PAST AND CURIOUS
Here you’ll find archives, memories and moments of the last 50 years of SAA. Please, feel free to share pictures, documents, rankings and stories !
To send any documents, pictures or stories, please, contact the SAA President.
Thank you to the contributors :
Dominic Andres
Jacques Beyeler
Gaetano Bisaz
Michel Brandt
Georges Brocard
Jean-Pierre Besson
Georges Caron
Jérôme Cusin
Jo Gitchenko
Pierre Marmy
Hanspeter Rohner
Markus Rüesch
Giustino Scalfo
Béatrice Tétaz
Laurent Zehnder
Last uploads : December, 2020
TDH n° 21 about the overhaul of the HB-MSA
1976-1980 Various pictures
The SAA Milestones
1970 Fondation of the SAA (December 15). Introduction of the Elite, Promotion and Espoirs Categories.
1972 Buying the first Acrostar, the HB-MSA.
1974 Buying the second Acrostar, the HB-MSB.
1978 Christian Schweizer is Swiss Aerobatic Champion powered and glider !
1982 Destruction of the HB-MSB in Pau (Eric Müller during an airshow, September 19).
1983 The HB-MSA is bought by 3 SAA members, the plane is based in La Côte (1984), then Yverdon.
1985 Eric Müller is ranked 3rd at the 5th European Aerobatic Championships (best swiss result).
1985 Christian Schweizer is Swiss Aerobatic Champion powered and glider !
1986(?) Introduction of the Sportmen Category between Espoirs and Promotion.
1986 Christian Schweizer is ranked 5th at the 15th World Aerobatic Championships (best swiss result).
1987 Eric Müller is ranked 3th at the 6th European Aerobatic Championships (2nd best swiss result).
1988 New Aresti Catalogue. Eric Müller did a lot of work for it.
1988 Eric Müller is the Overall Winner of the Unknown Programmes at his last WAC in Red Deer, Canada.
1990 Death of Eric Müller (June 16).
1990 Organisation of World Aerobatic Championships in Yverdon from July 29 to August 11.
1991 The SAA “Eric Müller Trophy” for the Advanced Category Winner is first presented at CS/SM 1991.
1994 The CIVA “Eric Müller Trophy” for the Overall Winner of the Unknown Programmes is first presented at WAC 1994.
1998 Introduction of categories according the FAI-CIVA and categories names : Sportsman (Espoirs), Intermediate (Sportsmen), Advanced (Promotion) and Unlimited (Elite).
1998 Death of Christian et Daniel Schweizer in a accident with a Mustang P-51 (September 3).
2003 The “Christian Schweizer Trophy” for Freestyle is first presented at CS/SM 2003.
2005 Introduction of SAA/MSW Acro Cup
2006 Organisation of the 15th European Aerobatic Championships 2006 in Grenchen. Swiss Unlimited Team ranking : 3rd.
2012 SAA/MSW Acro Cup becomes Hamilton Trophy
2019 Introduction of Excellence Category, between Advanced and Unlimited. First presentation of new SAA Trophies for Sportsman, Intermediate, Excellence and Unlimited Categories.
