RCS slope on the Möntschelen Alp

On Ascension Day, the traditional Möntschelen Cup took place, which also counts as the Swiss Hang Gliding Championship. In pleasant weather with light winds, an exciting competition unfolded, featuring several thrilling head-to-head matches.

Year after year, a sizeable number of participants gather at the Möntschelen Alp above Blumenstein near Thun for the Möntschelen Cup. With 35 participants, this year’s event was once again one of the best-attended Swiss model aircraft championships. This speaks highly of the competition’s format. Thanks to the group-based scoring system, the triangular slope flight ensures fair competition even under changeable conditions. Furthermore, the same starting conditions apply to all participants: no high-launch winds, extra-thin ropes, or similar aids are required; everyone starts from the same initial altitude.

The weather was somewhat cloudy but pleasant throughout the day, with hardly any wind. In fact, at times there was a very light tailwind. However, these were merely wind currents caused by thermal lift, and flying was certainly possible; still, choosing the right launch time within a group was often the deciding factor.

Another key to success was flying a course that was as tight and precise as possible in order to complete as many legs as possible under the weak conditions.

Stefan Böhlen shone in the second round; he used a small thermal bubble to gain altitude and then flew 35 legs—the best performance at this national championship. In the final round, there was a special pairing: Paul and Andreas

The Böhlen flew in the same group. Paul flew very cleanly, but clipped the C-turn twice.

Andreas’s flight was one of the most perfect flights I’ve seen in my career so far. He had just finished his turns when the signal came; there was no overspin visible after any of the turns, and everything was flown along a triangle as if drawn with a ruler! He didn’t give his father a chance, and it was clear who would become Swiss champion. In the end, Andreas Böhlen won by a wide margin ahead of Reto Fiolka and Paul Böhlen. I’d like to take this opportunity to extend my heartfelt thanks to the organizers and the many volunteers for putting on the Möntschelen Cup.

Reto Fiolka