NEW Updated with full–color amazing images! We have revised and updated the review of the first aerobatic world championship of 1960 / Duebendorf Switzerland. Our photos were “colored”. Take a look yourself, some of them are very nice photos of this World Cup. Our grandfathers already had great planes …
Short of a British win nothing could have been a happier ending to first World R/C Championships than Ed Kazmirski’s clear cut, way out ahead victory. The American boys are all that we have believed them to be, and any one of them on “their day” could have topped the field.
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Grand boys all of them—Harold de Bold with his corncob like someone out of the “Lil Abner” strip cartoon, unassuming hatchet-faced Bob Dunham ready to give anyone a tip, and towering Ed Kaszmirski with the physique of a lumberman and a deadpan style of humour, managed—but not bear led—by young looking Doc Good, who protested he was only the “day manager”—nights the boys get out of their own trouble!
Standard was way above anything we have seen before—any of the top six would have won any earlier contest on their showing at Dubendorf—and our boys’ team win a really magnificent achievement against such big guns as they have never met before.
Two o’clock Friday was zero hour, when entrants began to arrive for processing, with entries from Belgium. Germany, Great Britain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Austria, Czechoslovakia and U.S.A. The South African entry failed to materialisc, the Austrians turned up with gliders only for some reason or another, and a non-entered Italian arrived, and was accepted only by the grace of the jury und other entranst!
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A. roofed patio gave ample cover for checking, with the frightening Post Office test equipment in an adjoining antechamber, so that all could begin to gauge the opposition. British, U.S.A. and Czech teams had found a nearby airstrip or some more private testing and were all reported to be going great guns.
Prettiest models were clearly U.S.A. with de Bolt`s red and white semi-scale Stits Playboy and similarly colored Live Wire Custom bipe with mods. including reduction of size all round and flaps (not used); Bob Dunham`s latest marque Astrohogs known now as the “Volkswagen”, and “Ed Kazmirski’s American red white and blue color schemed pair of Orions.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 9 dubendorf74](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf74.jpg)
Yes! Two each complete, and one or two spares at that! German entries followed the round fuselage “ugly but efficient” we have come to expect from them; the Gobeaux family have departed little from their own typical machine – also of course in duplicate. Swiss models has Fredy Bickel`s low wing to speak for them, and Ernst Klauser`s rather stack machine which flew well later. The Czech jobs were remarkable mainly for small MVVS motors, and pressurized fuel intake, plus some vacuumatic servos. Our own British models are too well known to need further description and were in fine condition.
For once everything passed the scrutineers! Next adventure was the evening briefing at nearby Hotel “Sonnenthal” where all were the guests for the evening of Swissair. 32-page programs were partly tri-lingual, with special language editions as well, and set out maneuvers in full, with illustrations, which caused considerable comment and requests for interpretation until they were proved to be official F.A.I. drawings and beyond comment. An 8:00 a.m. start programmed for Saturday brought a fairly early end to proceedings.
Uninspiring met reports, plus some delay with delivery of the P.A. system made the Saturday start neither so bright nor so early as planned. Lots had been drawn overnight for flying order for both rounds so that everyone knew when they were due. Unlucky Gobeaux was first out of the hat and flew around 9:00 am, in a momentary sunny period. Flying order must have cost him at least 500 points by pegging an early pace making target of 4977. As ever he flew high and some figures were obviously below the best, stall and landing poor.
Freddy Bickel, Switzerland , was next and shattered local hopes with an early engine cut at the beginning of a loop, for the lowing model to come in fast to be caught and saved from damage by French observer Capt. Plessis.
Prettiest models were clearly U.S.A. with de Bolt`s red and white semi-scale Stits Playboy and similarly colored Live Wire Custom bipe with mods. including reduction of size all round and flaps (not used); Bob Dunham`s latest marque Astrohogs known now as the “Volkswagen”, and “Ed Kazmirski’s American red white and blue color schemed pair of Orions. Yes! Two each complete, and one or two spares at that! German entries followed the round fuselage “ugly but efficient” we have come to expect from them; the Gobeaux family have departed little from their own typical machine – also of course in duplicate.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 14 dubendorf66s](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf66s.jpg)
Swiss models has Fredy Bickel`s low wing to speak for them, and Ernst Klauser`s rather stack machine which flew well later. The Czech jobs were remarkable mainly for small MVVS motors, and pressurized fuel intake, plus some vacuumatic servos. Our own British models are too well known to need further description and were in fine condition.