2020 Hamilton Trophy becomes Hamilton Swiss Aerobatic Cup
2024 Death of Pierre Marmy (March 27).
The Former SAA Presidents
1970 |
1977 |
Eric |
Müller |
1977 |
1988 |
Jean-Claude |
Rinolfi |
1988 |
1990 |
Alain |
Grimm |
1990 |
1994 |
Pierre-Alain |
Schneider |
1994 |
1998 |
Béatrice |
Tétaz |
1998 |
2003 |
Aurelio |
Vassalli |
2003 |
2007 |
Hans |
Meli |
2007 |
2013 |
Felix |
Reinert |
2013 |
2016 |
Suzanne |
Volgelsang |
2016 |
2019 |
Ariel |
Lüedi |
2019 |
… |
Jérôme |
Cusin |
The Greatest Swiss Champions
1930’s and 1940’s
Albert Fischer, 3x Swiss Champion
Francis Liardon, 3x Swiss Champion
1950’s
Fritz Hügli, 3x Swiss Champion
Albert Rüesch, 4x Swiss Champion
1960’s
Arnold Wagner, 5x Swiss Champion
1970’s, 1980’s and 1990’s
Eric Müller, 9x Swiss Elite Champion
Christian Schweizer, 15x Swiss Elite Champion
2000’s, 2010’s and 2020’s
Pierre Marmy, 10x Swiss Unlimited Champion
Pierre Marmy, 8x Swiss Freestyle Champion
Bruno Müller, 5x Swiss Unlimited Champion
Bruno Müller, 1x Swiss Freestyle Champion
1970
In 1969, the first Swiss National Team was formed by AéCS, which brought together Arnold Wagner, Eric Müller, Christian Schweizer, Michel Brandt, Denis Hügli and Alexandre Leitner.
The following year, three of these members of the Swiss National Team decided to buy the brand new and revolutionary Acrostar, developed and designed by Arnold Wagner. The riders were: Eric Müller, Christian Schweizer and Alexandre Leitner. The Swiss Aerobatic Association was born.
The SAA was founded on 15 December 1970 in Riehen (BS) at the home of Eric Müller.
1971 First SAA Statutes
1974
The second SAA Acrostar, HB-MSB
Picture by Tom Cole in 1980 in EGTC
Picture by Stuart Jessup in 1975 in LSZG
“Le Temps de Hélices n°21”, p. 6-15, about the latest overhaul of the HB-MSA.
1978
World Championships 1978 at Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
Georges Brocard, Christian Schweizer, Pierre Burdet, Werner Schiller, Michel Brandt
Georges Brocard, Michel Brandt, Pierre Burdet, Werner Schiller, Christian Schweizer
Michel Brandt and Christian Schweizer at WAC 1978
Georges Brocard
Pierre Burdet
Werner Schiller
Jean-Pierre Freiburghaus and his wife.
In 1978 Christian Schweizer was Swiss Aerobatic Champion in powered and glider aerobatics !
1982
SAA training camp in Lons-le-Saulnier.
Behind, left to right: Hubert Simon, Christine Genin (world champion in 1990), Daniel Gendre, Olivier De Sybourg, Georges Chevalley, André Rorbasser, Arnold Rosset, Véronique Yerly
In front, left to right: Marie-Thérèse Huguenard, François Cottier and his daughter, Jean-Pierre Grobet, Jean-Pierre Besson, Georges Brocard, Jo Gitchenko
EAC 1983, Ravenna, I
Swiss Elite Team won Bronze Medal : Müller Eric, Brandt Michel, Hagander Eric.
1985
In 1985, for the second time, Christian Schweizer was Swiss Aerobatic Champion in powered and glider aerobatics.
EAC 1985, Ceské Budéjovice, CZ
Swiss Elite Team won Bronze Medal : Müller Eric, Schweizer Christian, Hagander Eric
1986
Championnat Suisse 1986 in Yverdon
Members of Aérovoltige at Championnat Suisse 1986 in Yverdon (ph. : M.T.Huguenard).
Standing : Pierre-Alain Schneider, René Piccand, Alain Berger, Jean-Pierre Besson, René Egg, Alain Grimm, Daniel Mauris.
Kneeling position : Willi Arpagaus, Eric Müller, Cédric Tétaz, Marie-Thérèse Huguenard.
EAC 1987, Plössen / Rosenthal Airfield, GER
Swiss Elite Team won Bronze Medal : Müller Eric, Schweizer Christian, Charly Burger
EAC 1989, Bekescsaba, H
Swiss Elite Team won Bronze Medal : Müller Eric, Schweizer Christian, Nils Hagander
WAC 1990 in Yverdon
From July 29 to August 11, 1990
The 29th of July, the 1st Breitling Master started with :
80 pilots
350 followers
80 volunteers per day, just for the competition, mainly SAA members
In memoriam Eric Müller
Eric Muller, the Overall Unknowns World Champion 1988, was the coach of the Swiss team for many years. He was the initiator and organiser of the WAC 1990 in Yverdon. He died, of natural causes, a few weeks before the start of the WAC.
