A team based in Chambley has announced the launch of the Ultimate Air Challenge (UAC) next summer, a continental microlight flying competition focused on navigation, endurance, and strategy, inspired by the spirit of the Grande Course or the London-Paris ULM races of the early 1980s
A team based in Chambley has announced the launch of the Ultimate Air Challenge (UAC) next summer—a "continental microlight flying competition focused on navigation, endurance, and strategy", inspired by the spirit of the Grande Course or the London-Paris ULM races of the early 1980s.
Around forty pilots will compete to overfly as many of the 40 checkpoints as possible, following a free route of their own design—choosing their own paths and stopovers. The journey will span Europe, potentially crossing the following countries: Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Sweden.
Microlight aircraft engaged in long-distance navigation across Europe.
This "long-distance aerial challenge" will feature pilots competing in two aircraft categories:
– Unlimited: Unlimited: For the highest-performing microlights and "manufacturer teams," limited to multiaxis with a Maximum Authorized Take-Off Mass (MTOM) of 600 kg.
– Adventure: Adventure: For trikes, rotorcraft (autogyro and helicopter), and multiaxis, with a more "exploratory and narrative spirit" and a MTOM of 400–500 kg (FAI standards).
Even on two-seater aircraft, all flights must be solo. Around forty pilots are expected, with routes potentially crossing 20 European countries and totaling approximately 50 hours of cumulative flight time.
Qualifying rounds are scheduled from July 25 to 31, 2026, in Chambley (LFJY, France), featuring three flights: an endurance test with full fuel tanks to maximize range, a navigation challenge within a predefined corridor including at least one landing in a country bordering France, and a precision landing test.
“The goal is to make this race as popular as possible with the general public.”
The qualifying results will determine the starting order for the Ultimate Air Challenge, taking place from August 1 to 7, 2026, with departure and arrival at Chambley. Since all checkpoints cannot all be overflown within the 7-day timeframe, pilots will need to develop a strategy based on weather forecasts to optimize their flight time.
The race must be completed without external assistance, with each pilot navigating fully autonomously while complying with all regulations and necessary authorizations (border crossings, language requirements, etc.) in each country—without administrative support from the organizers. The final rules, in English, will be released at the end of February 2026. Participation will require membership in the UAC association and a FFPLUM license (temporary for foreign pilots).
The organizing team includes Pierre Legreneur as Race Director (previously involved in the last ULM World Championships in Chambley) and Georges Humeau, former Secretary General of the FFPLUM and organizer of the MULM in Blois. "The goal is to make this race as popular as possible with the general public," with extensive media coverage through live reports, a dedicated studio, social media, onboard videos, and more.
The UAC aims to "open light aviation to a wider audience, showcasing flight, technology, self-transcendence, and the beauty of Europe from the sky." This will be the first edition of an event destined to become one of the major gatherings in European light aviation.
This article is based on an original publication by AEROVFR.
Read the original article on aerovfr.com