Message from the President of the AeCS

On behalf of the Swiss Aero Club, I am very pleased to welcome you all. It is not every day that a world championship is held at the Burkertsmatt Sports Arena in Widen, in the canton of Aargau. Since model flying plays a significant role within the AeCS, this sporting event is all the more noteworthy. Model flyers make up by far the largest group of members in our umbrella organization for light aviation. Of the more than 8,000 members of the Swiss Model Aviation Association, many are also closely connected to manned aviation, and many of today’s commercial and military pilots began their careers in model aviation.

Model aircraft flying as a sport has many facets. The fact that we in Switzerland have been entrusted with organizing the World Indoor Aerobatics Championship is due in no small part to our many active model
aircraft pilots, who consistently achieve international success in a wide variety of categories. It’s a shame that, to date, we have only a few female model aviators in our ranks. But we’re working on that. We’re all the more pleased, then, that all generations are represented. The youngest participant is just 13 years old, and the age range extends up to 60+.

When you visit the Indoor World Championships, let yourself be captivated by the precision and grace of the models, piloted by the world’s best indoor aerobatics pilots. Go up to the pilots, and let them show you the models and explain how they work. Perhaps after your visit, you’ll even catch the model flying bug yourself, but you’re sure to take home some extraordinary memories. The Aero-Club of Switzerland wishes all participants the best of luck and all visitors exciting competitions. ■

Matthias Samuel Jauslin,
President of the Aero-Club of Switzerland