Then followed a series of catastrophes almost with parallel! Hans Gast, Germany, took off in worsening climatic conditions, with rising wind, so that his early figures fell of rapidly, and then a power-on vertical dive onto the runway with shattering effect.
Unruffled Harold de Bolt, U.S.A. put up the Stits Playboy and seemed set to establish American ascendancy in the way we should have expected. About half way round an impressive schedule, up elevator failed to function and model number two was spattered on the grass only just behind the growing crowd that had assembled to watch. Harold was as mystified as the rest of us, and waved nonplussed hands – the Playboy`s day was one!
Jovial Erminio Corghi, Italy, whose impressive model was so unlucky in Germany last year, was eager to make amends but failed to start in 5 minutes. He immediately elected to take his second attempt, took off smartly, but within a minute or two suffered the same fate to power dive into the tarmac! Pieces minute, engine fantastic, but yet he had hopes of rebuilding the encapsulated Graupner RX with mechanic Roberto Bacchi assisting.
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Hajic, Czechoslovakia, cartwheeled at t/o, for the next to be our own Frank van den Bergh!
With, by that time, some doubts as to pirate Tx., or what, Doc God was standing by with the pretty little Howard Mc Entee designed Monitor, plus the audible monitoring peeps of the Post Office control, Frank must had qualms.
However, he worked like a Trojan and produced the best of the day thus far with 5082, including a most satisfactory spin, an highly elegant vertical eight in strong wind, a flight marred only by a somewhat damaging landing. The prang bogey seemed to be stilled.
Ernst Klauser, Switzerland, had improving conditions to help, plus a crowd of local boy supporters by now, though wind was still troublesome. He put in a good steady round with a grass landing that saved the model.
Ed Kazmirski
Karl-Heinz Stegmaier, Germany, came out with a really confident air, and from slick take-off to final landing was always the master. No one would dispute his right to lead the field.
USA man Ed Kazmirski`s bright red shirt – hottest thing in Dubendorf! – was next seen, though Ed inside was real cool. We can only say – superb! The judges thought so too and gave him a thousand more than Stegmaier at 6275 to top place which he held for the rest of the day.
Appropriately enough this marked lunch break; marred somewhat by an official demand that all photographers leave the area completely and rely on telephoto shots for action pictures! Protests were in vain, and the arm of the law brandished, so that for the rest of the day`s flying contestants were in splendid isolation! Not until flying was a more satisfactory arrangement made by the jury limiting photographers to officially accredited professionals – When we say we counted over fifty camera wielders at one time plus small children and friends of the family on the take off area we cannot but sympathize with harassed Arnold Degen, though we wonder if the rather handsome “Polizei” would really have used his truncheon on our shiny pate!
Rain threatened too during the lunch break, enlivened by C/L flying and a splendid glider show by the unhappy Austrian gentlemen who had it with them but alas no comp to fly it in.
Zedenek Havlin, Czechoslovakia, re-started round one but alas without scoring. Dilot, Sweden was nearly unfortunate. Then came Chris Olsen`s turn,. A sharp shower had been falling but now stopped; the sun came out, and Chris had perhaps the best weather conditions of the day to make his effort. Much of his pattern took place rather high up, but there is no doubt he was in top form with some really lovely work.
Harald De Bolt`s “Stits Playboy”
His spin was delightful and thrilled the crowd. Even the British contingent, comprising many non-qualifying eliminator entrants, gave their praise, which is high honor may we say. His 5317 gave him the edge over Frank van den Bergh, and placed him for a moment second behind Ed Kazmirski. Good show!
Willy Moritz, Swiss national champion this year, earned just over the four figures.
Harald De Bolt`s Live-Wire
Gustav Saamann, Germany, helped by lovely Mrs. Saaman failed to start in his 5 minutes and made way for Bob Dunham U.S.A. who took off fast and low over “the press in exile” just to wake us up. It was not his day, however, his motor never sounded happy, letting model fall out of its loops and in no condition to cope with strong wind now back again. Finally it cut after his spin to spoil landing, though masterfully handled to minimize the misfortune. He had worked hard to score 4923 just over fifty behind Gobeaux. Czech Jiri Michalovic had immense lost control with low power and high wind and lost control with model heading for the snow capped Alps, Per Axel Eliasson, Sweden, with a pretty biplane, spun on take off and never showed promised.
