FAI Virtual Gliding Awarded Prestigious Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon Grant
16/10/2026 - The future of air sports took a giant leap forward this week as FAI Virtual Gliding was awarded the prestigious Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon Grant. Presented during the FAI Awards Ceremony at the 120th FAI General Conference in Lausanne, Switzerland, on October 14, 2026 - the very first International Day of Air Sports - this 10,000 Swiss Francs grant marks a historic milestone for virtual and simulated aviation.
From Training Tool to True Discipline
When the Virtual Gliding journey began, the idea seemed a little crazy: take one of the most demanding and beautiful sports in aviation, and open it to everyone. No airfield needed. No trailer, no winch, no perfect weather. Just skill, judgment, and a love of flying.
Today, that vision is a reality. Simulated gliding has evolved from a mere off-season training tool into an air sports discipline in its own right. Pilots from every continent are now competing in FAI-sanctioned events. Young people who have never touched a real glider are learning to read the sky. Through relentless innovation, the team behind FAI Virtual Gliding has developed the technology necessary to host global competitions, completely redefining what competitive soaring looks like in a digital environment.
The Olympic Dream: Taking Virtual Gliding to the Real World
While ensuring sporting integrity and fair play, the team has placed equal emphasis on the spectator. By developing animated overlays, integrating live commentary, and utilizing the incredibly realistic digital environments of Condor Soaring Simulator, they have transformed the Virtual Gliding, and especially the Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix into a highly engaging spectator sport.
Now, with the crucial support of the Prince Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon Grant, FAI Virtual Gliding is preparing for a monumental transition.
Accepting the award from FAI President Greg Principato and Don Alvaro-Jaime de Orléans-Borbón, son of His Royal Highness Prince Alvaro de Orléans-Borbón, Director of FAI Virtual Gliding Antoine Havet outlined the ambitious next steps:
"Until now, Virtual Gliding has lived entirely online. With the incredible support of this grant, we are taking a historic next step by bringing it into the real world with our first live, on-site event. We will have pilots on stage, a crowd in the room, and the whole world watching; bringing virtual pilots and real pilots together under one roof."
This transition to a centralized, visible esports arena is designed to attract mainstream media attention and strengthen the bid for Virtual Gliding’s inclusion in the Olympic Esports Games.
A Shared Vision: The Team Behind the Success
An achievement of this scale requires a dedicated community. During his acceptance, Havet emphasized that the award belongs to the brilliant team who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make the Virtual Gliding vision a reality: especially Sébastien Chaumontet, Jean-David Thoby, Timothée Barusseau, Marc Till, Michel Bernard, and the dozens of volunteers who helped us organize and advertize our events.
Special recognition was also given to Uroš Bergant and Chris Wedgwood from Condor for their unconditional support from the very beginning, providing the foundational simulation platform that made this entire discipline possible.
The project’s success is also a testament to the forward-thinking nature of the sport's governing bodies. Gratitude was extended to the FAI Executive Board for believing that the future of air sports can also be digital, and to Peter Eriksen and the International Gliding Commission (IGC) for opening that door years ago.
Expanding the Skies
FAI Virtual Gliding shared the 2026 honours with the Laboratory for Aeronautics (AEROL) at the University of Ljubljana, which also received funding for their innovative aviation projects.
As the Gliding family continues to push the boundaries of real-world broadcasting and virtual racing, this grant validates the immense effort put into opening the skies to a new generation of digital athletes.
"To continue growing, we must seize the opportunities ahead of us: whether that is through the Olympic Esports Games with Virtual Gliding or via the Sailplane Grand Prix, our F1 of the skies," Havet concluded.
Last but not least, none of this would happen without the pilots and the fans. Thank for competing to our events, thanks for watching our races. Let’s keep pushing! This award goes to you.
