The beginnings of large model aerobatics in Germany. 1st F3AX Neckartalcup 1981 in Tuebingen (near Stuttgart). Decades later, the IMAC competition series developed.
Review: On 4-5 July 1981, the first large-scale aerobatic competition of the new class F3A-X took place in Tübingen. Bernd Enenkl, president of the Bavarian R/C Club Erding, supported the competition organization team with help and advice.This was the first F3A-X competition in Baden-Wurttemberg. Previously there was already a competition at the MFC Lemgo, Wolfsburg and in Erding.
Our Dressman Gerald Wilfing with Bauer / Chocal Laser. Thanks to the energetic help of the very experienced men around Werner Ott, Franz Gerstl and Horst Wisst from the neighbouring club Balsania Filder, the success of this new sporting event was guaranteed.
Noch am Vorabend des ersten 1RC 1 X-Kunstflugwettbewerbes, den der MFC Kusterdingen ausrichtete, zeigte so mancher der Verantwortlichen Bedenken, ob es nicht doch sinnvoller gewesen wäre, nur Teilnehmer mit Modellen von Wasserflugzeugen zuzulassen.
It had been more than rainy all week, but on Friday evening, threatening black clouds were gathering, which did not bode well for the weekend.
Some of the pilots, who had already travelled from almost all over Germany, were not exactly optimistic either.
The more pleasant was the surprise when Saturday morning presented itself with a freshly washed, bright blue sky, which promised ideal weather for the two aerobatic days (and then kept it).
The competition was organised by MFC Neckartal for pilots with models that should, if possible, be a recognisable replica of a manned aircraft type and whose wingspan should not be less than 1.8 m (for biplanes) or 2.0 m (for monoplanes).
The success of this still very young model flying club was impressive: Pilots from Lower Saxony as well as from Bavaria had announced their attendance.
But it wasn’t just in the tendering process that the men around the club’s first chairman, Dieter Hornig, were as prudent as they were diligent: Advertisements and posters did at least as much as car stickers and “whispering propaganda” to ensure that around 5,000 spectators turned up over the two days, not only to marvel at the turns and Immelmann, but also to savour the delicacies on offer in the open air or in a real hangar.
Real hangar? To ensure that everything could be carried out in true style, MFC Neckartal managed the feat of organising the comparison flight at BEKA’s private airfield in Tübingen-Lustnau.
So after hours of waiting, filled with test starts, engine tests and shop talk, the crowd could hardly wait for the first machine to finally take to the blue skies at 1 p.m. on the dot.
There were two classes, both of which were very strong. In class A, 26 figures from a predetermined flight programme had to be flown in a fixed sequence without interruption.
Class B pilots were able to choose twelve figures from this programme, which then had to be completed without interruption.
In both classes there were three rounds, with the score of the worst round being cancelled.
The spectators were enthralled by the demonstrations of the individual models, which were always broadcast from the “tower” via loudspeaker.
and their pilots were introduced.
Thanks to the good and prudent organisation, the first day of the competition ended quickly and smoothly as darkness fell.
However, even the darkness could not ensure that the airfield emptied. It wasn’t just the pilots, who were now sitting down to share their experiences over food and drink, who didn’t want to go home just yet.
The last lights on the airfield were not extinguished until late at night.
Numerous spectators, including quite a few families whose children were happy not to have to go to bed after such an exciting day, stayed for dinner in the hangar decorated with lanterns and fairy lights.
The first new visitors arrived early the next morning, happy that the ticket booths were not yet occupied by the – apparently still too tired – organisers.
But they soon arrived to ensure that the second part of the flight day went off without a hitch.
In spite of other events taking place in the area, numerous local dignitaries from Tübingen and Kusterdingen also attended during the morning, including Kusterdingen’s 1st Mayor Günter Müller, who was scheduled to present the awards in the early afternoon.
This was also eagerly awaited, as it became clear that both classes were neck and neck.
This was also apparent to those spectators who can still tell a looping from a crash, and not just the jury members, who kept huddling together to discuss the performance. There were also heated discussions in the pilots’ camp and the press corner.
Finally, the time had come for Mayor Müller to present the winners and runners-up with trophies, certificates and prizes.
Rolf Schuler of the AMC Friedrichshafen won the A class with his Laser 200, ahead of Dieter Stuckenbrock, a member of the MFC Lemgo, who was piloting a YAK 50.
In group B, Bernd Enenkl from MFG Erding was able to keep Gerald Wilfing from MFC Mettenheim, who had demonstrated a Laser 200, in second place with his Zlin 50 L.
After the award ceremony, during which the spectators were not stingy with their applause, the 1st RC 1 X aerobatics competition of the MFC Kusterdingen came to an end with an impressive flying display.
