YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? 125 YEARS OF THE SWISS AERO CLUB

Dear model airplane enthusiasts

Let’s start with the good news: The anniversary celebrations organized by our umbrella aviation organization, the AeCS—which kicked off on March 22 at Bundesplatz in Bern—as well as the presentation of a modern electric sport aircraft in front of the Bubenberg Monument were wonderful and impactful anniversary events. The slideshow on the AeCS website definitely deserves a mention as well. I’d also like to include “Altenrhein: 100 Years of Aviation in One Show” in this list. I probably don’t have a comprehensive enough overview of the entire country. But the other events listed for the 125th anniversary are, to put it mildly, lackluster and mostly involved activities that take place anyway, while largely ignoring the bigger picture—I mean the 125 years—entirely. Events that run on their own are rarely highlights; rather, they’re an expression of dedicated volunteer work within the clubs. That shouldn’t be downplayed here. Nevertheless, I miss the standout events from the major associations and divisions. The founding of the Pro-Aero youth camp 44 years ago—initiated at the time by model airplane enthusiasts—remains a highlight of the AeCS’s youth development program to this day. The magazine “modell flugsport” was also created and financed exclusively by model aviators, without any subsidies. It came into being because the “Aero Revue” was unable to meet the information needs of model aviators in any way. Today, MFS serves as a national unifying force for model aviation, which must be more than welcome to the AeCS; after all, it helps prevent the group with the largest membership and highest dues from becoming too rebellious. I remember well how the great model aviation president and AeCS honorary member Werner Koelliker publicly lamented “divisional self-interest” following the AeCS’s major structural reform in 1992—which introduced divisions and regional associations. In fact, in my opinion, the 125th anniversary celebration lacked cooperation among the divisions. Perhaps the bigwigs, looking down from on high, simply overlooked us model aviators, and we “little people” were too caught up in the details.

At least once a year, the AeCS Delegates’ Assembly takes place with all its divisions and regions—thankfully.

With collegial regards
, Emil Ch. Giezendanner

redaktion@modellflugsport.ch