Nikolai Nikitiuk (RUS), Claude Bessière (FRA) and Patrick Paris (FRA).
Helvetia statue, symbol of Switzerland, built on the airfield for the WAC 1990.
Competitor’s Oath read by Nils Hagander youngest WAC participant.
Swiss Elite Team 1990, top, left to right : Christian Schweizer, Nils Hagander, Marie Thérèse Huguenard (judge), Eric Hagander, Annie Bucci (judge assistant), Pierre Marmy. In front, left to right : Pierro Bucci (chief judge), Daniel Schweizer (pilot assistant) and Jean-Pierre Besson.
Swiss delegation parade.
According to the tradition of the pilots Nikitiuk and Besson exchange a flight on their respective planes.
According to the tradition of the pilots Nikitiuk and Besson exchange a flight on their respective planes.
A group of Canadian pilots and volunteers known in Red Deer in 1988 came to meet their Swiss friends in Yverdon.
Christine Genin (F) 1990 Free Program World Champion and Christian Lesage.
Swiss Elite Team 1990, left to right : Nils Hagander, Pierre Marmy, Christian Schweizer, Jean-Pierre Besson and Eric Hagander.
Swiss Elite Team 1990, top, left to right : Christian Schweizer, Pierre Marmy and Nils Hagander. In front, left to right : Daniel Schweizer (pilot assistant), Jean-Pierre Besson and Eric Hagander.
WAC 1994, Debrecen, H
Unlimited Swiss National Team :
Pilots : Christian and Daniel Schweizer, Christoph Koella, Paul Boshung and Pierre Marmy,
Peter Gafner (Coach), Franz Studer (Judge)
ERIC MÜLLER TROPHY
The trophy was first presented in 1994 (offered by SAA).
First winner was Xavier de Lapparent (F).
This CIVA’s trophy is presented to the Overall Winner of the Unknown Programmes at the World Aerobatic Championships. Eric had won this flight at his last WAC in Red Deer, Canada, in 1988
1997
HB-MSR, the Cap 231 EX flown by Daniel Schweizer in Championnat Suisse in Bex. HB-MSO right behind.
Sukhoi 31M with Paul Boshung and Olivier De Sybourg (CS 1997)
Christian Schweizer at take-off with HB-MSC his Extra 231 EX (CS 1997)
Brand new painting for HB-SAV (CS 1997)
Jérôme Cusin and Gilles Küpfer in front of HB-MSC (CS 1997)
WAC 1998, Trencin, CZ
Swiss National Unlimited Team 1998
Georges Brocard, Peter Gafner, Pierre Marmy, Olivier Favre, Christian and Daniel Schweizer
Daniel and Christian Schweizer in Trencin two weeks before the accident.
Bronze Team medal for Swiss Unlimited Team ! Christian Schweizer, Daniel Schweizer and Pierre Marmy.
1998
CS/SM in Lodrino
Paul Boshung’s Sukhoï 31
Brigitte Delasalle’s Sukhoï 31
Pierre Marmy’s Sukhoï 26
Dominic Andres
Dominic Andres and Markus Rüesch
Jacques Sanche
Christian Schweizer’s Cap 231 Ex
Alexandre Crettenand
On September 3, at the end of the CS/SM 1998 Christian and Daniel Schweizer
died in an accident during the ferry to Ticino of the P-51 Mustang “Temptation”, HB-RCW (former F-AZJM).
Probably the saddest day of all aerobatic history in Switzerland.
Considering the SR 111 crash near Halifax on September 2, this was probably the saddest week in swiss aviation history.
F-AZJM in Duxford, pilot Christophe Jacquart (picture autor unknown).
CS/SM 2000 in Môtiers
2004
Programmheft/Carnet de fête 2004
CS/SM 2004 in Bex
In 2004, 17 Sportsman were registered !
GVMC SPO Team 2004 : Alain Avanthay, Samuel Stragiotti, Hanspeter Fischer, Christophe Ruppen, Samuel Pesse, Rachid Kebli and Philipp Bachmann.