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Steward Uwins, G.B.`s third man had unnerving RX troubles and made use of a second attempt. His take-off was hazardous, bouncing off a kitbag on the grass edge just got him over the crowd, his motor was running too lean and always in imminent danger of cutting, which he did after he had tarted his bunts, but the score of 1678 left the team with a good all round aggregate.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 25 dubendorf01s](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf01s.jpg)
This left the Saamanns to make their second attempt, which proved a fitting climax to a real day`s excitement,. Some of his patterns were clearly best of the day. We liked his lovely slow rolls, both left and right hand; his inverted circuit showed some falling off, his 8s were terrific and his spin brought the crowd to cheers (whether six spins are mark able when only three are called for his debatable). He did not nominate his first landing approach, but came round again for a beauty. It was no real surprise to find him with 5611 in second place.
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Round 2
Sunday 24th July
Glorious weather throughout Sunday belied gloomy met reports that had sent entrants sadly to bed on Saturday – those that is, not enlivened by Henry J. and Ed Kazmirski at Hotel Sonnental!
First of was local Swiss – in spite of early Sunday hour already supported by three to four deep crowd along several hundreds of yards of enclosure frontage – Freddy Bickel who did very much better than his disappointing first round performance. Some falling out in loops was noticed, otherwise polished, with a very nice Cuban eight. Alas time caught up with him and he failed by 5 seconds.to score landing points since his 15 minutes had passed!
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 28 dubendorf18s](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf18s.jpg)
Ed Kazmirski, U.S.A., was happy to be put out of his misery so early in the day and fairly leapt into battle. Low long take off past the cash customers pleased the crowd, but the only thing slow about Ed was a certain reluctance to nominate until almost into maneuvers.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 29 dubendorf103](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf103.jpg)
His stall was terrific – though with a momentary danger of motor cut; spins exactly three dead right to the rules, and a steady edge of inner circle landing. Time for the schedule 10 minutes, 40 seconds (Bogey for course about 10 minutes, declared Hans Dieter Heck of Modell in admiring this effort).
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 30 dubendorf100](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf100.jpg)
Frank v.d.Bergh had a splendid master to try and match when following next. Take off over the crowd was a little hazardous but exiting. He flew low with good loops, but inverted loops not so good. Fair stall and excellent inverted flight, with smooth 8s and really good vertical eights. Spins numbered four by our count. Nice graceful landing to clock 13 minutes for the course (See Ed`s time above).
De Dobbeler of Belgium brought out his elderly Smog Hog again. At this age it is somewhat dated, but was a very good show for a Hog suffering from an engine too feeble for high all up weight!
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 31 dubendorf99](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf99.jpg)
Zdenek Havlin of Czechoslovakia – who in his crew cut looks like a young Kruschev – showed that the mosue power Czech models can perform well in suitable weather conditions. Curios hose-pipe lead from Tx to control box rather like a Karloff film and audible monitoring tone from Post Office oddly enough usually peeping a V-for-victory note! (Czechs claim it is Smetana anyway for musical readers). Cut out before landing on dead stick.
Ernst Klauser of Switzerland – their fancied man this year – did much in spite of pranging his No.1 model by virtue of “unofficial” pirate who interfered at team practice a week earlier, so that he flew what a re-hash of salvaged parts and an old model. This model was a rather unwilling inverted flyer. Also he hit a spectator on landing which spoiled what should have been a good effort.
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Harold de Bolt, U.S.A., corncob and all, brought out his Custom Bipe for flight No.2, and gave quiet confident polished performance, though model not always so responsive, as would have been expected. Amused crowd on landing with a “come to Mother” taxi back to the Tx.
Steward Uwins whose early Rx trouble had worried him on flight 1, came more confidently to round 2 thanks to George H.R. his mechanic who had helped get things safe again. Dicey take off over crowd again, and almost down-wind!
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 34 dubendorf09s](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf09s.jpg)
Rolls very nice, but some maneuvers very rupy, so that flying around between them left him in time trouble by the spin, and he eventually had to race back to the landing circle with 20 secs in hand!
K.H.Stegmaier, Germanys Champion, took of smoothly to fly his pattern high a la Gobeaux. Inverted loops very good but very slow. Rolls in both directions fine, as were inverted patterns, Cuban 8, 2 ½ turns only to the spin, to come in with a long low approach and good landing.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 35 dubendorf10s](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf10s.jpg)
Per Axel Eliasson of Sweden, with a much modified Phil Kraft Bi-Fli spun on take-off. Has been less than 2 years R/C flying, so this outing must count as experience.
