Death of the 13.5m class?

Nobody said gliding competitions using the existing format are being completely replaced, we have too many classes diluting the merit of the champions in each class. The top pilots compete in 2 or 3 categories (raising the cost and reducing opportunities for less wealthy pilots). So replacing a not very popular class with something new and actually different is a good thing.

If some people don't want to call it soaring fine, lets call it assisted-soaring. I think this could be a fantastic platform for technology innovation, you still need a machine a pilot, knowledge, skills and strategy (and a bit of luck). If anything, the skillset necessary to win will be broader than it is now.

Of course some rules need to be in place, perhaps limit the weight of batteries or quantity stored energy in such way that it represents lets say max 10% of the energy necessary to complete the task so it still has a something to do with gliding and not electric pylon racing.

I think this could be a tremendous opportunity to revive gliding as a sport, give a green image, sophisticated high tech sport, attract sponsors and hopefully appeal to newer generations of pilots. (Last contest I attended had 45 competitors and only 4 were under 50yo so we need to fill a gap if we want contests in 10-15 years)

My only concern would be an escalation of cost where the $ would give an edge but that is already the case today anyway and it can be controlled by rules.

I give it 10/10

Jacques