3rd International Militky Cup Electric Aircraft Competition, 1976, Pfäffikon, Canton of Zurich

Top left:
On the right in the foreground is Wolfgang Schwarze with his aerobatic model, the “E-Falke.” As the only Akrom model, it was equipped with compact motors and folding propellers.

Top right:
Ernst Tscheulin, the winner of the electric glider category, launches a “Mosquito.” This model—which we’ll be reviewing soon—was the most commonly used at the Pfäffikon Meeting.

Center left:
Heinz Elsässer is the winner in the electric aerobatics category. His model is powered by a motor developed specifically for electric flight by physicist Heinz Keller. However, it requires 20 (normally 10–14) expensive nickel-cadmium batteries as a power source.

Bottom left:
Heinz Elsässer was the only one to successfully take off from the rough grass runway.

Bottom right:
The technical trophy was won by the participants from the Helmut Kermess Model Flying Club in Munich. Their E’MOS model is made almost entirely (only 7 wooden parts) of fiberglass-reinforced plastic (epoxy). On the left is Hans Schumacher, who placed third in the electric glider category. On the right is Alexander von Wunschheim.

Top left:
An Akromodell by the Giezendanner brothers with a rear-mounted engine.

Top right:
Flown outside of competition: the twin-fuselage model by Mario Waldmeier of Pfäffikon.

Center left:
Until recently considered a pipe dream: an electric model airplane with retractable landing gear. The designer is Gerd Schweidler from Zumikon.

Center right:
The E’MOS model from the guests from Munich features elliptical wings. Andreas Westphal prepares his model for takeoff.

Bottom left:
Helmut Schenk’s model is groundbreaking for the widespread development of electric aerobatics: The motors are very affordable, and 10 1.2 Ah battery cells are sufficient as a power source.

Bottom right:
One man’s joy, another’s sorrow: The remains of crashed models are popular trophies for spectators and fans.

The scores in parentheses ( ) are the discarded results.

Category A: Electric Aerobatics

• 1. Heinz Elsässer, Alzenau/Germany 390 (370)
• 2. Gerd Schweidler, Zumikon/CH, 380* (380)
• 3. Helmut Schenk, Pforzheim/Germany, 380* (360)
• 4. Wolfgang Schwarze, Heiningen/Germany, 380* (350)
• 5. Bruno Giezendanner, Pfäffikon, Switzerland, 330* (310)
• 6. Fritz Geist, Offenbach, West Germany, 330* (290)
• 7. Levin, Hans-Dieter, Wiesbaden/FRG, 310 (270)

* For ranks 2–6, the discarded result had to be used for classification.

Category B: Electric Gliding

• 1. Ernst Tscheulin, Owen-Teck/FRG 608 (342)
• 2. Geist, Fritz, Offenbach/BRD597 (425)
• 3. Schumacher, Hans, H. Kermess/FRG 592 (592)
• 4. Walter Lamparter, Dettingen/BRD588 (547)
• 5. Schwarze, Wolfgang, Heiningen/BRD587 (478)
• 6. Alex von Wunschheim, H. Kermess/BRD572 (546)
• 7. Günther Sticha, Offenbach/BRD547 (412)
• 8. Ruedi Weeber, Bülach/CH537 (323)
• 9. Sommer, Roland, Pforzheim, West Germany 528 (493)
• 10. Levin Hans-Dieter Wiesbaden/BRD513 (355)
• 11. Volkart Martin, Pfäffikon/CH510 (330)
• 12. François Tapernoux, Affoltern, Switzerland, 507 (488)
• 13. Westphal, Andreas, H. Kermess, West Germany 498 (382)
• 14. Gerd Schweidler, Zumikon, Switzerland, 483 (270)
• 15. Hersperger Roland, Meilen, Switzerland, 455 (450)
• 16. Bruno Giezendanner, Pfäffikon, Switzerland, 447 (390)
• 17. Schenk Helmut, Pforzheim, West Germany, 396 (304)
• 18. Entzeroth, Hans, Zumikon/CH373 (249)
• 19. Rudolf Herrmann, Pforzheim/West Germany 360 (50)
• 20. Oberle, Fritz, Pfäffikon/CH 307 (—)

The Militky Cup for the “most interesting and innovative design” was awarded to the Model Flying Club Helmut Kermess e.V., Fürstenfeldbruck/FRG, for their electric glider model.

Organized by: MG Pfäffikon