European Hang Gliding Championship (F1E) at Lofer Alm – Rocky Terrain for the Swiss

The European Championships in the F1E free-flight category took place on Friday, July 24, 1981, at the Lofer Alm (Salzburg region). They were sandwiched between the high-altitude and slope-launch competitions for the now-defunct Kolibri Cup. For the first time in this category, six nations competed for the championship title (D, G, I, OE, HB, OK). Days of continuous rain made training impossible for the teams staying in the valley. It’s a shame that no more suitable site could be found anywhere in Austria! It wasn’t until the day before the competition that it was possible to train on the Alm in nice but windy weather. Unfortunately, René Pfister’s best model—despite being equipped with a thermal safety device—vanished into one of the countless dense fir forests. In his usual manner, Ernst Hausamann was always there to offer us advice and support, for which we extend our heartfelt thanks.

In terms of organization, the competition was roughly similar to our group competitions. The only difference is that in our case, there are usually people who get annoyed or delighted by the organizer’s more or less unresolved problems—depending on the observer’s perspective or political leanings. On the morning of the competition, a moderate easterly wind was blowing, which was severely turbulent due to the hills and forests in the foreground. Various models drifted off course and disappeared into the magnificent fir trees. Others, on the other hand, came to a halt on the leeward side of some nearby hill—despite all our planning. In the afternoon, the launch sites had to be relocated because a westerly wind, accompanied by wisps of fog and rain showers, was blowing in from the Bavarian border. The high-caliber international jury, consisting of Mr. E. Krill (Austria), Mr. W. Groth (Germany), and our own Werner Koelliker, was not overly taxed, although in my opinion there would have been grounds for their intervention. Nevertheless, higher authorities will have to seriously consider whether, for example, the “pre-launch” technique—practiced so perfectly by the Czechs—should be tolerated again.

The winners were those who were willing to sacrifice their models. I tend to doubt whether such a style of flying—where loss is accepted—can still be considered sensible on this type of terrain and with this scoring system. Thus, the 1981 European Champion is Rudolf Musil (OK). With a 1st, 3rd, and 5th-place finish, the Czechs also secured victory in the team competition. As the top Swiss competitor, Werner Hauenstein finished in the thankless fourth place. Robert Haller “landed” in 13th place—a position quite unusual for him—and René Pfister had to settle for 16th place. In the nations’ standings, Switzerland ranks fourth.

Our national team was thus clearly defeated despite performing well below its true potential. And yet, all national team members fought to the best of their ability. They didn’t throw in the towel—as befits a good national team. Other examples have shown that this is no longer entirely a given these days. Thank you very much for your dedication, dear teammates.

So this time, there were no Swiss athletes on the podium. But that doesn’t mean the world is coming to an end for us Nagnet pilots. After all, we’ve had an unprecedented winning streak in recent years, and it was only a matter of time before it came to an end. However, we’ll have to find ways and means to effectively address the new circumstances in this model aircraft category on the international stage.

In closing, I’d also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our supporters from the Bern area. They competed very successfully in the Kolibri Cup competitions and supported us in every way they could. Is it any wonder, then, that the 1981 European Championships turned out to be an unforgettable experience for us despite everything? M. Moor

Individual Standings

Team Standings