Regional Training Groups (RTG)

Forming training teams in various model aircraft competition classes is not, in itself, a new concept. However, since the use of appropriate training sites—mostly model aircraft fields—is not unlimited, it seemed sensible to coordinate such activities on a regional basis.

About a year ago, the NOS Region’s Youth and Sports Commission (chaired by Werner Erismann) began working on establishing regional training groups for 2009. The project outline generated widespread interest. It was soon decided to start with the following age groups:

... and the criticism follows immediately.

Flights under close scrutiny ...

Coordinated by Werner Erismann

Coordination: Emil Giezendanner

Coordinated by Andreas Lüthi

Coordinated by Christian Hanke

Both the aerobatic pilots and the helicopter pilots got off to a good start with just over a dozen participants. The glider aerobatics pilots will meet on May 30. The electric flight training (gliding and pylon) has seen a modest turnout so far. This could improve as the Swiss Championships approach. During the aerobatics session at the Reichenburg airfield, participants were divided into two groups: Wolfgang Matt led the F3A group, and Emil Giezendanner led the F5A electric aerobatics group. This allowed for alternating between theory sessions and flight practice, which made for a very efficient session.

Instructional training for airplane and helicopter aerobatics is a much greater challenge than is generally assumed. Telling an aerobatic pilot after landing that that they had a slight wobble during the roll, overshot by 12 degrees during the snap, or had a corner in the loop is ineffective and pointless, because in most cases the pilot already knows all of this, and on the next flight, that corner might be in a completely different place. Genuine criticism should focus on general, recurring errors—for example, that all downward rolls and partial rolls —whether 45 degrees or vertical—are generally performed too late, resulting in the notorious “rushing” at the bottom, or that, for example, in all dotted rolls, the first side is too short, etc.