While the gliders were grounded on day three of event due to overcast conditions, it was a chance for the pilots to share the latest technologies used in the sport.

Gliding is usually associated with serenity and quiet, but Brisbane glider Andrew Georgeson captured some attention by fitting his top-of-the-line glider with a small jet engine.

The engine cannot be used to enhance times in the competition, but helps to reduce instances of outlanding, where a pilot has to touch down in a field or on open land.

The engine ensures that a safe landing spot can be found or that the pilot can return home in bad conditions.

At the other end of the spectrum, Carroll Gap local Bob Dircks is competing in the club class of the event in his 45-year-old machine.

While his old glider struggles to keep up with its modern counterparts, Mr Dircks competes in the club class, which handicaps time based on known performance.

He said it wasn’t all up to the machine, though: good gliding came down to the pilot’s experience.

“It’s about being able to read the skies and seeing where the energy is,” Mr Dircks said.

Gliders rely on thermal air pockets to boost the machine and Mr Dircks said pelicans were often the best beacon for finding thermals.

“Pelicans fly cross-country, so their behaviour is the same as gliders.”

He said pelicans had a sense of humour, groups splitting off in two or three directions to mislead oncoming gliders.

The national competition across three classes – club, standard and sport – will run until Friday. Pilots are tested on speed over various assigned area tasks and points are accumulated across the contest.