Supporting Young Talent: Big Things Start Small

Two 14-year-olds are working on the CNC milling machine, building model airplanes out of wood, and are valued pilots in the Gauset Model Flying Club. They’ve accomplished all of this in just over a year—thanks to the support of Bruno Eberle, who is responsible for promoting youth development at the Northwest Model Flying Association.

Many model aircraft clubs are struggling to attract new members. There are too few young people interested in the hobby. The competitive scene could also use a regular infusion of new talent. The clubs—often dominated by

older and middle-aged men—note with some discouragement time and again. Many clubs are trying to win over young people with projects and initiatives. The associations aren’t sitting idly by either, but success generally remains modest across the board.

So the great influx of new participants into our wonderful hobby cannot

simply orchestrated on a large scale. On a smaller scale, however, there are time and again encouraging examples that promise lasting success. For example, Bruno Eberle regularly builds remarkable models in his hobby basement with two teenagers from his neighborhood. As a visit reveals, that model is a Mo-

model building from the ground up. Bruno has been designing his models on a CAD system for a long time

He does it himself and manufactures the parts using a CNC milling machine. Then it’s time for classic model building: ribs, frames, planking, white glue, covering, etc. Sebastian and Fabian have been participating regularly for over a year. The two 14-year-old students from the neighborhood have caught the model-building and model-flying bug. They spend many hours building their models, which they fly on nice Saturdays at the Gauset Model Flying Club’s grounds. This summer, the two will participate together in the ProAero youth camp in S-chanf.

Sebastian is currently working on a new Foxy—an original design by Bruno Eberle—because his old one was damaged in a crash. He’s been involved a bit longer than his friend Fabian. Bruno introduces him as the “chief designer,” meaning he’s responsible for the models’ graphic design—

. But after a year and a half of regular involvement, the young man can do much more than that. He helps with the designs and can also set up and operate the CNC milling machine. He’s already doing a pretty neat job with the build, even if Bruno’s support is, of course, indispensable here and there. In addition to the replacement Foxy, he’s currently absorbed and fascinated by a Mustang as his main project.

Fabian proudly shows off a Katana—also an Eberle design—that he helped build. His current project is a Spitfire. Although building wooden model airplanes is a time-consuming process, Fabian assures us that he enjoys it. Only the fuselage paneling was a bit tedious. Fabian can make simple adjustments in CAD, and for a change of pace, he sometimes fires up the simulator in his hobby room to try out some aerobatics—

rehearse the routine. His skill is impossible to overlook. Bruno can confirm this: “He’s already giving me a hard time.”