On October 13, the "GoerTek Cup 2018 Jet Turbine Masters Formation Invitational" opened with a stunning launch in Rongcheng, Shandong. Jet turbine masters from 12 top teams both at home and abroad competed in the skies, putting on a "speed and passion" performance that offered the audience an immensely thrilling visual spectacle and a joyful experience of aviation technology. At 9:00 AM, the opening ceremony was held at Rongcheng’s Sakura Lake Sports Park.
The "GoerTek Cup 2018 National Model Aircraft Open (Rongcheng Stop) and Jet Turbine Masters Formation Invitational" was co-hosted by the Aviation Management Center of the General Administration of Sport of China, the Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the Chinese Aeronautical Sports Association, the Shandong Aeronautical Sports Association, the People’s Government of Rongcheng City, and GoerTek Group. The competition was divided into two segments. From October 10 to 11, the National Model Aircraft Open Rongcheng Stop took place—this marked the first time in China that a highly challenging and visually stunning jet turbine model aircraft competition was introduced. Thirty top domestic jet turbine pilots competed fiercely, with Yang Liu from Henan ultimately taking the championship. From October 13 to 15, the Jet Turbine Masters Formation Invitational was held, featuring key participants from the 7th International Jet Model Formation Masters (IJFM), one of the most influential jet model events internationally. This event marked the first time IJFM participants performed in Asia, and also the first time such a high-level jet turbine competition was held in Asia.
Turbojet model aircraft are the most advanced and expensive type of model planes, with aerodynamic properties and roaring sounds almost identical to real aircraft. Most of the turbojet model aircraft competing in this event were fighter jet replicas, built at a 1:6 scale to real planes. They deliver strong power and high speed, and their performances are both exciting and highly entertaining, offering great visual appeal.
The international model masters’ showcase at the opening ceremony left the audience in awe, featuring delta wing and powered parachute formation flights, electric paper airplanes, rocket-assisted remote gliders, and an Iron Man performance, all drawing beautiful arcs across the blue sky. The most eye-catching act was the foam aerobatic electric model performance by Alexey Bodrov, a top Russian wireless-controlled model performance master. His nimble and agile model aircraft, set to music, frequently flew close to the audience for interaction, drawing screams of excitement. Local primary and middle school students from Rongcheng also took the stage during the opening ceremony, showcasing their electric paper airplane skills in front of so many experts and earning enthusiastic praise from guests and spectators alike.
That morning, Rongcheng’s Sakura Lake Sports Park was packed with citizens and tourists who came to watch the competition. Mr. Liu, 32 years old, came with his 5-year-old son. “It’s so thrilling and fun—it’s truly a blessing for ordinary people to witness such a competition right at our doorstep,” said Mr. Liu. He expressed that the event provided Rongcheng residents with an opportunity to broaden their horizons, and served as a rare chance to inspire children to set ideals and develop interests. As a Rongcheng local, he felt immense pride that his hometown could host such an international-level event. Among the spectators, Mr. Zhang from Binzhou, Shandong, kept capturing the exciting moments with his camera. A marketing planner by profession, Mr. Zhang had long heard about how Rongcheng leverages international events to boost its city brand, and came specially to observe. After witnessing the masters’ breathtaking performances and learning about the youth simulated flight competitions, aviation and maritime carnivals, and various city promotion activities launched during the event, he repeatedly commented that the trip was well worth it.
As the host city, Rongcheng is located at the easternmost tip of the Shandong Peninsula, surrounded by sea on three sides and blessed with a pleasant climate. In recent years, guided by the vision of “Breathing Freely, Living Freely in Rongcheng,” the city has made full use of its superior coastal lines and tourism resources, focusing on building distinctive “land, sea, and air” brand events. It has hosted major events such as the Rongcheng Coastal International Marathon and the National Aviation Carnival. The hosting of this high-level aviation competition in Rongcheng will surely give a strong boost to the development of emerging industries such as drones and smart equipment in the city, comprehensively enhance the city’s image of “Breathing Freely, Living Freely in Rongcheng,” promote the prosperity of event-driven economy and sports culture, spark interest in aerospace technology among Rongcheng’s younger generation, attract more capital, technology, talent, and other innovative elements for future development, and help Rongcheng achieve breakthrough growth.
It is understood that one of the organizers, GoerTek Group, in recent years has closely followed national strategic development needs by making drones an important part of its business and a key direction for growth. The company is committed to advancing the upgrade of the drone industry and the development of an intelligent ecosystem for unmanned systems. Jiang Bin, Chairman of GoerTek Group, stated that he hopes events that integrate science education with sports competition will allow the public, especially young people, to experience the infinite charm of aviation science and technology, thereby inspiring them to pursue dreams of exploring the vast universe and dedicating themselves to the aviation industry.
Attached: Schedule for Events on October 14