Gernot Bruckmann, defending FAI F3P-A champion

Age: 32

Occupation: Model airplane designer, engineer, and builder

Model aviation experience: 27 years

What I fly: F3A, F3P, F3M, glider aerobatics, IMAC, jets, large gliders

Club: MFG Feistritz/Gail

Other hobbies: There isn’t really much else besides model flying—just my wonderful wife, who always supports me so much, and my family.

My childhood dream has always been to become a world champion in what I love doing most: model aircraft flying.

In 2013, that dream came true for me at the first F3P Indoor Aerobatics World Championship in Germany. Now, 12 years later, the 6th F3P World Championship in Switzerland awaits all participants, and I hope that I’ll be able to compete for my 6th title this time as well.

I’m already really looking forward to an exciting week in Switzerland, and I’m sure it will be an outstanding World Championship. I also hope that this will help us make the sport of F3P a little bigger again!

I’ve been passionate about model aviation since I was a child—whether it’s glider aerobatics, powered aerobatics, or jets—I find it all simply fascinating, and there’s nothing more important to me. So I’m also incredibly happy that my professional career has taken a turn toward model aviation, and I can proudly say that my hobby has turned into my profession.

My career in model aviation began many years ago. It all started for me with glider aerobatics. Even today, I’m still deeply fascinated by flying through all the maneuvers without an engine, using only the model’s own energy. That was followed by my start in IMAC aerobatics and freestyle. With a lot of training and hard work, I managed to compete against the world’s best in those disciplines. As indoor aerobatics became increasingly popular, I naturally couldn’t resist giving it a try. It’s a great pastime during the winter months. And of course, I’m very proud to be the first to call myself an F3P World Champion! At some point, I also got hooked on F3A aerobatics. Through intensive training, I was able to qualify for the national team there as well, and I’m chasing my dream of becoming a world champion. It would be wonderful if that dream were to come true one day.

But first up is the F3P World Championship in Switzerland, for which I’ll be preparing as best I can and which I’m already really looking forward to!