BANJA LUKA JUNIOR SRĐAN VRANJEŠ TOPS THE WORLD RANKING IN AEROMODELLING

Junior member of the Banja Luka Aero Club ULL, Srđan Vranješ, has taken first place on the world ranking list in aeromodelling, a position that no one can challenge until the end of the competitive season.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

Aeromodelling is a sport practiced all over the world, and brothers Srđan and Sergej Vranješ, along with their club ULL, participate in competitions organized by the World Air Sports Federation (FAI).

Their father and club member, Dejan Vranješ, told Glas Srpske that the most recent competition where they achieved outstanding results was held in Prilep, North Macedonia.

“The competition started at eight in the morning, and out of five flight starts, two lasted four minutes and three lasted three minutes. Srđan successfully completed all his tasks and achieved an excellent result in the first round. He earned new points and secured the top spot on the world ranking list,” said Dejan Vranješ, adding that the competition was extremely strong.

His younger son Sergej also practices aeromodelling, and the love for this sport has been passed down through generations in their family.

“I also used to fly model and full-size airplanes — I have over 450 flight hours. My father was a glider pilot and flight instructor. We are truly an aviation family,” said Dejan Vranješ.

He explained that controlling the model requires great skill and timing.

“The model has to be launched into a thermal column — that’s the same warm air current where birds like hawks circle. The competitor needs to judge when the thermal is exactly above them and release the model into that air stream,” he explained.

Preparations for competitions begin two days in advance at the site of the event, with training held in large open fields such as Lijevče Polje near Banja Luka. However, Vranješ emphasized that this sport is very expensive and lacks proper support in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“Competitors must have three gliders, and a single model costs between one and three thousand euros. On top of that, you need GPS equipment, launching cables, and backup models for different wind conditions — strong, moderate, and light — as well as one with a large wingspan for calm weather,” he said.

He added that aviation modelling clubs used to exist in elementary schools in the 1990s, but they no longer do.

“With more support from the state, we could achieve even better results. We’ve been representing Bosnia and Herzegovina for four years now, but the national aviation federation hasn’t even provided us with uniforms. Unfortunately, our sport isn’t taken seriously,” Vranješ noted.

He added that entry fees for championships are around €1,000, while accommodation costs can reach €1,600.

The club plans to organize an exhibition in Banja Luka to display the medals won by Srđan, Sergej, and their teammate, in hopes of inspiring young people to get involved in the sport.

Miloš Budimčić, president of Aero Club ULL, said that they compete in the F1A glider category, with wingspans of 2.55 meters.

“We’ve been active in Banja Luka for over two decades. Dozens of children have gone through our club, and we currently have seven competitors — three juniors and four seniors — who participate in the World Cup,” he said.

Budimčić added that they are now living a dream they didn’t dare to dream twenty years ago, when they were happy just to earn a few ranking points.

“Our junior, Srđan Vranješ, is the first athlete in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s aeromodelling history to reach this level in the junior category. He has four World Cup victories, three second places, two third places, one fifth, sixth, and ninth place,” he said.

The passion for aeromodelling also runs through Budimčić’s family — both of his daughters compete as well.

“My older daughter has won several World Cup events, with her best end-of-season result being eighth in the world. My younger daughter finished the 2020 season ranked third among world juniors,” Budimčić added.

There are no age limits in this sport — even competitors over 70 years old participate.

“For those who love competition, travel, discovering new cultures, and making friends around the world, I highly recommend trying aeromodelling,” said Miloš Budimčić.

An Expensive Sport

Aeromodelling is an expensive hobby, and the ULL Aero Club regularly applies for funding from the relevant ministry, the City of Banja Luka, and local communities.

“All funds we receive through public calls go directly to the club’s account. We wait patiently until the season begins, and when the competitions start, we go as far as our budget allows. Promising athletes can apply for a government stipend — for example, if a child receives a one-time grant of 2,000 KM and saves a bit more, they can buy a proper competition model,” said Budimčić.