Model Aircraft in the French-speaking Swiss Press

db / The Swiss Aero Club, in collaboration with the Bern Model Aircraft Club, organized a major press conference on July 2 on the topic “Model Aircraft Flying in Switzerland.” Two

major daily newspapers from French-speaking Switzerland were in Bern that day: “24 heures” and “Tribune – le matin.” Here we share their impressions and comments:

Monday, July 4, 1983

24 heures

24

The active presence on Saturday at the Bern-Belpmoos airfield of the director of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Rolf Künzi, on Saturday at the Bern-Belpmoos airfield, demonstrated—if any proof were needed—the importance that federal authorities attach to aviation sports in general and model aircraft flying in particular, a discipline that some consider merely a game for teenagers or a hobby for DIY enthusiasts.

PIERRE HENCHOZ

The annual press day, organized by the Aero-Club of Switzerland, focused specifically on this discipline, which is an integral part of the activities for which our national club is responsible. Model aircraft flying, a sport little known except to those who practice it, is often viewed with suspicion by some residents living near the small areas required for flying these models.

But complaints about noise are set to diminish significantly. Two-stroke engines, with their high-pitched vibrations, are increasingly being replaced by quieter four-stroke engines or electric motors, which are completely silent. Saturday’s demonstrations convinced us completely.

Due to the need for national and international competitions, model aircraft enthusiasts have been grouped into distinct classes. So-called free-flight models, with or without engines, fly with the help of air currents and can

land anywhere. That’s where beginners are found. In the circular flight category, the aircraft is held by strings that allow it to be steered, like a horse being led on a lunge line around a circle. The third category includes all remote-controlled models—airplanes, gliders, helicopters, or original experimental craft. Here, pilots maneuver their machines with astonishing precision and skill. The most complex acrobatic routines

are commonplace. That leaves the final class, known as “scales,” which features models that are exact replicas of both historic and modern aircraft. Modelers who take on this challenging specialty deserve special recognition. The old Biériot or Fokker aircraft from World War I, the Messerschmitts and Mustangs from World War II, or even the Bucker Jungmeister in flight, evoke a unique sensation. Were it not for the distinctive sound of the engine, the illusion would be complete.

Model aircraft building requires a wide range of skills: manual dexterity, technical knowledge, patience, and perseverance—a great deal of perseverance.

P. Hz

The Revival of a Hobby

“A model airplane enthusiast’s ‘drug’ is neither LSD nor heroin, but flight.” This is how Werner Kölliker, vice president of the Swiss Aero Club (AéCS), Werner Kölliker, during the AéCS’s annual press conference held Saturday at the Bern/Belpmoos Airport. The various speakers sought to restore the reputation of this hobby, which suffers from a bad reputation among the general public (noise, pollution, etc.). The AéCS also took advantage of this event to showcase various types of aircraft, including a scale model airship.

Currently, 25,000 model aircraft enthusiasts build and fly model aircraft in Switzerland. There are 7,500 model aircraft enthusiasts who are members of the Aero-Club. However, they are generally viewed rather negatively by the public in the areas where they practice. They have been

deemed undesirable, and some cases were only resolved in court.

However, as both Werner Kölliker and Marc Schnyder, head of model aviation for the AéCS, have stated, efforts have been made, and

All technical resources have been mobilized to reduce noise pollution. It was also noted that the majority of model aircraft builders are enthusiasts of gliding and electric flight, which are completely silent disciplines.

Furthermore, older two-stroke engines are gradually being replaced by four-stroke engines, which are much quieter. To support these claims, noise measurements were taken: the results showed 80 decibels for a

four-stroke engine and 82 decibels for a two-stroke engine equipped with a muffler. For his part, Rolf Künzi, director of the Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA), noted that the regulations in effect for model aircraft are exactly the same as those for any other flying object. He noted that the FOCA was working on revising the regulations governing model aircraft to bring them in line with the current situation. — (ats)