After almost a 30 year break, Bulgaria is back on the competition scene.

Between 11-th and 15-th of September this year Aeroclub Ludogorie provided the scene for the first Bulgarian National Gliding Championship after a big pause of gliding activity in the country.

After almost a 30 year break form the competition scene, Bulgaria finally gathered young and old pilots in an effort to revive the gliding traditions in competition flying of the country.

Despite the modest number of contestants the competition was held in very good sporting spirits and excelent meteorological conditions.

There were 4 successful competition task and 1 training task. Due to the low participant number the competition was held only in club clss with FAI handicaps. Highest handicap was for Ivelin Kalushkov on Standart Astir II and the lowest for Todor Simeonov on Bergfalke 3.

The tasks were modest and set with a concern of the low level pilots.

All tasks were Elapsed time with 1 startgate and varied in distances from 60 to 140 km. Average speeds achieved during the week also varied between 50 and 112 kph.

The competition area had an excellent coverage of OGN network and provided a great live view of all the tasks via the plane FLARM trackers.

Competition director was the former European women champion – Tatiana Obretenova. Many pilots form the Bulgarian golden age of gliding were amongst the spectators and were helping the competitors with advice and debriefs after every task.

Results and more info can be found on the official Soaring Spot website: https://www.soaringspot.com/en_gb/bulgarian-national-championship-2021-ludogorie-blagoevo-2021/

In the end the competition elected the new Bulgarian National Champions for 2021.

1 – Ivelin Kalushkov

2 – Georgi Georgiev

3 – Nikolai Stoyanov

Congratulations to the winners!