Profile of the Riggisberg Model Aircraft Club

The Riggisberg Model Aircraft Club has fifty members, including three women. One of them, Marianne Reusser, is even the technical director and a member of the board. As a prudent president, Andreas Zahnd has been guiding the club’s fortunes for 25 years. At the end of 2012, he will hand over the position to his successor, Hanspeter Zaugg.

Both top pilots with leading national and international rankings and recreational flyers find ideal club conditions here. They are proud of their own airfield grounds in the Muri area of Riggisberg, where a wooden building serves as both an equipment shed and a clubhouse. The small airfield building was constructed with the approval of the municipal assembly. Andreas Zahnd: “Thanks to a zoning plan amendment in 1997, our airfield was rezoned. It was a dream come true.” Other model flying groups envy this airfield—which a club member was able to lease for many years.

Ueli von Niederhäusern from Belp, a longtime model aviation expert, also serves on the club’s board. The trained cheesemaker and current computer specialist adds: “For several years, the MGR was recognized as the most successful club in all of Switzerland. But we also make sure to enjoy our social gatherings.” They regularly participate in air shows and flying festivals. “We’re known there, among other things, for our formation flying displays. We present up to 14 model airplanes of the same type to the amazed audience in the air.”

Members often successfully compete in domestic and international competitions, or even in world championships. In 2003, Andreas Böhlen became world champion in Germany; his brother Stefan was also on the world championship team.

Until recently, another strong hallmark of the Riggisberg club was the International Riggisberg Helicopter Meet, held a total of 20 times each spring. Pilots from all over Europe traveled to this major event to compete, and thousands of spectators always came to Riggisberg. On one occasion, a world record was even set: 96 model airplanes were in the air at the same time. Because the amount of work involved kept growing, this chapter is now history—unfortunately, it should be added.

The joy and fun of model flying is what unites all MGR members, who represent practically every category: the beautiful and the not-so-beautiful, the fast and the slow, the quiet and the even quieter.

The Riggisberg Model Aircraft Club, founded nearly 35 years ago, is, as we have seen, as active as ever. It is a member of the Bern Aero Club, the Aero Club of Switzerland, and the Swiss Model Aircraft Association. There are no concerns about a lack of new members; juniors are always accepted, while seniors are accepted only if they reside in Riggisberg ([www.mg-riggisberg.ch](http://www.mg-riggisberg.ch)). It goes without saying that, as at any airfield, there are airfield regulations. Fortunately, the days when model airplane enthusiasts would fly “wildly” anywhere with their often-noisy aircraft—annoying sensitive neighbors in the process—are long gone. What remains is the joy of the third dimension. Even though model airplane pilots, unlike those in other aviation disciplines, always keep both feet firmly on the ground... ■

*Rolf Ellwanger; Photos: Courtesy of the publisher.*