Bruce de Chastel claimed gold in the Aeromodelling F3T division as Australia got its name on the medals table at the 2015 FAI World Air Games, which is being held in Dubai until December 12.
With truant weather once again forcing the cancellation of several planned events on the World Air Games schedule, organisers decided to go ahead with the Aeromodelling F3T division.
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The USA have topped the medals standings with eleven medals, including five golds, three silver and three bronzes each.
France occupied second place with one gold, two silver, while Poland completed the top three with a gold and silver haul. The UAE, with Cornelia Mihai in excellent form, stand in fourth with one gold and three bronze medals, while Lithuania is in fifth position with a gold and bronze each.
However, it was De Chastel hogging all the limelight on the eighth day of competition as he teamed up with his wife Linda to land the gold medal for Australia in the Aeromodelling F3T or Semi-Scale Pylon Racing.
In Pylon Racing, pilots go head-to-head in their radio controlled model aircraft that fly through a course of pylons, similar to what occurs in a full-scale Red Bull Air Race.
Each pilot goes through a knock-out competition with the best two meeting in the final, while the other two semi-finalists battle for the bronze medal.
The Canopy Formation team does fantastic formation in #Dubai sky! #WAGDubai pic.twitter.com/O2hDSrSaaJ
— World Air Games (@WagDubai) December 8, 2015
De Chastel’s win came against a tough competition and an even tougher challenger from the blustery winds that have literally cut down activities at the World Air Games for two consecutive days.
His main aircraft crashed and he had to use his back-up model to win the gold medal. In fact, the back-up model helped him post the second fastest time under really tough weather conditions.
With De Chastel taking gold, the silver went to Mario Muller of Germany, while Paolo Mucedola of Italy came in third to take the bronze.
Some pilots like to fly upside down! #WAGDubai pic.twitter.com/CYhfBpMEm4
— World Air Games (@WagDubai) December 8, 2015
Meanwhile, the weather forecast has predicted an improved day for Wednesday December 9 so the events are expected to be conducted as per schedule. Winds are scheduled to fall down to between 9 and 18 kilometres per hour with the forecast being sunny, pleasant and warmer.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council, the fourth edition of the World Air Games is being held in 23 different disciplines at various dropzones in Dubai. The main venue for the competition is the Skydive Dubai dropzone where activities will be held daily until the finals on December 12 (Saturday).
