We miss you, Daniel Bögli

On the morning of August 17, Daniel Bögli died of cardiac arrest after briefly feeling unwell. He was a well-known, passionate model airplane pilot. He had been confined to a wheelchair since his accident at a young age. A glider had become entangled in the trees
, and the fatal accident occurred during the recovery effort. For many years, he was also a very successful wheelchair athlete. You could tell just by looking at him that he was in good shape. He never let anything get him down. Model flying was always a passion of his; his beautiful models were usually built from scratch by himself. He was often out towing models. He was an active member of several model flying clubs in Bern, Frutigen, and Avenches. I fondly remember SuisseToy, which in its heyday was a well-known trade show held at the Allmend in Bern. Model building played a significant role there, whether through exhibitions or the legendary outdoor air show. Daniel was the boss there—always on site, approachable, and friendly—and he never lost his composure amid the hustle and bustle of the fair. I was always amazed at how he represented us in dealings with the fair’s management,

got along well with the exhibitors and got along very well with us model airplane enthusiasts. As we all know, model builders aren’t always the easiest to deal with. The challenge was to keep the boat builders, car modelers, and us airplane modelers all happy. Daniel had a real knack for that. For many, many years, we were able to work with him for a few days every year in early October.

The afternoon snack after the air show was part of the tradition, and Daniel was always there, whenever he had the time. Now all that remains for us is to honor his memory and wish his loved ones much strength during this difficult time. And let’s not forget his many fellow aviators—they will miss Daniel. His final flight does not end here...

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