Glider Club finishes 6th, wins Fair Play Award in national competition
The Institute of Science Tokyo Glider Club has finished sixth overall at the "National Safety Flight Meet," a glider competition held at the Menuma Gliderport in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture from March 7 to 14. Pilot Shota Harada, a 4th-year Industrial Engineering and Economics student, finished in sixth place and won the Fair Play Award, while Team Science Tokyo also finished sixth in the overall rankings.
What is a glider?
A glider is an aircraft that flies without an engine or other power sources, relying instead on natural winds and thermal updrafts. After being launched into the air by a winch or towed by a small plane, it is released and begins to glide.
In competition, pilots interpret weather conditions to ride thermal currents and compete for speed as they circle courses spanning tens of kilometers. While the pilot’s individual flying skills and judgment are essential, it is also a team sport that requires seamless coordination with the ground crew responsible for assembling the aircraft and preparing for launch.
Competition overview and Science Tokyo’s performance
This competition, organized by the Japan Students Aviation League (JSAL), is Japan’s premier event for student gliders. This year, it was held in a special format as the "National Safety Flight Meet," with the highest priority placed on safe operations and the reaffirmation of basic skills.
With representatives from universities across the country gathering for the event, Science Tokyo’s Glider Club achieved success by heightening safety awareness through daily training and strictly adhering to the fundamentals of flight.
Competition participants
-
Aoi Sato
4th year, Systems and Control Engineering -
Shota Harada
4th year, Industrial Engineering and Economics
Comments from team leader Aoi Sato
The greatest reward was not so much the results themselves, but the opportunity to compete on the national stage with my fellow club members. Although only two of us competed as club representatives, I saw how the other crew members worked tirelessly behind the scenes to support us. I am truly proud to have been part of such a reliable team.
Over the past four years since joining the Glider Club, I have witnessed firsthand how it has steadily grown. I hope that this result will contribute to the club’s continued development. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has guided us along the way. I look forward to applying the teamwork skills I have developed in the Glider Club to my future studies and career.
Comments from Shota Harada
In our first national competition since the Covid-19 pandemic, we finished in sixth place in both the individual and team categories. It was a fruitful competition that gave us both a sense of accomplishment from performing well among the nation’s top competitors and a clear understanding of the challenges we must overcome to reach even greater heights.
We went through a process of trial and error within a limited timeframe, and this achievement was by no means accomplished through my own efforts alone. I would like to thank my crewmates who consistently supported my safe flights on the ground, the instructors who enthusiastically taught me useful piloting skills, and the alumni who provided us with generous support each day. Drawing on this valuable experience, I will continue to work hard on future research endeavors.
Note: Affiliations correct at time of event.