GET INVOLVED INSTEAD OF JUST WATCHING: ACHIEVING SUCCESS THROUGH THE TEACHER-STUDENT APPROACH

The fact that this option would be available—and exactly what it entailed—was announced in advance on the flyers and regularly shared by our young team of emcees during the show itself. People could sign up either electronically via a QR code—which was printed on the flyers distributed for this purpose—or in person at the barrier leading to the preparation room.

The QR code was scanned 35 times, and in the end, we were able to conduct trial flights with a total of 15 interested participants over the two lunchtimes. After the flight, the trial pilots were able to pick up informational materials about the flight school and getting started in model flying at the speaker tent, as well as take home their goodie bags containing a clear pouch that identified them as “trial pilots.”

The success became apparent just a few weeks later, when the first trial pilot, seven-year-old Elyas, successfully completed his first flying lesson with Raphael Wicki at the Model Flying Competence Center on November 1, 2025. And the club itself celebrated its second success with the arrival of new member Valentin. He’s been diligently saving up for his very first model airplane ever since the air show and will join the club as a junior member starting in 2026. Within the club, our flight instructor Colin Zamudio (31) will primarily oversee his training until he is ready to take to the skies on his own. With Valentin, our club now has a total of six young members under the age of twenty-five, all of whom have joined our club in the last five years.

There are many factors that influence the success of youth development. Some of these, which have been confirmed to us in recent years, are:

• People who are young (or young at heart) find it easier to mentor young people; it’s more natural to identify with such a role model.
• Well-supported young talent attracts more young talent.
• Show a strong presence in the region.
• Prioritize a welcoming culture; welcome newcomers with open arms
• Get parents and guardians on board.
• Lower the cost of getting started, for example, with a mentor-mentee system and a flight instructor at the club.

For us as a club, the success of this initiative at our airshow is both a confirmation and an incentive to continue on this path and to continue creating targeted opportunities in the future where enthusiasm for model flying can not only be demonstrated but also experienced firsthand. ■

For the Amt Entlebuch Model Aircraft Group,
Julia Bucher