Jets Over Dübendorf

It’s truly “Top Gun” weather for the IGEJS’s 20th anniversary. The MG Dübendorf has been organizing this event since 2006. The initiator back then was Nello Nero, the new president of the IGEJS.

Thirty-nine pilots from all over Switzerland and neighboring Germany have registered, along with registered guests and club members who are also in attendance. Only registered pilots and spectators are granted access to the Dübendorf military airfield.

The atmosphere among the pilots was great, and despite the hot weather, everyone was in good spirits and enjoying friendly technical discussions. Each pilot is allowed two flights. Anyone who still has energy left after the

debriefing can fly freely. The EDF community calls itself the “Friends of the Cold Jet,” which is probably more wishful thinking today, since the jet wasn’t that cold given the high temperatures.

At the time, Ralf worked alongside Rolf Gleichauf on the design and drafting of the Gleichauf models, as well as serving as a competition

and at air shows.

Ralf brilliantly showcased the Gleichauf F-16 of that era at nearly every airshow in the mid-1980s. Back then in Switzerland, many people certainly made a special trip to Hausen just to see this innovative impulse-

technology (a jet without a propeller—something people weren’t really familiar with back then) to Hausen just to see it in person. Sven Wiesendanger (wearing a red cap) was already providing enthusiastic commentary there, which is why he’s taken on that role again at today’s event.

In keeping with the weather, we have a demonstration today by fellow pilot Ralf Grünsteidl, who is showcasing his F-16XL with a combustion-engine impeller propulsion system. The noise level and the “fragrant” exhaust fumes take us back to the early days of the impeller scene. Ralf was sure to receive applause after his successful demonstration with the aging F-16XL.

Presumably, many of today’s jet pilots took their first steps in jet flying back in the 1980s with the F-16 from Gleichauf. Nello got his first Gleichauf F-16 at age 19—how time flies...

Ralf's F-16XL is from 1983 and features a Rossi 90 and a Gleichauf impeller (pressure impeller) with Rom-Air EZFW. Ralf built the wings himself. Likewise, all the technical components, including the RC system, are just as they were back then.

Nello's F-16 is also a model that was built in 1985. Back then, it was flown with a Rossi/Gleichauf impeller, but about three years ago, the model was converted to EDF for nostalgic reasons.