Dear Readers

And yet we encounter these contradictions at every turn: The deadline proposal has been rejected—particularly strongly in certain cantons. In the cities, however, everyone knows that on certain days, people from those very same cantons flock in droves to certain movie theaters, and whenever they can manage it, those “law-abiding country folk” quickly head off to Zurich....

The Zurich Motor Flight Group is a large club of which the people of Zurich are proud, as it trains numerous pilots. It has only one major flaw: it wants an airfield. What an outrage! Anyone who even thinks of planning an airfield today—when there are fewer and fewer cars—is either not quite right in the head, antisocial, or an anarchist. When the president of this flying club presents his arguments at an “information evening,” he is laughed at, booed, and shamefully berated. The opponents of the airport project are kings, heroes (who surely always walk to the Canary Islands or New York), and are celebrated and supported accordingly. The people of the “opponents and consistently dedicated pedestrians” flock there in droves. There are practically no supporters. But if a very modest air show (full-scale aviation and/or model aircraft flying) is organized anywhere—no matter how remote the location—the crowd also turns out in droves—are these the same people from the anti-airport rally, or did the opponents stay home this time (Please underline the correct answer!)? I believe both scenarios are possible. There are people who, depending on the presentation and propaganda, are either for or against it—meaning they can be easily manipulated with money or by the devil (see above). Today they attend and support an anti-airfield campaign—if possible, by signing a petition—and tomorrow they attend an air show. That is the contradiction we have to live with. What saddens me, however, is the question of what was going on at that so-called “information evening” with the Zurich pilots and the large community of aviation enthusiasts. Where did they go? Where was the massive Zurich chapter of the Aero Club of Switzerland? Where were those who stereotypically accuse me of “destructiveness” and ramble on about the cohesion of Zurich aviation—how one can only achieve anything as a large section; that one must have strong representation in the canton of Zurich, and so on? What good are four thousand members on paper? What good is it to try to tell the rest of Switzerland how to do things while postponing our own internal renewal year after year? Have we Zurich aviators become paper tigers? Must we cower around like beaten dogs, making sure no one finds out that we’re aviation enthusiasts, only to be glad in the end to find refuge somewhere at an airfield outside the canton—unrecognized as Zurichers? Why isn’t a campaign in support of the airfield organized in conjunction with an air show and a petition drive? After all, flying doesn’t take place in a gym. I’m just a tiny little dreamer. But where are the great Zurich pilots?

Best regards