Moritz, Switzerland, had fair take-off, but early motor cut out, plus loss control ruined his figures.
Bob Dunham, U.S.A., had his motor cut out to ruin his chances too, almost at the start of the flight. Not to worry, he played it back onto landing circle dead stick in no time and made best of it.
![1. Aerobatic World Championships 1960 Switzerland 36 dubendorf87](https://classicpattern.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/dubendorf87.jpg)
Chris Olsen was next in line, with a chance to make second place if little hope of matching Ed Kazmirski. Alas he was dogged by mixture trouble and motor seemed happy only occasionally, so that loops only fair, engine picked up for inverted flying and the rolls, and by the end of flight was working well (improved and hotter weather was playing havoc with engines anyway) – stall, spin, 8s recovery, all nice, then engine just too good on landing approach, so he had to come round again with no landing points. Times 14 minutes plus.
J.P.Gobeaux, Belgium , lucky to be there at all with the run on Sabena pilots for the Congo air-lift, gave his best with the model that was marvelous 3 years ago, but has been passed by others now. Heavy for its motor it fought a losing battle high up in the sky. Would it be unkind to say we are admired this veteran of the air – almost R/C`s Sugar Ray Robinson – but felt only the decent respect for an old champ?
Such methods as use of motor for inverted position trim is outdated. As it was pattern finished with four minutes to go, and model was kept up in air until its motor cut, since it would not land except on dead stick. Too late – landing was 15 seconds over the 15 minutes! A superbly flown old-stager!
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With Ed Kazmirski far ahead, Czech Hajie`s flight was almost an anticlimax – only Saamann of Germany remained. He took off during a P.A. system interview with Ed “What`s it like to be a champion?” style, which tactful Ed said he`d wait till the end to answer!
For some reason Gustav performed right over the judges` heads who can only have marked him on hearsay. From our viewpoint by the Coca Cola stand it looked fine, and the judges thought so too by this marking. A hawk buzzed him during this flight to the crowds delight. But not quite good enough to do better than 2nd place on aggregate.
Sunday Evening
Banquet at the so-called “Hotel Miese” proved to be a museum which handicapped the guests! However, everybody passed the initiative test in the end for a good spread and a generous array of hardware. What brilliant mind thought up the aptness of the trophies? Bells – or clangers as the boys all declared just about the fittest reward, large size elephant bells for the top people, down to smaller and smaller so that everybody had one even the press! Nice to applaud (drown?) speeches and shake up Sunday night in Zurich!
Galleries
Die Teilnehmer | Land | Motor | |
1. E. Kasmirski | USA | K.u.B.45 5cc | Orbit |
2. G. Sämann | Deutschland | Ruppert 7,3cc | Bellaphon |
3. K. H. Stegmaier | Deutschland | Ruppert K 9,3 cc | Stegmeier |
4. Van den Bergh | England | u.B.45 7,4cc | Orbit |
5. Olson | England | ETA 29 5 cc | R.E.P. |
6. Gobeaux | Belgien | Ruppert 9,6 cc | Eigen |
7. De Bolt | USA | Super Tigre 5,7 cc | Bramco |
8. Uwins | England | Merco 35 5,7 cc | R.E.P. |
9. Klauser | Schweiz | FMO 6 cc | Eigen |
10. Dunham | USA | K.u.B.45 7,3 cc | Orbit |
11. Bickel | Schweiz | OS 35 5,8 cc | Nievergelt |
12. De Dobbeler | Belgien | Webra 7,6 cc | Orbit |
13. Maritz | Schweiz | Ruppert 7,6 cc | Omu |
14. Hak | Hak | MVVS 2,47 cc | Eigen |
15. Zdenek | Tschechoslowakei | MVVS 2,47 cc | Eigen |
16. Dilot | Schweden | B.45 6,8 cc | Bramco |
17. Gast | Deutschland | Ruppert 9,6 cc | Stegmaier |
18. ICH | Tschechoslowakei | MVVS 2,47 cc | Eigen |
19. Corghi | Italien | ||
20. Eliassohn | Schweden | OS 29 4,8cc | R.E.P |
Text Modell 9/1960