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Press SectionThe UK’s best competition pilots will be amongst the 20 top racing pilots competing in the FAI Sailplane Grand Prix qualifier over seven days at Lasham Airfield in Hampshire – September 1 – 7th 2008. The winner will go through to the World Grand Prix next year. The grand prix racing format was devised to make competition gliding immensely more attractive for media and spectator involvement. Gliders race at up to 200mph. and cross a finishing line on the airfield just feet off the ground. It is an adrenalin fuelled sport that’s as beautiful to watch as it is dramatic. Gliders will start over Lasham Airfield, and their progress tracked by GPS/satellite on monitors giving the aircrafts’ location, speed and height. The race will pass overhead mid-course, and the finish will be at ground-level with every foot of altitude exchanged for speed in the dive to finish. Although weather dependant, racing will start on Monday, 1st September. Thursday, 4th September will be our official press day - media wishing to follow the whole competition, or with special coverage requests, will be welcome throughout by arrangement. Saturday, 6th September is our Public Day, and will combine an air show, static aircraft displays, corporate hospitality, catering, vendors and free admission (parking £5 per car) for 5,000 spectators. The public day will also include an attempt to drag a DHL Boeing 757 down our main runway by disabled volunteers in wheelchairs – raising money for the British Disabled Flying Association. It will take at least 50 volunteers with manual chairs tethered together to move the 50,000Kg, £30 million airliner. Photo opportunities are endless, but the finishing line in each day’s race will yield the most spectacular images. It may be possible to put cameras in cockpits, or take photographers along the course in chase planes. This event is designed to promote British gliding, and we will be actively looking for ways of working with the press to help promote one of the UK’s most unsung sports. It offers potential for original copy/images for sports, features, news or aviation journalists in both print and broadcast media. We are happy to provide good speakers for phone or studio interviews and most of the competitors themselves are willing and eager to discuss their part in the Grand Prix. Link to Flightbox Photo Gallery Link to Our Photo Gallery Media links British Disabled Flying Association – information on the charity 757 pull http://www.bdfa.net/ BBC South Trial pull British Gliding Association – UK national gliding organisation. http://www.gliding.co.uk/ Competitors website – bio’s, blogs and pictures http://gp.lasham.org.uk/index.cgi FAI Fédération Aéronautique Internationale – air sports’ governing body http://www.fai.org/gliding/QSGP0809 World Grand Prix 2007 – information on the global competition http://www.gpgliding.com/ Press contact Mike T. Birch. MBA Communications. t.01420 540 255 m.07967 732 570 mbacomms@ukonline.co.uk Click here to go to the press releases |
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