Vacation Pass – An Opportunity Not Just for Kids

Every year, countless model aircraft clubs take the opportunity to introduce students in their communities to model flying. By doing so, the clubs highlight the high educational value of our sport and strengthen their position in the region. Many young people have gotten their start in model flying through these workshops.

The SMV supports the clubs by providing SMV balsa gliders free of charge. Model flying promotional materials and a simulator can also be obtained through the central secretariat.

The following brief reports are intended to serve as inspiration for organizing such workshops in your own club. Perhaps one or two of these ideas will soon be put into practice in your club as well:

In July and August 2018, just as we did last year, we had the opportunity to introduce 20 aviation-enthusiast students to our hobby. By building the SMV Balsa Glider and offering a teacher-student program on the dual-control glider, we were able to provide a well-rounded program. This allowed the students to get a taste of what it takes to build a simple glider and tune it to fly properly, as well as to gain their own flying experience at the controls. The students brought their friends along and enjoyed a wonderful evening with us. Just like last year, we received inquiries from participants who are interested in pursuing model flying further and plan to visit us again for the dual-control sessions.

On the morning of August 8, 2018, seven teenagers gathered at the Raron airfield. We explained to the children all the activities that take place at the Raron airfield (manned powered flight and helicopter flight, as well as model aircraft flight). The children were able to sit in the Piper Archer belonging to the Upper Valais Flying Club, where a pilot showed them the plane and explained how an airplane actually flies. Next, they got to work building gliders and tried out the model flight simulator for the first time. Afterward, the children had the opportunity to fly a model airplane and even a 700-scale model helicopter using the dual controls. At the end, we took a photo and sent the happy young people on their way, hoping to have sparked an interest in aviation in one or two of them. The Raron Model Aircraft Club is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. It would be wonderful if this occasion led to new young members joining our club.

In addition to the dual-control flights, children ages 11 to 15 were also able to enjoy various demonstrations by the experienced pilots of MG Reinach. Another highlight was assembling and test-flying the SMV balsa wood glider.

We certainly hope that we’ve managed to pass on the “aviation bug” to one or two of the children.

The event took place as planned on October 8, 2018, in good weather. Twelve children were registered; eleven actually attended, five in the morning and six in the afternoon. The course lasted 2½ hours in both the morning and the afternoon. The children were divided into two groups so that each group could alternate between flying and building models for a little over an hour at a time. Each child was usually able to fly a model airplane for a full hour, naturally under the supervision of an instructor. Most of the children were subsequently able to keep a simple RC model—such as a Multiplex Easy Star or similar foam-based motor gliders—in the air largely on their own, though they were not yet able to land precisely on the runway. Each child was provided with two wooden hand-launched gliders; one was built and flown, and the other was given to the children to take home along with the SMV informational materials. The children enjoyed the outdoor crafting activity at least as much as the flying. As a result, the event was very successful and was subsequently acknowledged with thanks by a representative of the Erlinsbach Parents’ Association.

On Saturday afternoon, October 13, 2018, eight interested students from the 5-Star Region gathered at the Niederwil model airfield for the “Ferienpass” model aircraft workshop.

Several members of the Free-Flyers Niederwil model aircraft club put together a colorful and engaging program.

To kick things off, the young people were treated to a thrilling model aircraft demonstration against a cloudless sky. After this motivational boost, the students were divided into groups.

At one station, everyone had the chance to assemble a balsa wood hand-launched glider under expert guidance.

At the flight simulator, the enthusiastic boys made crash-free flight attempts with helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. This allowed them to experience their first successes in model flying. Virtual crashes were taken in stride and provided plenty of amusement.

Three club members offered instructor-student flights using their dual-control systems. After a brief introduction to the functions of an aircraft, the participants, with the support of the flight instructor, were able to gain their first experience piloting model airplanes.

To wrap up the educational afternoon, a flying competition was held using the hand-launched gliders the children had built earlier. After three rounds, the winner was declared.

As a memento of the wonderful “Ferienpass” afternoon, the instructors presented the students with personalized certificates.

In this way, the participants experienced an exciting, diverse, and challenging hobby that requires a fair amount of practice and knowledge.