
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747:Charles Atger
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713:
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684:Fox Airport,
683:
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669:
668:Paul F. Bikle
666:
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632:
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570:Klaus Ohlmann
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532:Klaus Ohlmann
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482:
481:Klaus Ohlmann
479:
476:
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461:
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444:Anssi Soila
443:
431:
430:Klaus Ohlmann
428:
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407:
394:
382:
381:Klaus Ohlmann
379:
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345:Klaus Ohlmann
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305:Klaus Ohlmann
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265:Steve Fossett
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185:Diamond Badge
181:
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66:
65:motor gliders
62:
56:
54:
50:
46:
41:
39:
35:
31:
27:
18:
1283:. Retrieved
1279:the original
1269:
1258:. Retrieved
1254:the original
1223:
1212:
1200:. Retrieved
1191:
1182:
1171:. Retrieved
1167:the original
1157:
1146:
1135:. Retrieved
1131:the original
1121:
1110:. Retrieved
1106:the original
1096:
1085:. Retrieved
1081:the original
1071:
1060:
1049:. Retrieved
1045:the original
1017:Philip Wills
957:Dick Johnson
942:Tadeusz GĂłra
919:Tadeusz GĂłra
915:
895:
871:
862:
848:
844:
830:
826:
822:
819:
816:
812:
805:
801:
799:) receiver.
790:
787:
734:Single seat
563:194.79 km/h
525:225.69 km/h
198:
161:Silver Badge
138:
134:
130:
118:
113:
111:
99:
84:
77:
69:Hang gliders
57:
53:astronautics
42:
29:
25:
23:
20:FAI-IGC Logo
997:Ingo Renner
743:1952-04-02
664:1961-02-25
646:El Calafate
633:Tim Gardner
599:Chos Malal
566:2005-11-23
528:2005-11-21
477:2006-12-18
474:289.4 km/h
426:2011-01-12
423:1,750.6 km
377:2009-12-28
374:2,643.2 km
341:2003-01-21
301:2003-12-03
280:El Calafate
244:2004-12-04
241:2,192.9 km
106:bungee cord
73:paragliders
49:aeronautics
1317:Categories
1285:2012-07-15
1260:2020-04-30
1173:2019-05-08
1137:2008-02-19
1112:2006-11-19
1087:2006-11-19
1051:2006-11-19
1024:References
962:George Lee
952:Wolf Hirth
932:Anne Burns
927:Paul Bikle
648:Argentina
615:2018-09-2
601:Argentina
552:Argentina
549:Chos Malal
514:Argentina
463:Argentina
412:Argentina
363:Argentina
325:Argentina
173:Gold Badge
122:Wolf Hirth
91:aerobatics
1012:Ann Welch
740:56h 15mn
737:Duration
711:Category
661:12,894 m
619:Jim Payne
612:23,202 m
508:Argentina
361:Chapelco
338:3,009 km
298:2,247 km
284:Argentina
215:Category
1231:Archived
596:Germany
581:Germany
543:Germany
492:Germany
460:Chapelco
441:Germany
409:Chapelco
392:Germany
356:Germany
322:Chapelco
316:Germany
766:France
757:France
729:Glider
714:Record
512:Zapala
455:Finland
405:France
233:Glider
218:Record
61:gliders
34:gliding
1202:1 July
884:Awards
755:
726:Place
720:Pilot
708:Class
677:
641:
628:
594:
579:
541:
505:
490:
452:
439:
403:
390:
354:
314:
274:
257:
230:Place
224:Pilot
112:ISTUS
96:Badges
868:OSTIV
723:Crew
717:Date
227:Crew
221:Date
1204:2021
900:The
797:GNSS
679:USA
643:USA
630:USA
276:USA
124:and
78:The
71:and
63:and
51:and
24:The
260:NZL
30:IGC
1319::
1241:^
1032:^
40:.
1288:.
1263:.
1206:.
1176:.
1140:.
1115:.
1090:.
1054:.
28:(
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