History

Since 1962, every even numbered year, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) has organized a World Championships for the international class of Free Flight Indoor Model Aircraft (F1D).

Countries from around the world field a team of their best competitors to compete for the title WORLD CHAMPION!

Today

In 2026 the USA will be hosting the World Championships at the Kibbie Dome in Moscow, Idaho June 15- June 20, 2026. This will mark the 30th anniversary since the last time the World Chamionships was held in this facility.

What is Indoor Free Flight and F1D?

Free flight model airplanes are designed, built, and trimmed to fly without benefit of user intervention after launch. Indoor free flight models do so indoors, requiring even greater thought and care about trimming the aircraft to remain aloft inside the confines of a building. These models are typically very light and fly at slow speeds powered by twisted rubber strips driving a large propeller. 

While different countries have different types of events they fly, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI), our international governing body, defines the parameters of F1D as our World Championship class event. Generally the parameters are:

• Limited to a 55cm Wingspan
• Must have a minimum weight of 1.4g
• Allowed a maximum of 0.4g of rubber motor
• The competitor must build their own model

Indoor free flight models are most often flown for endurance where the longest flight (or best two flights in FAI competition) determines the winner. Thus, every detail or extra bit of weight makes a difference. Modelers attempt to convert as much of the potential energy in the wound rubber band into extra time on the stopwatch! This is a sport, a hobby and a puzzle, and it is always an amazing thrill to watch something you built with your own two hands fly on its own.