EURO CONTEST GLIDER ACRO TOUR AUSTRIA 2026

On the occasion of the Euro Tour Glider Acro Competition in Austria, we’d like to introduce you to three pilots (one Swiss, one German, and one Austrian). They’ve agreed to answer a few questions for us and share their passion for glider aerobatics.

Oliver Rentsch (SUI): My name is Oliver Rentsch. I’ve been flying model airplanes since fifth grade. Then, at our model airfield, I saw the aerobatic glider pilots training. And I thought, if they can do that, so can I. So I bought a model. With my budget, that was (only) enough for a Lo-100 with a 3.5-meter wingspan. And that’s when I got hooked.

Armin Kölblin (GER): I’m Armin, 31 years old, and I’ve been competing in aerobatic gliding since 2011. I’ve been flying in the Unlimited class for 13 years.

Martin Knasmillner (AUT): Martin Knasmillner, National Technical Advisor for glider aerobatics in Austria. I’ve been overseeing the class throughout Austria since 1999 and have been flying in it myself since then as well. I’ve been flying in the Unlimited class ever since it was established.

OR: What really fascinates me about sailplane aerobatics is that there’s simply one attempt. You start at a certain altitude, and you have to complete all the maneuvers before you reach the ground. And you can’t just give it a quick burst of throttle like in other categories. Everything simply has to be just right, and achieving that level of precision really fascinates me.

AK: In general, compared to powered flight, I find it very interesting that you basically have to do everything with speed and momentum. That’s also part of the appeal of the whole thing: that it’s classic, silent, and precise. I also find the camaraderie with the other pilots very interesting and wonderful. I also like the structure of the programs: that we always fly a known compulsory routine, an unknown one, and then the freestyle routine.

MK: The beauty of the glider aerobatics scene is that it’s a very friendly class. It’s not really a competitive class, so to speak, but rather a gathering place for friends who practice the sport together. For me, that’s actually the most important thing, and it’s also the most fun. On top of that, there’s the silent aerobatics. That adds another special thrill to the experience.

OR: Right now I’m flying a really old Swift S1 with a 4.5-meter wingspan and a Rosenthal fuselage. And someone built the wings themselves at some point. This plane has had something like four previous owners.

AK: I fly a Bruckmann Swift with a 5.80-meter wingspan, on a 1:2.2 scale, powered by an FES motor. Before that, I had the smaller Swift from Bruckmann Modellbau with a 4.70-meter wingspan. Two years ago, I switched to the larger Swift. In general, they fly similarly in terms of handling. But because of its size, it’s a whole different mass that you’re pushing through the air and that moves through the air. That’s a ton of fun.

MK: I fly a Foka 4 with a 6.30-meter wingspan. I also fly a Foka with a 5-meter wingspan. The model with a 6.30-meter wingspan weighs 17.5 kg, and the one with a 5-meter wingspan weighs 11 kg. These models aren’t run-of-the-mill, which is why I enjoy flying them so much. They might not be the ideal aircraft for aerobatics, but they just look great and fly beautifully.

OR: The Swiss Acro Connection offers two open house days each year. I signed up for one of them. They gave me a lot of help with setting up the model. And then I was practically already signed up for my first competition. It’s actually a great way to get started: you jump right in, and they help you, support you, and that’s where you learn the most. Skill comes with experience.

AK: It’s definitely very important not to be afraid. We may all be pilots competing against each other, but we’re still one big family.

We support each other whenever we can. If you know someone, you can just talk to them. Or you can go to a competition, talk to someone there, and say you’re interested.

MK: For a beginner, I’d first recommend a glider aerobatics model—which you can always get for a reasonable price—with a wingspan of about four meters to get started. In any case, they should get in touch with a pilot who’s already active in the scene. The most important thing in glider aerobatics is that the model is set up correctly, so you’re not struggling with the model’s quirks but can focus on the maneuvers.