A celebratory milestone in his XC journey

Yan takes bronze!

A proud moment for our team: on July 27th, Yan received his first FAI CIVL badge! Bronze, and not just any badge. During one of his first overland flights from Col du Sapenay, he flew for an impressive 2 hours and 17 minutes , climbed hundreds of meters higher than his start point, and covered over 31 kilometers. And that's without counting all the spinning circles in the thermals; then the counter is at 101! A flying start to his XC career.

More than a flight: three performances in one

Yan immediately scored a hat trick: duration, altitude gain, and distance in a single flight. Precisely the three criteria that each individually qualify for the bronze badge. His flight wasn't a circuit around the neighborhood, but a true cross-country flight: far from the take-off and landing area. He has now logged considerably more XC kilometers and is competing in the National Mountain Flying Championships in France. Silver? It's coming!

Anyone can get an FAI badge

The FAI, the international aviation body, encourages pilots to get more out of their flights – without the need for a competition. Whether you're just starting out or have been flying for years, there's always a new challenge. With badges ranging from bronze to diamond, the FAI rewards your growth as a pilot.

Did you know you the bronze badge even during your training? You don't need a license yet, and you don't necessarily have to travel far from home. A long flight, good thermals, and you're already in with a chance. It's usually successful in the mountains, but it's definitely possible in the Netherlands too!

  • You often get Bronze in your first year of flying.
  • Silver will follow in one or two years with some more serious XC work.
  • Gold comes within reach after about five years of overland experience.
  • Diamond? It's rare and, after ten years of XC experience, attainable for active pilots.

The criteria in a row

Bronze

  • 30 km distance or 1.5 hours in the air or 100 meters altitude gain

Silver

  • 100 km distance - 3 hours in the air - 1000 meters of altitude gain (not necessarily in one flight)

Gold

  • 150 km distance - 5 hours in the air - 2000 meters altitude gain (not necessarily in one flight)

Diamond

  • 300 km open distance - 300 km out and back - 3000 meters elevation gain
Fly - Grow - Four

Ready for your own badge?

Think your flight qualifies for a bronze badge? Send your track log to your hang gliding school! Going for silver or gold? Upload your flight online and send the link to the KNVvL. And a diamond? That's awarded personally by the FAI itself.

 Turn your flight into a milestone.

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Older Sapenay 2025 first mountain stage among the clouds