On November 9, 1926, three model builders—Werner Schramme, Burger, and Fellmann—met in Zurich. They founded the Aircraft Model Building Association (FMBV)—now known as the Zurich Model Flying Club. As early as the year of its founding, 20 members joined. At that time, models were built from thin pine strips, plywood, and tension paper; they were usually powered by rubber-band engines. When, after a short time, quite a few members switched to manned gliding, the small group found a home with the Zurich Gliding Club, which provided a shared workshop at Letten.

The year 1933 marked a turning point: The Zurich Section of the Swiss Aero Club (AeCS) held what was then the largest Swiss air show to date at the Tonhalle, under the title “Der Flug.” Werner Schramme presented the first publicly accessible model-building workshop there. The Zurich Model Building Group was officially admitted under the umbrella of the Zurich Section. Just one year later, with 24 members, it had become the largest model building group in Switzerland.

In February 1936, Dr. Walter Dollfus took over as director. The group moved into its own clubhouse at Seefeldstrasse 4 and became organizationally independent from the gliding club. That same year, Arnold Degen hosted Switzerland’s first radio model-building course over the microphone at the Zurich Radio Studio—1,700 model kits were sold. In 1937, the “Shell 1” construction plan followed, with a sensational print run of over 10,000 free copies—an early example of successful sponsorship work with the eponymous oil company. The Beromünster national radio station broadcast the second radio course. By the end of 1940, the Swiss model aviation movement had grown to 91 recognized groups with 1,466 members.

On June 14, 1944, MGZ member Traugott Haslach made Swiss aviation history. On the Langer Zinggen near Bülach, his glider model “Riesenvogel G41” remained airborne for 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 3 seconds after a high launch. The FAI recognized the flight as a world record in 1945—Switzerland’s first international model aircraft record.

In 1945, the young Zurich-based model maker Willibald “Willy” Streil was the first to introduce balsa wood to Switzerland. In 1948, he founded his legendary model-making shop, which was officially registered under his wife Christl’s name. Over the next 30 years, models such as Cesi, Piccolo, and Bye-Bye were delivered to Swiss schools more than 150,000 times. “Send it to Christl” became a catchphrase among Zurich model builders. In 1988, the Streils sold their business to Lisbeth and Markus Wieser, whose company, Wieser Modellbau GmbH, continues the tradition to this day.

In 1958, the Swiss people approved the expansion of Zurich-Kloten Airport—and the Langer Zinggen model airfield became a thing of the past. In 1967, the newly founded IG ZÜBÜ, led by MGZ member René A. Schnorf, built a paved runway in Niederhasli exclusively for RC models. The joy was short-lived: Just one year later, the municipality of Oberhasli banned model aircraft with internal combustion engines. It wasn’t until 1972 that the welcome news arrived: A new airfield had been found in Buchberg/Eglisau—which remains the MGZ’s home airfield to this day.

With its new bylaws, the MGZ separated from the AeCS as a subgroup and became a separate legal entity. From then on, an executive board headed by a president took over leadership in place of a chairman. Although the reorganization led to a short-term loss of members, it laid the foundation for the association’s current structure.

In 1986, the MGZ received permission to hold a model aircraft event at Allmend Brunau—right in the heart of Zurich. The Zurich Model Aircraft Days were repeated in 1988 and 1990 with great success. Radio 24 provided live coverage, and Austrian F3A World Champion Hanno Prettner performed his world-class aerobatic routine.

Starting in 1997, the Flying Circus Eglisau established itself as a biennial air show—including sightseeing flights aboard a large passenger helicopter. In 2004, 2.4-GHz radio technology revolutionized model flying: no more quartz crystals, no more frequency charts at the field. In 2006, after 73 years, the MGZ withdrew from the Aero-Club of Zurich and henceforth focused on the Northeast Switzerland (NOS) model aviation region. In 2015, it made its runway available to teams from around 40 nations as a training ground for the F3A World Championship in Dübendorf.

As of January 2026, the MGZ has 94 active and passive members. Honorary member Heinz Polster ensured that the “Heinz-Polster-Platz,” named after him and featuring a grill, table, and benches, was built above the airfield. In the winter, indoor flying takes place in three hangars; on Tuesday evenings, the Power-Schlepp team tows large gliders until sunset. Competition participation focuses on GPS triangle flights, glider aerobatics, and F3A—disciplines in which the MGZ is once again at the forefront.

Much has changed in 100 years: from plywood to carbon fiber, from rubber-powered engines to brushless motors, from the club newsletter to WhatsApp chats. But one thing has remained the same: the fascination with flying, the tinkering and building, and the camaraderie among like-minded people. Here’s to the next 100 years. ■

Walti Lötscher, Zurich Model Flying Club · www.mgzh.ch

Read the complete chronicle online:

mgzh.ch/geschichte/100-jahre-mg-zuerich