HUGE SUCCESS FOR SWISS FESSELFUG AT THE 2026 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN PERTH, AUSTRALIA

For decades, tethered-flight speed models were powered by internal combustion engines. However, this technology had reached its limits and no longer allowed for any significant further developments. The advent of electric motors opened up new possibilities and, more than 10 years ago, sparked the interest of Guy Ducas and Daniel Rota in adapting speed models to this new technology. “One day, we’ll reach a speed of over 300 km/h with an electrically powered tethered-flight model.” That was the goal the two friends from French-speaking Switzerland had set for themselves.

But don’t think that going electric is easy. Every component of a speed model had to be redesigned from the ground up. To carry out the project, Guy and Daniel met with specialists from ETH Zurich, including experts in mechanics, design, electronics, aerodynamics, and more! After many setbacks—failed launches, damaged motors, exploded controllers, swollen batteries, and shattered models—they succeeded in 2018 in developing a basic setup that enabled stable flights and speeds of up to 270 km/h. Further optimizations, calculations, tests, and setbacks followed. Then, in 2020, came the breakthrough: they achieved the world’s first flight exceeding 300 km/h with an Electrospeed model. The big goal had been reached.

In the meantime, Toni Borer, a veteran of the Swiss tethered flight speed scene, had joined the developer duo from French-speaking Switzerland—

sen. Further experimentation and optimization followed—and the results became increasingly consistent. At the same time, official FAI regulations for Electrospeed were also drawn up.

In 2025, at Switzerland’s initiative, the FAI added the new Electrospeed F2G category to its list of sports. And in May of this year, the moment had finally arrived: Electrospeed was flown as an official category for the first time at the World Tethered Flight Championship. The big opportunity had arrived to showcase the results of many years of intensive work. And the three Swiss pilots did so with flying colors. With a speed of 307.6 km/h after four flights, Daniel Rota was crowned world champion. Guy Ducas and Toni Borer followed closely behind, taking second and third place. No one had expected this. Fantastic! And the best part: Swiss Electrospeed pilots are now being sought out as experts by model aviators from all over the world. Many want to follow their example and start flying tethered Electrospeed.

On June 20–21, the three “heroes” will be in action at the Schwalbennest, the tethered flight facility near Büsserach (SO). That’s when the JURA-CUP, one of Europe’s most traditional tethered flight competitions, will take place. World champions from other exciting tethered flight categories will also be competing. So a spectacular event is guaranteed. For more information about the event, visit www.fesselflug.ch.

Ursi Borer, May 2026