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World Air Games Turin 2009 -
The disciplines: ultralights
 History
Microlights, in Italy called Ultralights, are aircraft which, thanks to their particular speed and weight characteristics, have made powered flight accessible to a wide range of enthusiasts.
It might be said that Microlights were born at the end of the 1970s with the invention by NASAs Eng. Rogallo of a three-point plan wing, extremely light and similar to those of the modern hangglider. The pilot was suspended or hung under the wing and controlled the trajectory by displacing his/her weight, from which, the name pendolare (the Italian translate as hanger-on). There were no engines in existence so they could only fling themselves off mountainsides.
An undercarriage plus an engine and a seat for the pilot transformed the Rogallo wing into a powered aircraft.
Later, the concept of a superlight craft also spread to aeroplanes similar to the bigger sister, General Aviation.
We can distinguish between the motorised ultralights with several categories: motorised hanggliders, motorised paragliders, multi-axis, autogiros and helicopters.
The types of aircraft
Motorised hanggliders
These consist of a wing, similar to that used for free flying, to which is attached an undercarriage which supports the engine, the seat, fuel tank and instruments.
It is piloted by varying the position between the wing and the undercarriage, obtained by changing the positionof the bar fixed to the wing. The movement that results has led to them being called Pendolari or hangers on.
They are very affordable and their flying characteristics make them very safe; they are very light and can take-off and land on very short fields.
Motorised paragliders
These are the motorised evolution of the modern paragliders (themselves derived from parachutes) and in recent years, they have developed strongly both in terms of participant numbers and technically. Easy to
transport and fairly economical, they represent that which perhaps comes closest to the flight of birds.
Multi-axis
These are the ultralights that most resemble conventional aircraft. They can be a metal structure covered in Dacron or in wood or metal covered in canvas or a composite material.
Piloting is by controls which modify the shape of the wing, rudder and elevator thus rendering possible a movement in three axes: vertical, longitudinal and transversal. Thus their name. They come in a great variety of shapes, prices and flying characteristics. The engine may be positioned behind the pilot (pushing or driving propeller) or in front (pulling or towing propeller).
Autogiros
These are craft which are fairly similar to helicopters but conceptually very different. They possess an engine with a pushing-type propeller. The rotor is not connected directly to the engine but turns by induced movement. The rotation of the rotor actually forms a circular wing that sustains the craft.
The variation of the angle of incidence of the rotating wing gives the variations in direction that the pilot calls for. They have truly exceptional take-off and landing characteristics but need relatively powerful engines with consequently high fuel consumption compared to fixed-wing aircraft.
Helicopters
They are, to all intents and purposes, similar to their big brothers that we know, with the exception of the weight. They call for entirely different piloting from the craft described above.
The helicopter’s movements come about, in fact, through the variation of the angle that the rotor blades form with the air. Given their complex construction, they are fairly expensive to buy.
THE RULES
The Microlight discipline refers to the FAI regulations which cover different classes, depending on the type of aircraft used and the number of occupants.
In the case of the World Air Games, the competition will involve motorised hanggliders and paragliders and take place on the Torino Aeritalia airfield.
Out of necessity, a new FAI rule has been created which will see the craft engaged in contests around inflatable pylons and on courses in pure slalom style.
THE COMMISSION
The FAIs specialist commission is CIMA (International Microlight Commission):
President Mr. Tomas BACKMAN (Sweden)
President of Honour Mr. David COLE (UK)
President of Honour Mr. Tormod VEIBY (Norway)
Vicepresident Mr. Richard MEREDITH-HARDY (UK)
Vicepresident Mr. Wolfgang LINTL (Germany)
Secretary Mr. Roy BEISSWENGER (USA)
The World Air Games 2009 Microlights Sporting Commission is composed of:
Angelo Moriondo President
Pierluigi Duranti Vicepresident
Flavio Giacosa Air Sport Director (Vicepresident of the FIVU, Federazione Italiana Volo Ultraleggero, Italian Trike Champion, 2006).
THE COMPETITIONS
HANGGLIDERS
Pylon race
Thiscompetition is a completely new format, with a limited number of participants: the event will take place around 8/10 pylons (inflatable and about 12m tall). Two aircraft at a time will challenge each other on the same circuit.
Take-off and landing on the grass runway 28L/10R, on two smooth, unobstructed areas of 100x25 meters, in front of the public stands and standing spectators, with the appropriate separation barriers for safety.
Distance competition
The start of this contest takes place before even arriving in Turin for the World Air Games 2009. The teams can choose when and from where to start, so long as the distance is not less than 2.000 Km (if it is less, they will have complete a course that exceeds this minimum).
The pilots define their own choice of turnpoints, as long as there is at least 500 Km between them.
Every 300 Km, the pilots have to land and take on at least 1 litre of fuel.
They will carry GPRS Trackers, but it will in any case be their responsibility to gather the evidence to show that they have completed the course according to the regulations applying.
The Teams may start their trip at their leisure but must arrive in Turin between 7th and 9th June.
Bonus points will be given for overflying national borders.
The Final scores will be based on the total time between their departure and their arrival in Turin
PARAMOTOR
Speed
This competition will run with the technical Pylon Race.
Take-off and landing on the grass runway 28L/10R, on two smooth, unobstructed areas of 100x25 meters within a radius of 500m, in front of the public stands and standing spectators, with the appropriate separation barriers for safety.
Slalom
Within the airport, 4 pylons (turning points) will beinstalled. The whole contest will be run within the airport perimeter, in constant view of the public, to fully engage the spectators.
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From the technical point of view, it is an aircraft to all effects, and also from the legal and regulatory points of view. (Italian law 106/85) (Decreto Legislativo 151/06).
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