Meeting Lodrino 2010

On September 25 and 26, 2010, the 6th International Scale Model Airshow took place at the Lodrino (TI) airfield, organized by the “Gruppo aeromodellisti Molinazzo-Bellinzona.” Every day from 10 a.m., without a break, until 5:30 p.m., approximately 5,000 spectators were able to enjoy an exciting airshow of rare beauty. A wide variety of models were flown: vintage aircraft, World War II military planes, various postwar models, replicas of the first jets, and high-tech aircraft from recent years. Also featured were a large glider with an 11-meter wingspan and a flying weight of 29 kg, and a model of the American Blackbird bomber with two turbines and a fuselage length of 3.2 meters. Among the participating pilots were a former world champion in the jet category, the current European champion in the freestyle helicopter category, Lucas Riva, and the third-place finisher at the World Championships in the helicopter acrobatics category, Ennio Graber, who impressed spectators and experts alike with their spectacular demonstrations. The fastest model at the meeting was a VIPER MK II, which, weighing 17 kg, reached speeds of up to 300 km/h and was masterfully piloted by Claudio Gilardi, a member of the “Gruppo aeromodellisti Molinazzo-Bellinzona” (GAMB). Among the pilots from Italy, the aerobatic flights by Andrea Brignoli, Italian champion in the F3AX category (acrobatics with large models), deserve special mention; his performances left spectators breathless. Also spectacular was a Bipulso model, which amazed spectators with its incredible noise and turns at top speed. Among the fighter aircraft, a Focke-Wulf FW190—powered by a 5-cylinder, 4-stroke radial engine—deserves special mention. The fast low-altitude flyby and tight turns perfectly matched the characteristics of the original. The simultaneous flights of three vintage Lockheed Sirius gliders, each with a wingspan of 4 meters, were also impressive. Not to be forgotten was the tow demonstration—just like with the originals—of an ASW 27 glider with a 5-meter wingspan, towed by a large Piper with a 3-meter wingspan.

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