Tethered Flight (F2B and F2C) at the Schwalbennest Tethered Flight Model Airplane Facility near Büsserach

In response to an invitation from the organizer, MBZ Basel, a large number of active pilots gathered at the “Schwalbennest” airfield—which was in top condition—for this year’s Swiss Tethered Flight Championship.

Competing for the first time as a Swiss participant in the aerobatics category was Lauri Malila, a Finnish pilot who, for professional reasons, had recently joined the Swiss Aero Club and now resides in French-speaking Switzerland. Despite forecasts of stormy weather leading up to the event, the weather gods were kind and provided ideal flying conditions on both days with little wind, which was very pleasant for us aerobatic pilots. In the F2B aerobatics category, it became clear right from the first round that several ambitious pilots were closely matched in terms of points. The hiring of Franz Oberhuber, a highly experienced judge from Austria, was also well received; he complemented the judging “crew” perfectly. When it comes to engines, the new Supermo engine from the U.S.—a 13-cm³ two-stroke engine powered by a resonance tube—seems to be slowly gaining ground in aerobatics. No fewer than three pilots used it successfully. The beautifully painted models were also a highlight this year, adding a special touch to the tethered flight scene. Also noteworthy was the father-son duo of the Baumanns, who achieved significantly better results through this collaboration. Walter Bernet also demonstrated that determination and a willingness to perform can make a difference during his first competitive appearance in the beginner class with Bra-

He proved himself. Although he had only practiced the routine a few days earlier, he performed three flawless flights and earned enthusiastic applause from his colleagues. On the second day, a general improvement in performance was evident, and in the final round, Lauri Malila managed to challenge the reigning Swiss champion and claim the championship title. Congratulations! Second place went to Peter Germann, and Peter Däppen took home the bronze medal.

In the F2C Team Racing category, three teams competed with their fast team racers and put on exciting races. Once again, the Stanojevic/Studer team came out on top and won this year's title.

In honor of the female model airplane enthusiasts in attendance, the organizer hosted a cocktail reception on Sunday despite the rather chilly weather. A welcome social—

Thank you very much. During the announcement of the results, the author was pleased to note that we now have a sizeable group of aerobatic pilots who are very closely grouped in the final standings and demonstrate a correspondingly high level of performance. All participants received a small “Bhaltis” as a souvenir to take home. Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone. Without our invaluable volunteers and officials, we would not be able to practice this wonderful sport. And so, two days of tethered flight featuring outstanding athletic performances came to an end.

Peter Hofacker,
President of MBZ Basel