Model Aircraft Flying at SMV: Overview and News

Within the SMV’s Sports Division, several specialized committees—known as “FAKOs” for short—handle the sporting aspects of model aviation at the national and international levels. Representatives from the regional model aviation associations ensure the coordination of regional activities within the FAKOs. Below is an overview with some news items.

Aviation sports are coordinated internationally by the “Fédération Aéronautique Internationale,” or “FAI” for short, which is headquartered in Lausanne. Within the FAI, the “Aeromodeling Commission” (CIAM) is responsible for model aviation; model aviators from Switzerland are represented on this commission and play an active role in its work. The best known among them is Emil Giezendanner, who has chaired the F5 Electric Flight Subcommittee within CIAM for countless years. He and Peter Germann, head of the department

Sports representatives on the SMV also serve as AeCS delegates to CIAM.

Other SMV members serving on CIAM subcommittees: Dieter Siebenmann (F1 Free Flight), Peter Germann (F2 Tethered Flight, Chair of the F2B Working Group), Bernhard Schaden (F3A Aerobatics), Rudolf Schaub (F3B Performance Gliding), Peter Oberli (F3C Helicopter Aerobatics), and Peter Gutknecht (F4Scale).

As a division of the AeCS, the SMV, together with the regional model aviation associations, represents and oversees the sport of model aviation in Switzerland in accordance with FAI rules and certain national regulations. Within the SMV’s Sports Division, several technical committees are dedicated to this cause—as always, on a volunteer basis and often working quietly behind the scenes. Below is a brief overview of the current FAKO presidents and the disciplines that are actively practiced and supported in Switzerland (for further information, please visit modellflug.ch).

(Christoph Bachmann)

• A1 Simple Student Models
• F1A (Sailplanes with line launch)
• F1B (Rubber-powered gliders)
• F1C (Internal-combustion-engine gliders)
• F1D (Rubber-powered indoor gliders)
• F1E (Magnetically Controlled Slope Gliders)
• F1Q (Electric gliders)

The new FAKO “F3 Heli” was founded in the fall of 2009 on the initiative of the FAKO “F3 Aerobatics” to provide optimal support to this rather specialized community, both technically and in terms of flying. After extensive preparatory work, the new FAKO was able to begin operations as planned on January 1, 2010.

Peter Oberli, a name well known in the helicopter modeling community, stepped up to serve as president of the new FAKO. His experience spans some 60 years of model aviation, including 8 years as president of MG Bern, the organization of countless F3C Swiss Championships, involvement at the CIAM level, and much more. His track record is underscored by his honorary membership in MG Bern and the Bern-Oberland-Valais Model Aviation Region.

The Board is pleased to have this new addition to the sports division and wishes Peter Oberli every success in his work. We call on the club presidents to confirm him in his position at the next SPK meeting. In doing so, they will lay the foundation for solid support of a branch of competitive model aviation that is growing in popularity.

SMV Board of Directors

(Georg Biber)

• F2A Speed
• F2B Aerobatics
• F2C Team Racing
• F2D Combat (Fox Hunt)

(Until the 2010 SPK: Rolf Weyermann; elected at the 2010 SPK: Willi Spillmann)

• F3A Power Aerobatics
• F3D Pylon Racing
• F3M Large-Scale Aerobatics
• F3P Indoor Aerobatics
• RCS Acro Glider Aerobatics

(Rudolf Schaub)

• F3B Performance Gliding (Distance, Speed, Time Flight)
• F3F Performance Gliding on a Slope
• F3J Thermal Gliding (Time Flight with Target Landing)
• F3K Hand-Launched Gliding
• RCS Slope Gliding

(SPK Election 2010: Peter Oberli)

• F3C Helicopter Aerobatics
• F3N 3D Aerobatics
• KoAx (under construction)

(Max Schilt)

• F4C Scale
• Large Scale (national)
• F4 Jet
• F4 Helicopter
• F4B Tethered Flight

At the 2010 SPK, Rolf Weyermann will step down from his position after many years of service to aerobatics within the SMV. The SMV would like to take this opportunity to thank him for all the hard work he has done on behalf of the association and the aerobatics community.

Willi Spillmann of the FAKO F3 Aerobatics Club in Uznach has volunteered to serve as his successor. Willi Spillmann has been actively involved in model flying for nearly 45 years with the Reichenburg Model Flying Club. Among other things, he has served more than 25 times as competition director for the international F3A friendly flying event in the NOS region.

Willi Spillmann has close ties to aviation through his profession: Since 1976, he has been a career military pilot in the Air Force and continues to fly all types of helicopters. In addition, he is very familiar with general aviation: For many years, he was a flight instructor on single- and twin-engine aircraft, and today he flies the JU 52 for JU AIR.

The Board is delighted by his willingness to take on another role in support of model aviation and recommends him for election at the 2010 SPK.

SMV Board of Directors

(Emil Giezendanner)

• F5A Electric Aerobatics (max. 3 kg)
• F5B Electric Motor Glider (World Championship Class)
• F5C Electric Helicopters (rotor max. 1.35 m)
• F5D Pylon Racing
• F5E Solar-Powered Models
• F5F Motor Gliders
• F5G Large Gliders (3.5 m and up)
• F6A Artistic Aerobatics
• F6B Aeromusicals

(Arthur Hunziker)

• S6 Flight Duration
• S8 Rocket Glider

Organizing the entire competition schedule—including the Swiss Championships and the selection of national teams—requires a significant amount of effort. The SMV Board of Directors would like to thank all those involved in the SMV’s technical committees and within the regional model aviation associations who support the sport of model aviation through their volunteer work. The major international successes of some Swiss pilots and teams would not be possible at all without a well-functioning national competition and selection system.

Hosting world championships in one’s own country is not only a gesture toward the global community of model aircraft enthusiasts and associations, it also always offers an ideal opportunity to present model aviation in the national media for what it is: a challenging recreational activity that can also be pursued competitively at any level. In the case of scale jets, the media is likely to show particular interest. (Photos: Reto Schilliger, taken at the 2009 Scale SM)

In the international jet modeling scene, the “Jet World Masters”—held in accordance with the rules of the “International Jet Model Committee” (IJMC)—have established themselves as the premier international event for jet model builders and pilots. The fact that pilots from the world-renowned “Swiss Jet Scale Team” consistently take spots on the individual and team podiums is, of course, a source of particular delight for the SMV board. Not least for this reason, the board is currently working intensively on hosting the 2013 Jet World Masters in Switzerland.

Given the infrastructure required for scale jets and the highly successful organization of the 2000 Scale World Championships, the board approached MG Interlaken with the idea of hosting the Jet World Masters. At a general meeting in November, MG Interlaken decided to host a sol-

to support such events in principle.

For safety reasons and due to the excellent infrastructure available there, Meiringen Airfield is currently being considered as the venue. Initial discussions between SMV representatives and the Air Force, Skyguide, and the Meiringen Airfield Command went very well, and further steps are already underway.

A comprehensive sponsorship plan is being developed to finance the event, which can then also be used for future events. This will ease the burden on the Communications Department, which in the past has had to step in at short notice twice to secure sponsors for major events, at the expense of other projects.

To develop the overarching concept, the Executive Board, at the request of the Res-

The 2010 budget allocates a maximum of 10,000 francs for sports. The goal is clear: to use this proposal to secure a binding commitment from partners.

The official bid for the 2013 Jet World Masters will not be submitted until

the financing of the event is secured without placing a burden on the members. The board expects that this can be achieved with the above concept and will provide updates on planning progress as opportunities arise.

SMV/rs