Altar Server Visits the Pope

In 1994, Ueli Amacker was a familiar sight at model aircraft events, where he made a name for himself thanks to his exceptional skills. At that time, he flew a Vampire powered by 14 cells and equipped with an 88-mm impeller. (His lathe at the time couldn’t handle a larger diameter.) He builds all his models from wood with incredible precision. He builds almost exclusively jet models, which are propeller-driven, and here’s the unique part: Ueli makes his own propellers out of wood. It was these wooden impellers that made Ueli well-known and famous. After every air show, model airplane pilots who wanted a model like his would gather around his models. And so, over the years up to the present, Ueli has built—brace yourselves—approximately 100 impeller-jet models!

Venom/Vampire/Mirage III/F-5 Tiger/F9F-5 Panther/F9F-8 Cougar/JAS39 Gripen/Aero L-39.

The latest model he is building is the FFA P-16. The fourth model will soon be leaving his workshop.

Back then, at the Benetti model shop in Zug, a few customers were gathered together, interested in the new electric impellers, when Ueli walked into the store. Someone said at the time, “May I introduce you? This is the ‘Impeller Pope.’” And just like that, Ueli’s nickname was born.

For my school project, I decided to build a KWIK FLY MK3 (the 1967 world champion model by Phil Kraft). I really like this model—plus, it’s an aerobatic model. I’ve been practicing F3A aerobatic maneuvers for about four years now, so I’m eager to try building a model from

to build and fly them back in the early days.

Ueli Amacker is, like me, a member of the MG Buttikon. We get along great; every now and then, Ueli brings a model from his workshop—whether it’s for a maiden flight, which he entrusts to me, or a finished model that he simply lets me fly.

Ueli has already given me several impeller models at very reasonable prices, so I already own a few Amacker impeller jet models.

Back to the KWIK FLY MK3. Ueli told me that he used to dream about this model when he was young. He stood in front of the window of a model shop and looked at the Graupner KWIK FLY MK3 kit. Unfortunately, he didn’t have the money back then to afford such a model with all the accessories. Ueli immediately said yes when I asked him if he would support me with my school project. →

When I was in elementary school, I began serving as an altar boy at the parish in Sattel, so on some Wednesday afternoons I would travel to Rapperswil to visit the “Impeller Pope,” Ueli Amacker. That explains the title of this story.

With his generous support, we built the KWIK FLY MK3 together; I learned a great deal in the process and got to know Ueli even better. The model quickly took shape, and after a few afternoons, it stood finished on the workbench in Ueli’s workshop. Thus, my wish came true, and Ueli’s dream also came true, at least in part.

I’ve already completed several flights with the KWIK FLY—the model flies like a dream.

Thank you so much, Ueli, for your generous support! That’s what I call true youth development!