This competition is scheduled for 27 June – 5 July 2025
The Adele and Giorgio Orsi Aero Club is produ to organize the sixth edition of the prestigious “E Glide” competition. Pilots competing in this race are expected to come from all over the world. The beauty of the “E6Glide” competition lies not only in the breathtaking landscapes of our territory, but also in the peculiarity of the challenge: pilots will have a limited amount of energy from the power batteries on board the glider, which they can use at the most opportune time and place to improve the performance of their glider. This limit must be met scrupulously, otherwise a time penalty will be applied that could cost the pilot a relevant position in the ranking.
A nice opportunity for pilots to fly in the pre-alpine area at the end of the summer season and for the public to enjoy this sporting spectacle along with the mild climate of the northern Italian lakes.
The event will include:
2 training days (June 27th to 28th) and
7 competition days (June 29th – July 5th).
As you may know, the EGlide is an innovative competition format for electric aux-powered sailplanes, where a defined energy quota is allowed to be used during the performance. This enables pilots to avoid outlandings or increase their average speed with the help of the electric motor. However, exceeding the daily energy quota results in a time penalty. The Regatta Start procedure and cumulative time scoring are part of the straightforward format that defines the EGlide.
As demonstrated by previous events in Pavullo (2019), Grossrückerswalde (2020), Varese (2021), and Saint-Auban (2022 and 2023), task setting is possible on most days, significantly reducing the uncertainties that often affect the outcome of traditional gliding competitions. For instance, during the Pavullo EGlide, three times as many tasks were flown compared to the 13.5m WGC held during the same period.
The fun factor: It’s now clear that the use of the allowed energy quota introduces new strategic and tactical considerations, which makes the competition even more exciting. Think about it a glider is soaring in rising air, but could they be using some propulsion? Are they climbing so well because of a thermal, or is the motor helping? They might be on final glide do they still have some “free” energy left, or are they relying on an excellent glide path? These are just a few of the tactical questions pilots need to consider throughout the competition.
Organizer: The Aero Club Adele Orsi is internationally renowned for its large membership, welcoming facilities, excellent organizational skills, and its status as home to many of Italy’s top-ranked pilots. Our president, Margherita Acquaderni, is a competitive pilot at the highest levels and flies a Ventus 3-FES.
The scenery: Varese is beautifully located near seven lakes, in the north-western part of Lombardy at the foot of the Alps:
28km cycling loop will take you around Lake Varese for a relaxing and healthy activity, Milan, just a 40-minute drive (or train ride) away, offers a wealth of museums, shopping, restaurants, and activities,
the UNESCO-listed “Sacri Monti” (Sacred Mountains) in Piedmont and Lombardy feature chapels, monuments, and fine art, the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore are a Renaissance gem, the Santa Caterina del Sasso monastery offers stunning views, the Rocca di Angera, home to the largest dolls museum in Europe, is a must-see for its ingenious inventions and incredibly detailed costumes.
Alternatively, you can visit Volandia (http://volandia.it/en/), a museum dedicated to flying machines. Castles, painted villages, and parks-there’s so much more to explore.
Discover more https://vareseguida.com/top-10-attrazioni-della-provincia-di-varese/
Practical info: Malpensa International Airport is located nearby, and numerous hotels and guesthouses will ensure you and your families or friends enjoy a comfortable stay.
We warmly invite you to join us in Varese! Let’s have some fun!
The president, Margherita Acquaderni
The competition Director, Aldo Cernezzi
More information will be posted on these pages of the ACAO website and technical information for participants on the SoaringSpot website.
Pilots wishing to attend the race are allowed to enter their registration through the enrollment form which can be found on the right of this page.
