Quique Somenzini
Argentine R/C pilot, designer, and inventor of 3-D flying.
Quique Somenzini is a professional radio-controlled aircraft pilot and designer who runs his own model company, QuiQue's Aircraft Company. He won the FAI world championship in 2007 and is widely recognized as the inventor of "3-D" flying, a style that involves tight loops, rolls, and hovering at very low forward speeds.
Born in Rio Cuarto, Argentina, Somenzini entered his first FAI competition at age twelve in 1979, making him the youngest competitor in the championship's history. His father, Mario, a former champion himself, introduced him to model aircraft at age nine. Over his career, Somenzini became Argentina's national champion twenty-one times. On November 18, 2007, at the 25th FAI World Championship held in Argentina, he earned the FAI F3A world champion title for the first time.
Now based in Springfield, Ohio, Somenzini designs aircraft for his own company, QuiQue's Aircraft Company. He also works as a product tester and sponsored pilot for Spektrum and JR, both divisions of Horizon Hobby, and for Team RCU, the competitive team of RCUniverse.com.
- Born
- Rio Cuarto, Argentina
- First fai competition
- 1979 (age 12)
- National championships won
- 21 (Argentina)
- Fai world champion title
- 2007 (F3A)
- Company
- QuiQue's Aircraft Company (Springfield, Ohio, USA)
- Sponsors
- Spektrum, JR (divisions of Horizon Hobby), Team RCU
Lore & Background
Quique Somenzini was introduced to model aircraft flight at age nine by his father, Mario, a former champion. He became the youngest competitor in FAI championship history when he flew in competition at age twelve in 1979. Somenzini went on to become Argentina's national champion 21 times. He is credited with inventing '3-D' flying, a style characterized by tight loops, rolls, and hovers at little to no forward airspeed. On November 18, 2007, he earned the FAI F3A world champion title at the 25th FAI World Championship in Argentina, marking the first time he had earned that title.
Reader's Guide
Somenzini's significance lies in his dual role as a top competitive pilot and an influential designer. As a pilot, his 21 national championships and 2007 FAI world title place him among the most accomplished in the sport. His invention of 3-D flying introduced a new, highly technical style that emphasizes control at minimal airspeed, expanding the possibilities of radio-controlled aerobatics. As a designer and owner of QuiQue's Aircraft Company, based in Springfield, Ohio, he has contributed to the commercial side of the hobby. His work as a product tester and sponsored pilot for Spektrum, JR, and Team RCU further integrates him into the industry's development and promotion. Somenzini's career, beginning as a child prodigy and continuing as a world champion and manufacturer, illustrates a sustained impact on both competition and the broader R/C aircraft community.
Did You Know?
- Somenzini was the youngest competitor in FAI championship history, flying at age twelve in 1979.
- He is credited with inventing 3-D flying, which involves tight loops, rolls, and hovers at low airspeed.
- He won the FAI F3A world champion title on November 18, 2007, his first such title.
- His father, Mario, is a former champion who introduced him to model aircraft flight at age nine.
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