1997 World Air Games (1997 WAG) was an international competition of air sports, held between September 15–21, 1997 in Selçuk, Turkey, hosted by Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK). It was the first of World Air Games organized by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (World Air Sports Federation - FAI) once every four years. The games marked the first time more than 3000 participants from 60 countries took part in 16 different championship categories at 7 different locations at the same time.

Participation

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Out of about 80 FAI members, 60 countries took part in the 1997 WAG, with 1714 athletes and 3183 participants. The list of participating countries is as follows:

  Argentina   Australia   Austria   Belarus   Belgium   Brazil
  Bulgaria   Canada   Chile   China   Chinese Taipei   Croatia
  Cyprus   Czech Republic   Denmark   Finland   France   Germany
  Greece   Guatemala   Hong Kong   Hungary   India   Indonesia
  Iran   Ireland   Israel   Italy   Japan   Jordan
  Kazakhstan   Latvia   Lithuania   Luxembourg   Mexico   Moldova
  Mozambique   Netherlands   New Zealand   Norway   Poland   Portugal
  Macedonia   Romania   Russia   Slovakia   Slovenia   South Africa
  South Korea   Spain   Sweden    Switzerland   Thailand   Turkey
  Ukraine   United Kingdom   United States   Uzbekistan   Venezuela   Yugoslavia

Competitions

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The first World Air Games consisted of competitions in the following categories:

Parachuting

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  • 1st World Parachuting Championships in Freestyle and Skysurfing
  • 12th World Parachuting Championships in Formation Skydiving
  • 9th World Cup of Parachuting Champions in Style and Accuracy

Competitions were held in THK Selçuk (Ephesus) Training Center near Selçuk-Ephesus. 10,408 jumps and 707 sorties have been made.

Air race and general aviation

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Gliding

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  • 1st World Gliding Championship in World Class

In the part held in THK İnönü Training Center in İnönü, Eskişehir, 319 flights were flown by gliders. The aircraft made 268 sorties of retrieval with a total flight time of 83 hours. In Antalya - Karain airport 260 sorties have been made with gliders.

Aerobatics

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Held in Antalya - Karain airport with 228 sorties.

Aeromodelling

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  • World Championship in Class F3B
  • World Championship in Class F3C
  • World Cup in Classes F1A, F1B, F1C for seniors
  • European Aeromodelling Championships in Classes F1A, F1B, F1J for juniors
  • European Aeromodelling Championships in Classes S1B, S3A, S5C, S6A, S7, S8E

Microlight

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  • 1st World Air Games Microlight Championships

Held in Aydın, with 22 hours of flight with ultralights.

Hang gliding

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  • 1st World Air Games Hang gliding Championships

Held in Aydın, with 53 hours of flight with powered hang gliders. In Denizli - Pamukkale, 699 flights were completed in hang gliding.

Paragliding

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  • 1st World Air Games Paragliding Championships

Held in Aydın, with 28 hours of flight with powered paragliders. In Denizli - Pamukkale, 1,040 flights were completed in paragliding.

Ballooning

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  • 1st World Air Games Ballooning Championship

Held in Cappadocia region with 868 hours balloon flight with 62 balloons and 7 hours flight time.

Results

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RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1  Russia1712938
2  France89825
3  United States87419
4  Germany86317
5  Poland54514
6  Great Britain53513
7  Slovakia43512
8  Ukraine310518
9  Switzerland3317
10  Spain3216
11  Czech Republic1539
12  Hungary1214
13  Sweden1124
Totals (13 entries)676752186