Welcome to Szeged in southern Hungary, home to the 37th World Gliding Championships. This contest will select world champions in three long-winged classes: Open, 20-Meter Multi-seat, and 18-Meter.
The US Team is here in somewhat limited form, represented by just one glider: an Arcus flown in 20-Meter Multi-seat class by Sarah Arnold and Karl Striedieck. Why did eligible US pilots in the other classes decide not to attend? Put this down to a combination of Covid concerns, shipping that has become both bizarrely expensive and unreliable (about which more presently), and unpleasantness in one of Hungary’s eastern neighbors (Ukraine).
But the intrepid contest organization here has persevered, and seemingly prevailed: 82 gliders from 25 countries are registered, and their 101 pilots have been disporting themselves in the skies of southern Hungary, enjoying some truly remarkable soaring weather. The practice period has now finished and we are soon headed to an elegant public square in central Szeged, hard by the historic Tisza river, for the official Opening Ceremony.
About that weather: it’s been hot and dry – exceedingly so. Temperatures above 95 F (sometimes well above) and a weeks-long lack of rain have made the airfield brown, dusty and consistently uncomfortable for pilots, crews and contest volunteers. They’ve also produced absurdly good soaring: think 10+ kt climbs to (sparse) cumulus clouds with bases near – sometime above – 10,000 ft (over ground that’s mostly just a few hundred feet above sea level). These are “once in 25 years” conditions.
The Opening Ceremony kicks off at 5pm; a quick check of the local temperature forecast says 43 C. That’s not a typo, and equates to 109.4 F (!) And that’s in the shade, where we won’t be standing when speeches are given and the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale – the international air sports organization) anthem is played. Should be . . . interesting.