Phoebus – A Model Tells the Story of His Life

Please allow me to briefly introduce myself here. My name is Phöbus. I was born about 30 years ago in Aarau. At birth, I weighed about 5 kg, had a fuselage length of just over 2 meters, and a wingspan of just under 5 meters. My fuselage is made of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (FRP), built by my owner using a negative mold based on the original blueprints. Back in the 1960s, my “real big brother” was the first plastic glider. My wing features a Worthman airfoil with the strak FX 160–140–126. The core consists of blue foam material, has three layers of fiberglass cloth, Abachi wood skinning, and is finally laminated with film. I am controlled via ailerons, elevator, and rudder, as well as a tow hook and spoilers.

In the early years of my life, I was often able to go out with my owner. I think back to the towing meets organized by the IGG Gross-Segler, the club outings to Hahnenmoos, and so on and so forth... A good 26 years ago, we moved to the canton of Uri. With no airfield or towing options nearby, things grew increasingly quiet around me. For years, I led a miserable existence in a corner of the garage, gathering more and more dust. My skin became wrinkled, the rudders fell off, and every now and then I’d hear my boss say, “I really should get rid of this old thing once and for all.” I slowly began to feel like someone on death row, waiting for their final hour. So the years passed, and I grew more and more unsightly and sad, because I had brought my boss so much joy, and now he no longer paid me any attention at all. My electronic innards are also from the Stone Age. My hope that I would ever get air under my wings again faded more and more.

But a few months ago, my life suddenly took a different turn. I was roused from my drowsy slumber and heard my boss say, “Instead of throwing it away, I’m going to completely restore this old thing and put it back into

"Get it back in shape." My old heart nearly burst with joy. But I also knew that a restoration wouldn’t go entirely without a few hiccups. At the MG OW airfield, where my boss has been flying for many years, there’s usually at least one tow plane available. Flying there would have to be incredibly awesome. From now on, everything is going smoothly: the wrinkled film has been peeled off, the old internals and mechanical linkages have been removed and replaced with modern wing servos, the yellowed fuselage has been spray-painted white, and all signs of wear on my parts have been neatly repaired, touched up, and also repainted. After many hours of work, it now stands in our workshop, completely restored and in pristine

white in our workshop. Because of the wet and cold spring, I had to be patient for a few more months before I could finally put my new beauty to the test and prove it was airworthy. Finally, on Saturday, September 7, 2013, the time had come. Airfield, here we come! Edi Flecklin’s powerful Wilga skillfully pulled me up into the sky. Then, I released the tow rope and finally soared freely again—an indescribable feeling of joy washed over me. My boss was also delighted with the successful second maiden flight, and we both hope we’ll be able to enjoy many more wonderful flights together.

*Your “Phöbus,
” aka Peter Hofer
. Photos: Hans Abächerli and
Peter Hofer*