HORSHAM Flying Club will host the 2015 Victorian State Gliding Championships in February.
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The state's best glider pilots will put their skills to the test in the Wimmera, with the event to run from February 7 to 14 at the Horsham Aerodrome.
The event will run in conjunction with the Horsham club's annual Horsham Week competition.
It will be the 49th running of Horsham's annual gliding competition.
Horsham Flying Club president Arnold Niewand said the club was rapt to secure the event.
"They were scheduled for Bendigo, then they decided they would try to take it to Benalla and then they decided to give it to us," he said.
"We expect about 40 gliders to take part, but there could be more.
"We quite often have 35 to 40 gliders every year for our Horsham competition, so they decided to combine the two."
Mr Niewand said there was also the possibility of interstate glider pilots competing.
The Horsham club has hosted the state championships on a number of occasions, most recently in 2010.
Mr Niewand said with support crews joining each glider pilot, the event would provide a financial boost to the region.
"If you have 40 visiting gliders, you're also looking at an extra 100 people coming into the area," he said.
"It's certainly worth a bit to businesses around Horsham as well.
"We're in the process of talking to Council to gain support for the event."
The club will also host a coaching week from January 31 to February 6, as per normal.
Mr Niewand said visiting pilots often stayed for the full fortnight.
He said the state championships would comprise four classes.
"It's run along exactly the same lines as our normal competition," he said.
"All the gliders line up and we have to wait until the weather conditions are right for flying.
"Each class is given a certain destination to go to - there might be two, three or maybe four turnpoints, and then they have to get back home.
"The winner is generally the one who does it in the shortest time.
Mr Niewand said people could view the event from the aerodrome.
He said people wanting more information about the event or interested in having a trial flight could call him on 0429 857 275.