61st Lostorf Newcomer Competition

Since the previous organizers have stepped down from the event, the Free Flight Commission, led by Michi Bleuer (MG Rüttenen), has taken charge of the organization. This involves visiting local farmers, coordinating with the nearby shooting club, and arranging timekeepers and prizes for the participants. For the experienced free-flight enthusiasts, organizing the event on-site was the least of their concerns. The original date of March 16 had to be postponed due to strong winds. So the free-flight community gathered in Lostorf on Saturday, April 6. This date was somewhat less than ideal, as it coincided with various school breaks. Since the vegetation was already quite advanced, the launch site had to be chosen on the spot. On the plus side, temperatures were already almost like high summer. However, we didn’t actually reach the forecast 28 degrees. The reason for this was likely the rising west/northwest wind.

Skillful model launches, well-tuned models, and favorable wind conditions led to longer flights. As a result, the 1941 “Pro Aero” delivered a very impressive flight right from its first takeoff. Having an experienced model builder—whether a father or grandfather—as a coach also contributed to the juniors’ successful flights. Among the 10 juniors, Maël Gugger won with a flight time of 166 seconds. In the first round, he achieved the longest flight time of the Lostorf 2024 competition with 111 seconds. Simon Bürgi took second place with 156 seconds, ahead of Julian Bürgi with 107 seconds. Among the seven seniors, Christian Gugger won with 168 seconds, ahead of Sascha Weibel (flying “Kleiner Uhu”) with 155 seconds and Ueli Wenzinger with 138 seconds.

For the 62nd edition, the Free Flight Commission is once again looking for a local model aircraft club to serve as the organizer. One thing is certain, though: there will be another Lostorf Free Flight Competition in 2025. Such an accessible introduction to free flight and model aviation certainly has its merits. We need to take advantage of this potential. A “little owl” and similar models can probably still be found in many basements. The Kreil-Kraft “Caprice” and suitable models from Aeronaut, Kavan, and others can be found in various model shops throughout Switzerland.