7th International Model Helicopter Meet in Auenstein

Amid glorious summer weather, the MG Auenstein international helicopter competition—a favorite among enthusiasts—was held again this year. On August 2, renowned helicopter pilots gathered at the Auenstein quarry for the seventh time. Among the competitors were reigning European champion E. Heim and the newly crowned Swiss champion R. Linder (see rankings).

Three rounds were flown according to the EHA program. The ten required maneuvers had to be completed within 10 minutes. I was able to experience the friendly atmosphere among the participants firsthand this year. Mr. W. Gloor of the Auenstein Model Aviation Club didn’t overpromise at the start of the competition when he said it wouldn’t be the best, but the most enjoyable competition. As a result, there were never any arguments among the participants regarding the scoring; instead, they discussed helicopter-specific issues, helped each other with mechanical problems, and, as a beginner among the pilots, I quickly felt at home. It was truly a wonderful feeling, as a first-time participant, to be accepted even by top pilots.

The competition began with a slight delay and lasted until around 6:00 p.m. It showcased everything that model helicopter flying has to offer. There were quite a few crashes, some of them serious. Already after the first round, a leading group emerged, from which the winner ultimately emerged. Once again, it was E. Heim, this time ahead of R. Linder, both flying Star Ranger models. Overall, the Star Rangers were the most widely represented this year, alongside the new Graupner models and a few Schlüter-System 80s (Bell 222 Trainer). When I think back to earlier competitions, quite a few changes have taken place among the models in recent years. It all started with the Kavan Jet-Ranger—which now really seems to be disappearing—along with the Graupner Twin-Jet and the Müller Aluette.

Later, the Schlüter helicopters (Bell 222 Trainer, now System 80) were introduced, bringing loops and rolls to helicopter flying. This year, however, the Star-Ranger seems to be the model of choice. It was gratifying to see how E. Heim, the designer of this model, was on hand to offer his model pilots advice and assistance. Finally, the award ceremony took place around 6:30 p.m., which required the presence of all pilots. The large crowd of spectators who had been present all day had mostly gone home by then. There were some very nice prizes to be won, and every participant listed on the scoreboard received a prize. For me, as a first-time participant, this was a pleasant surprise, since I was actually a contender for last place. On this

day, I benefited greatly and do not regret joining the ranks of the participants. I would like to commend the MG Auenstein for their excellent organization. It was truly a wonderful competition, and I look forward—hopefully along with many others—to the next one.

W. Heller, MG Bassersdorf