Pilots prepare for the competition. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

The 2025 ASFC F3A World Cup — the world's top remote-controlled aerobatic flying competition — concluded at Qiandao Lake General Airport in Jiande, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on May 11.

This marked the event's debut in the province, attracting top pilots and officials from 13 countries, including Germany, Austria, France, and Japan.

Dubbed a "ballet in the sky", F3A competitions require pilots to perform complex aerial maneuvers like rolls, loops, and inverted flight using fixed-wing model aircraft — all without GPS or stabilization aids. Pilots rely solely on their eyes and hand controls to complete an 8-minute routine judged on precision and smoothness.

Spectators film the competition. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]

China's Zhang Xujun, the nation's only finalist, impressed with a self-designed dual-wing aircraft optimized for side-flying moves. "Breaking into the top 10 in such a strong field was very rewarding," he said.

France's Christophe, a veteran with nearly 50 years of flying experience, praised Jiande's long runways and clean airspace. After the contest, many international pilots gave freestyle performances, earning cheers from the audience.

Japan, China, and New Zealand took the top three team spots. Japan's Tetsuo Onoda won the individual title, followed by Christophe (France) and Yuhei Suzuki (Japan). In the youth division, China's Wu Sihong placed first.

Jiande's Aviation Town has emerged as a key sports aviation hub in the Yangtze River Delta. Local officials say they will continue promoting high-level events to drive both industry and education.

A pilot holds his model aero plane after the competition. [Photo/tidenews.com.cn]