50 Years of Model Aviation – Model Aviation Celebration at the Dübendorf Aviation Museum

Who would have thought it: On a Wednesday, just before 6 p.m., nearly 200 guests made their way to the Aviation Museum in Dübendorf. Strictly speaking, the event was supposed to take place last year, but COVID-19 prevented it from happening.

Peter Sutter, president of the Model Aviation Foundation, welcomed the audience and briefly outlined the program for the celebration.

Yves Burkhardt from the Aero Club of Switzerland and Adi Eggenberger, president of the Swiss Model Aviation Association, paid tribute to Emil Giezendanner’s work for model aviation with fitting words.

Adi recounted how, as a young model aviation enthusiast, he would always look forward to the Model Aviation magazine

and read it with curiosity. Today, as the federation’s president, he values the magazine in a different way as the SMV’s official publication.

Roland Müller gave an entertaining account of how the Model Aviation Foundation came to be, what it still means today, and just how forward-thinking Emil’s decision was back then.

During the breaks, we were thoroughly entertained by the jazz band The Harlem Ramblers. They performed Dixieland, swing, evergreens, and blues with professionalism and humor.

Emil Giezendanner took us on a journey through time, covering the past 50 years. The first issue of *Modellflugsport* was published in 1971; at that time, it was funded entirely by the NOS region.

Yves Burkhardt (Aero Club), Adi Eggenberger (SMV President), Roland Müller.

Emil gave an engaging account, accompanied by equally fascinating images, of the history of the magazine *Modellflugsport*—with its motto “by model aviators, for model aviators”—from its inception through the founding of the Modellflugsport Foundation to its current status as the association’s magazine.

Mathias Bosshard from the Foundation Board told us a story about how, in 2011, on the occasion of *Modellflugsport*’s 40th anniversary, he had given Emil a metal model of a Boeing 314 Atlantic Clipper, a seaplane. Emil then built this metal model into a model airplane with a wingspan of over 3 meters (from the—

There is a short video of this airplane that was shown to the audience. In it, you can see Emil visiting the flooded model airfield of the MG Buttikon with the model in question.

It also shows that, in addition to his numerous responsibilities, Emil still finds time to build such fascinating models.

Peter Sutter honored Emil Giezendanner’s contributions to model aviation in Switzerland with moving words. “For all 50 years, Emil has ensured that the magazine *Modellflugsport* has been published without interruption.” The guests in attendance applauded

with a standing ovation. The foundation had invited Philipp Schürmann, an accomplished indoor aerobatics pilot, who performed aerobatic maneuvers in the hall with his 52-gram model. It was dead silent—you could have heard a pin drop.

The Harlem Ramblers then entertained the guests during a lavish cocktail reception. In keeping with the occasion, people spread out among the aircraft in the aviation museum.

A fitting conclusion to the 50th anniversary celebration of model aviation.