Praise for the Farmers

Dear Reader

The vast majority of our model airfields are located in agricultural zones—where else? We model aviators know this by now—but unfortunately, not all building and planning departments do; in fact, some of them would rather have us settle on the moon—but on the far side, if possible. Processing our building permit applications is often slow, and our carefully prepared submissions regarding land-use planning and building codes seem to overwhelm quite a few agencies.

For that reason alone, we cannot be grateful enough to all the farms that make model flying possible in the first place—often with just a handshake. Especially today, when farmland is being lost at a breakneck pace¹, our numerous flying fields are small miracles in a profit-driven world. The fact that we repeatedly manage to secure a patch of meadow somewhere—sometimes even with long-term contracts—speaks volumes for the farming community. It wasn’t long ago

that the major trade associations and the think tanks they finance—and subsidize—were constantly railing against agricultural subsidies. Since the onset of COVID-19, when even foreign airlines have been bailed out with federal funds, this rhetoric has fallen silent, at least for the time being.

We model airplane enthusiasts stand by our farmers and are grateful that at least they continue to show understanding for our hobby.

Best regards

Emil Ch. Giezendanner