F3D
The Race
The main objective of F3D Pylon Racing is straightforward: pilots fly 10 laps as fast as possible around a 400 meter triangular course marked by three solid pylons, each 5 meters high. Penalties or disqualifications are applied if the aircraft does not correctly complete the course. Race results are expressed in seconds. Depending on the level of competition ((inter)national competition, Euro Cup, World Cup or World Championship), each pilot flies between 6 and 16 heats. The final score is the average of the pilot’s best flights, with the lowest time determining the winner.
F3D is the premier class of RC Pylon Racing. Aircraft are powered by 6.6 cc (.40 ci) glow engines, have a maximum wingspan of 1800 mm, and a minimum weight of 2250 g. Engine intake and exhaust rules are deliberately open, allowing extensive experimentation with engines, propellers, exhaust systems, and aerodynamics. While the airframe must meet defined design parameters, there remains significant freedom, resulting in highly optimized racing machines. Three F3D models flying competitively is an impressive spectacle.
The main technical challenge lies in optimizing engine settings in combination with propeller and exhaust choices, which are strongly influenced by weather conditions. Top speeds approach 350 km/h. An excellent 4000 meter race time is under 60 seconds. The current world record is 54.97 seconds, set by Robbert van den Bosch (NED) at the 2025 F3D World Championship in Rothenburg (Germany). For more information on Pylon Racing, including the other F3E (electric), F3T (Reno scale), and F3R (beginner) categories, visit the FAI website.
Different Championships
World Championship: World Championships for F3D are held every odd year since 1985. Each nation may enter a three-pilot team, with the option of adding a junior and/or female competitor. Medals are awarded for individuals, teams, juniors, and female competitors. The F3D world champion receives the Sopwith Trophy. Comprehensive historical results and rankings are available on the F3 Pylon Racing website online.
World Cup: The F3D Pylon World Cup began in 2021 and consists of a series of international competitions, providing opportunities for both top-level pilots and those progressing into international racing. Full information and historical results are available on the official F3 Pylon Racing World Cup website.
Euro Cup: Introduced in 1991, the F3D Euro Cup is an annual European ranking based on the best three or four competition results. Because race times are highly weather-dependent, a points system is used: the winner of each event earns 1000 points, with others scoring proportionally. Historical results are published under the F3D Euro Cup records.
Belgian Teams over the Years
Belgium has a long-standing presence in F3D Pylon Racing at Euro and World Championship level. Over the years, several Belgian pilots have competed internationally, contributing to the country’s reputation for consistent participation and technical competence. This sustained involvement culminated in historic podium finishes in 2017 and 2025.
Foundation Belgian Team (1989 - 2001)
Ivan Cappuyns, Wim Lentjes and Edgar Voets formed the core Belgian team during the early years of Belgium’s participation in F3D World Championships. Across multiple championships, they consistently achieved classified finishes and successful qualification results, ensuring Belgium’s continued presence at the highest international level. For example, Ivan Cappuyns finished 7th at the 1993 World Championship in Nötsch (Austria), Wim Lentjes finished 9th at the 1997 World Chapionship in Sumperk (Czech Republic) and Edgar finished 13th at the 1993 World Championship. Collectively, they secured 4th place in the team (country) classification at the 1993 World Championship.
Continuation of Belgian Succes (1997 - 2017)
Stefan Raeven and Winibald Croux continued Belgium’s presence at the F3D World Championships. Building on the foundation laid by Edgar Voets, Ivan Cappuyns, and Wim Lentjes, they worked closely together to improve Belgium’s technical expertise and competitive performance on the world stage. Their teamwork culminated at the 2017 World Championship in Dala-Järna (Sweden), where Stefan as a pilot and Winibald as a mechanic, achieved 2nd place. This achievement marked the highest result for Belgium, demonstrating the progress and consistency developed over twenty years of international competition.
The Start of a New Era - Team Lentjes (2014 - ... )
The next chapter of Belgian F3D success was written by Team Lentjes, consisting of Bram Lentjes as the pilot and his father Wim Lentjes as the mechanic. What sets them apart is their combined expertise in Engineering (Wim) and Mathematics (Bram), which they apply to rapid prototyping, data analysis, aircraft optimization and race strategy. This scientific approach allows them to fine-tune every aspect of their performance through focused research and development on propellers, engines, and resonance exhaust systems. In parallel, they design and optimize their aircraft, leading to the development of their own competition model, the SuperNova, introduced in 2026. By combining engineering, data analysis, and on-track validation, they gain a clear competitive edge at the highest international level.
Their dedication reached a peak at the 2025 World Championship in Rothenburg (Germany), where they secured 3rd place overall. This achievement highlighted not only Bram’s skill as a pilot but also the guidance and strategic calling of Wim, demonstrating the strength of experience passed through generations. In addition, they recorded several other top-10 finishes at World Championships, including 4th place in 2019 in Maryborough (AUS), 5th place in 2022 in Muncie (USA), and 7th place in 2023 in Drachten (The Netherlands). They also achieved the 2nd place at the 2017 Junior World Championship in Dala-Järna (Sweden). On the World and Euro Cup level, their success was even greater: 5x European Champion (2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 and 2019), 2x World Cup winner (2024 and 2023), and 2nd place at the 2022 World Cup. These results reflect a sustained period of high performance and technical mastery in international F3D Pylon Racing. As a result of these achievements, Bram was awarded 3x Sportsman of the Year in Tongeren (2024, 2020–2021 and 2019) as he is a member of the well-known aeroclub TMV located in Tongeren (Belgium).
In addition to their achievements in F3D Pylon Racing, Team Lentjes shares their experiences through multiple media channels. Their YouTube channel features flight videos from various World and European Championships, allowing people to follow their races in detail. In cooperation with the BML, VML and AAM, they also provided an online booklet in 2023 covering technical aspects, aircraft setups, and stories from different championships, offering insight into both the sport and their methods:
Additional details and stories (in Dutch) have been published over the years in VML Tijdingen and are also available online via the following links: 3rd place World Championship 2025, Sportsman of the Year 2025, 1st place World Cup 2024, 5x European Champion, 1st place World Cup 2023, 5th place World Championship 2022, European Champion and Silver World Cup 2022, 4th place World Championship 2019, European Champion 2021, ...
