Autumn Seaplane Fun

Türlersee is no longer an unfamiliar body of water to MFS readers, as it already made headlines in MFS last winter with the feature on “Winter Flying at the Lake” (MFS 1/2008).

And the second move followed immediately: In September 2008, the Grischhei ZH Model Aircraft Club launched a trial project at Türlersee. The goal was to determine whether the campground’s infrastructure, the lake, and the surrounding area would be suitable for future seaplane events. To that end, the Grischhei Model Aircraft Club invited several members of the Pfäfikon, Obwalden, and Rothrist clubs who were enthusiastic about seaplane flying

to a completely casual, fun-filled seaplane flying session with no competition whatsoever. A total of about 20 pilots showed up with a wide variety of models, and half of them were already using 2.4-GHz transmitters. Highlights—to name just two—included: Emil Giezendanner completed his first seaplane flight, and Marc Wüthrich, the youngest pilot and helmsman, safely guided his father’s Beaver—which had been drifting helplessly on the “open water” with an empty LiPo battery—back to the harbor using his homemade model

motorboat, safely back to the harbor his father’s Beaver, which had been drifting helplessly on the “open sea” with a depleted LiPo battery. For quite a few, it was a point of honor to make use of the lake rescue service’s rubber boat at least once. Hardcore water pilots aren’t timid landlubbers, after all, and are willing to take quite a few risks to entertain the numerous onlookers to the fullest.

All in all, the atmosphere was fantastic, and high praise goes to President Heinz Lattmann and his team of volunteers. We’ll certainly be hearing more about future seaplane days at Türlersee. It’s quite possible that the Türlersee Seaplane Meet could become an alternative to the Grundlsee mecca, some 700 km away...

*Hans Jürg Baum*