GPS Triangle Racing at Sandhays

GPS Triangle Racing (GPS) is a relatively new element to our wonderful hobby and was pioneered at Sandhays by Chas Andrew some years ago.
Since its early days several members have taken up GPS and we now have around six current members flying the discipline. In 2024 a highly successful GPS Nationals was held at the site recognising that Sandhays is an ideal venue.

GPS is a class of competition for model gliders using GPS tracking and an audio-visual app displayed on a phone or tablet. Using the sound and visual output from the app, pilots try to emulate the full-size glider task of flying as many laps around a triangular course in a set time as possible, from a maximum start height and entry speed into the course.

In its infancy in 2010 GPS Triangle Racing started with large-scale gliders. However, as it became more popular two other classes were introduced to widen the appeal to modellers with different budgets and skill sets, Sports Class and Light Class.

Sports Class is aimed at models up to 5 metres in span and 7kg in weight, and Light Class models up to 4 metres in span and maximum wing loading of 30gram/per square decimetre.
Light Class is designed to attract flyers from the popular F5J class or models suitable for thermal soaring.
If anyone fancies having a go ask any of the current flyers Chas Andrew, Greg Lewis, Iain Medley Rose, Simon Thornton and myself Mark who would be delighted to help.