Region BOW and the SMV at Swiss Toy 2010 in Bern

The Swiss Toy toy fair in Bern has been the leading trade show for toys and model building in Switzerland for several years. This year, once again, the Bern–Oberland–Valais region was invited by the fair’s organizers to run a large booth dedicated to model building. Under the leadership of Stefan Keller and his organizing committee, excellent work was once again accomplished, just as in previous years. The booth, measuring 17×10 m, was set up in a U-shape to maximize the area available for direct visitor access.

The volunteers working with Stefan Keller—represented here by Peter Oberli (FaKo President F3C) and Peter Germann (Head of the Sports Department and FaKo Representative F2), managed the booth with great enthusiasm for five days and answered hundreds of questions, drawing on the collective knowledge gained from years of model flying experience. Even though many questions were repeated over the course of the days—such as “How much does this cost?” or “Can you buy this model?”—interesting topics of conversation kept arising, and it quickly became

just how high the interest in model aviation really is. Even experienced model aviators who were venturing into GRP models for the first time received answers regarding the specific requirements for building and handling these materials. Last but not least, the collective expertise of the booth staff sometimes helped visitors make purchasing decisions, especially when interested beginners—overwhelmed by terms like GHz, EPP, GfK, CfK, amperes, watts, Cs, and LiPo batteries—desperately needed clear, unbiased guidance.

Swiss Toy is thus not only a magnet for parents and children but also a go-to destination for many model aircraft enthusiasts who want to explore the fair and are very grateful to receive competent and comprehensive information delivered with passion, without being subjected to the pressure to buy or the time constraints typical of commercial booths. The models on display at the booth—ranging from F1 to F5 and some of them very elaborate—included exhibits of every type and were provided by various model pilots. We would like to take this opportunity to thank these pilots for their dedication in bringing the models

to drop off in the evening and pick up again on Sunday evening.

As attractions at the booth, flight simulators and functional tethered-flight models were made available; every afternoon before the fair, model aircraft flights were demonstrated live for one hour in a secure outdoor area. These demonstrations showcased the wide range of gliding, sailplane, and powered flight and proved extremely popular. The

space available for visitors was usually filled to capacity right away.

The construction of a glider model—planned as a special attraction—and its assembly right at the booth unfortunately had to be canceled due to the pilot’s sudden illness.

Everyone involved agreed that the non-commercial presentation of model building and model flying is an important opportunity to give visitors a deeper insight into the subject and to provide them with tips for everyday life. The additional opportunity to foster public acceptance should not be underestimated. Should the fair organizers offer the opportunity to operate a booth again in 2011, we will certainly take advantage of it. It would, of course, be wonderful if the BOW Model Flying Region could count on personnel and material support from all regions. After all, the Bern–Oberland–Valais region’s presence at the fair benefits all model pilots and model flying clubs in Switzerland. *Rb/smv*