Two sessions of seven hours each, just to watch planes take off and land

So, the weather conditions were exceptional for this area and this time of year. These circumstances, combined with the fact that we had plenty of parking spaces available, brought us several thousand spectators. On Saturday, based on the number of parked cars, attendance was estimated at approximately 6,000, and on Sunday at 9,000. Over 100 registrations from

Entries were received from pilots, but unfortunately only 60 could be accepted. Due to lighting conditions, the maximum flight time per day is limited to about 7 hours, which is why more pilots were unable to fly. In the early days, things were quite different. Back then, in the week leading up to the air show, a few pilots had to be hastily recruited by phone so that spectators could be offered an exciting program.

During the first 20 days of flying, a scale competition was held every Saturday, requiring participants to take off and land simultaneously from two launch sites. This was an absolute first and required a great deal of organizational skill at the time, considering that 2.4-GHz radio controls did not yet exist—a major challenge for frequency control, especially since adjacent frequencies were blocked. Ten members of the Affoltern Model Flying Club, led by the president of the organizing committee, Beat Huber, organize the event throughout the year. On the day of the air show itself, an additional 120 volunteers are on duty. These many helping hands belong to members and family members of the model flying club, as well as members of friendly clubs and other supporters. Without this large number of volunteers, such an event would not be possible today.

This is no longer feasible, especially considering that the Affoltern Model Aircraft Club, as the organizing club, has “only” 50 members. For most people, setup work at the airfield begins as early as Friday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. By Sunday evening around 8:00 p.m., the airfield is once again free of any traces of the air show. By Monday morning, the grounds must be cleared again for the larger aircraft. For the members of the organizing committee, the work is never really over, since the first preparations for the next air show begin immediately after cleanup.

This year, too, there were numerous model highlights to marvel at: everything from 125 cm to 15 m in wingspan was on display. As for the engines, there were all sorts of unique models to see and hear: boxer, radial, electric, and jet engines, to name just a few examples. Pictures speak louder than words. You can view photos from the past air show on the MG Affoltern website at www.mgaffoltern.ch. The next air show in Hausen will take place on October 2 and 3, 2010—hopefully with equally beautiful weather and just as many enthusiastic pilots and spectators.