Job: Investor

Origin: Born and raised in Argovia (yes,I wear white socks and I can’t drive)

Date of Birth: 16.01.1959

Why flying planes?

Excitement, Fear, Embarrassment, Pain, Challenge, Satisfaction, Freedom all in one package and more

How did you start?

After having taken off hundreds of times in planes but never landed in one (working as a parachute instructor at the Para Centro Locarno) I decided it is about time to learn how to do that. And with a private loan and a huge interest (18%) I booked my first lessons.

For how long have you been flying and what is your experience in terms of Championships?

I can’t remember but I really started to fly (again) when I was able to buy the Bücker Jungmann HB-UUI in Triengen in December 2004 and after that the path to Aerobatics was clear. I have done two Sportsman and one Intermediate and a lot of Advanced competitions.

Why the Sukhoi?

Big, strong, powerful, lots of space, great sound, .., the opposite of todays modern planes.

If there would be only one, which would it be?

Of the ones I fly probably the Pilatus PC-7

What is your favorite figure?

Always the next one I am about to fly!

Any quotes or short stories linked to your pilot’s life you would like to share with us?

Probably the trip the the European Advanced Championship in Rumania (see picture), was pretty intense. Low low level flight to Rumania with four planes, scorching heat during competition where even the airfield caught fire and an intense learning experience during competition, flight back home in really bad weather with detours along the alps. Really concentrating for 3 hours to fly very close to the lead plane because if I loose it out of sight I am totally lost. Problems my team mates did the same and in some narrow alpine valleys in bad weather we did get close to each other as well while chasing the lead plane. and some of us were low on fuel or on the wrong frequency… Anyway having survived it looking back it was fun.

Do you have other hobbies when you are grounded?

Coaching my software startups, horses (a little) and my home.

What is your wish in terms of SAA or aerobatics in Switzerland?

Having more new talents, better image with the public, better training environment (a real Acro box) and more members who are actually participating in SNAC. 20 pilots is just too low for all this effort.

Who is the next MoM?

Manu Blatter