Warm Up: A Dive into the Mind of a Arne Martin Güettler, World Champion of the Virtual SGP

As the excitement builds for the upcoming Sailplane Grand Prix in Norway (the first ever in the country!), we had the unique opportunity to sit down with an exceptional competitor, a figure who bridges the virtual and the real skies with unparalleled skills. At 46, Arne Martin Guëttler is a software developer for Norwegian ATC, and brings a fascinating mix of experience from the virtual and the real-world of flight. With 15 years of both real-life and Condor simulation flying, he’s a sterling example of how digital skies can prep you for the real-life ones.

From Virtual Triumphs to Real-World Skies

Question: Welcome, Arne Martin! We appreciate you joining us for this interview. To kick things off, we need to say that you're the Reigning Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix World Champion! How has your success in virtual competitions shaped your preparation for real-life events?

Arne Martin: Thank you! Well, virtual competitions are always offering ‘flyable’ soaring conditions, and that certainly helped me to get different experiences. Virtual Gliding allowed me to polish a wide variety of skills, crucial for our sport where every decision counts. This helped me to get numerous medals in the (real-life) Norwegian Championship so far.

Adjusting the Altimeter: Transition Challenges

Q: What's the most significant adjustment moving from virtual to real-life competitions?

AM: I need to fly more carefully in real life! The unpredictable and often worse weather conditions is a real deal when you come from the virtual world, where the conditions are much more homogenous… but that may change soon with the release of Condor 3!

Q: Are there specific virtual racing techniques that help in real-life competitions?

AM: Making mistakes in Condor is much less costly than in real life, so better make them there and learn from them. And flying against such good pilots teaches you what gains and loses time. Particularly since in most virtual races everyone is flying the exact same glider at the same wing loading, so only the pilot makes the difference.

Pre-Flight Checks: Preparing for the Norway SGP

Q: Tell us about your preparation for your first real-life Sailplane Grand Prix in Norway?

AM: My home base is Notodden, just a couple of hours west of Oslo. Recently, I’ve been honing my skills in Condor focusing on the Grand Prix format, alongside getting accustomed to my JS3 in the Starmoen area. The transition to my dream glider, the JS3 RES, has been exhilarating yet challenging, especially with the late finalization of its delivery. So, I will try to fly as much as I can this week, and hopefully that will be sufficient to make me ready to perform next week. Luckily, the forecast looks like there will be many flyable days leading up to the contest, so that is a very good news!

Staying Sharp: Mental and Physical Readiness

Q: How do you maintain focus and endurance during competitions?

AM: I am used to flying long flights, and used to the intense competitions in Condor. I think this helps me a lot to maintain high levels of focus and physical readiness.

Engineering Flight: Technical Aspects and Equipment

Q: Can you share details about the glider and technology you rely on?

AM: I received my JS3 RES two years ago, although first season was without motor. Then last season I did unfortunately not get many flights, because the installation and certification for the motor dragged out. It is my dream glider, and obviously a big step up from the Discus I used to fly! Luckily there is a JS3 in Condor too, so I fly it as much as I can there as well. Although that one is a pure glider, while mine has the electrical motor.

And for performance enhancement, a reliable variometer is the most important tool. I own a LXNav HAWK which is working very well for me!

Goals and Aspirations: Looking to the Horizon

Q: What are your aspirations for the Norwegian Grand Prix?

AM: Since I’ve never flown any international level contests before, I have no illusions of having an easy time. I’m mostly here to gather experience against top pilots. And not make a fool of myself, or do anything dangerous. And hopefully I can gather some points too…

Q: How does participating in your home country affect your emotions and preparations for this race?

AM: It’s cool that there finally is an international competition in Norway again, it’s been 20 years since the last time! I’m not emotional about it, but it is of course better than if I had to fly in an unknown area. And obvisously, it’s more convenient to have it so close from my home base!

Nevertheless, there are other locations in Norway that are very interesting and that deserve to host a Grand Prix too! Perhaps we'll see one of them chosen for the event next time!

Q: With the Sailplane Grand Prix of Norway serving as a qualifier for the World Final in St Auban, France, what would qualifying mean to you personally and professionally?

AM: That would be unreal if I were to qualify! Though with such a good field, and with me unfortunately not getting as much preparation in my glider as I would have liked, I don’t have expectations of qualifying this time. But I would very much like to qualify for St Auban, as it’s one of the few international places where I have experience in real life, so it would certainly be my preferred place to fly a final. Unless it was in Norway, of course!

Future Flight Paths: Perspectives on Sailplane Racing’s Evolution

Q: From your perspective, how has the integration of virtual and real-life elements influenced the sport of sailplane racing?

AM: I don’t know how much difference it has made, or how many pilots are flying in both worlds, but hopefully there will be more cross over of real and virtual pilots, and possibly motivate more virtual pilots to try it for real.

Q: What do you think are the key factors that will shape the future of sailplane competitions?

AM: I hope that the Grand Prix format will be the future, as I find it more interesting to fly, and much easier to follow from the ground.

Final Descent: Advice and Anticipation

Q: Any advice for aspiring pilots transitioning from virtual to real-life racing?

AM: Practice as much as possible, both in real-life and virtually. Fly against others, and analyse your flights to see where you are losing or gaining time.

Thank you so much for this interview Arne Martin! Best of luck in the Grand Prix and fly safe!

As we look forward to the thrilling races in the picturesque skies of Norway, it’s competitors like him who add depth and narrative to an already exhilarating sport. Stay tuned as we soar into one of the most anticipated events in the world of sailplane racing: the Sailplane Grand Prix of Norway, in Elverum Starmoen!