RESULTS CS/SM 2004
SPORTSMAN
INTERMEDIATE
ADVANCED
UNLIMITED
2005
Programmheft/Carnet de fête SM/CS 2005
The CS/SM 2005 was disturbed by the accident (30.08.2005) of the Captain Jean-Michel Delorme (EVAA) during the “Championnats de France de Voltige” in St-Yan : his Cap 232 was destroyed in flight due to a mechanical rupture. All Cap 231/232 were immediately grounded. All the swiss pilots were very concerned by this dramatic and exceptionally rare accident.
Dominic Andres blew up a tire !
Freestyle podium (left to right) : Gaby Schifferle, Suzanne Vogelsang, Pierre Marmy, Markus Ruesch and Dominic Andres
Unlimited podium (left to right) : Markus Ruesch (3rd), Pierre Marmy (1st) and Dominic Andres (2nd)
2006
CS/SM in Môtiers
Judges board
From L to R : Catherine Maunoury, Fabio Franco, Aldo Marengo, Nathalie Brunet (vidéo), Hermann Van Oos,
Georges Brocard, Pierre-Alain Schneider, Georges Chevalley, Rösli Chevalley and Simon Hubert.
Pictures : Jean-Charles Sautaux, Christophe Courvoisier, Andrew Birch and Pierre-Alain Schneider
Remark : we’ve got largely enough pictures to do a nice photobook. If interested, contact the President.
2007
CS/SM in Birrfeld
Was wet and cloudy…
WAC 2007 in Granada, S
Swiss Unlimited Team : Hanspeter Rohner (pilot), Pierre Marmy (pilot),
Georges Brocard (judge) and Georges Chevalley (judge assistant)
Svetlana Kapanina (World Champion 2007), Georges Brocard and Georges Chevalley
Georges Brocard, Ramon Alonso (World Champion 2007) and Georges Chevalley.
2008
CS/SM in Porrentruy
Was rainy and cloudy…
2009
“Championnat Suisse de voltige aérienne” and “Schweizermeisterschaft im Motorkunstflug” become “Swiss National Aerobatic Championship”
SNAC 2009, Yverdon
Was cloudy, cold and windy.
WAC 2009 Silverstone, UK
Swiss Unlimited Team 2009 :
Gaby Schifferle, Dominic Andres, Nils Hangander, Pierre, Marmy,
Hanspeter Rohner and Max Ungricht (Team Manager)
Was cloudy, cold, windy and tragic.
Vicki Cruse (USA) died on August 22, 2009 in a dramatic accident with a borrowed Zivko Edge 540 during the WAC.
2010
SNAC 2010, Fricktal-Schupfart
EAC 2010, Touzim, CZ
Was wet, cold and cloudy.
Swiss Unlimited Team 2010 :
Pilots : Jérôme Cusin, Pierre Marmy, Hanspeter Rohner and Gaby Schifferle.
Coach and warm-up pilot : Nicolas Ivanoff
Support : Aziz Boussalem and Wolfram Edinger
Particularities : 2 planes were destroyed due to landings in very soft part of the runway
(the Cap 231 F-GGYZ of Gianfranco Cilliario and the Cap 232 F-GXCP of Hanspeter Rohner).
Renaud Ecalle died in a plane accident less a month later.
2011
SNAC 2011, Bex
Was hot and stormy !
WAC 2011, Foligno, I
Was hot and sunny !
Swiss Unlimited Team 2011 :
Pilots : Jérôme Cusin, Pierre Marmy and Hanspeter Rohner.
Team Manager : Daniel Götschi
2012
SNAC 2012, Lodrino
EAC 2012, Dubnica, CZ
Swiss Unlimited Team : Jérôme Cusin, Hanspeter Rohner and Pierre Marmy
Georges Brocard (judge) and Sophie Martel (judge assistant)
Hanspeter Rohner, Pierre Marmy and Jérôme Cusin
Georges Brocard
Yoshihide Muroya (J) and Patrick Paris (F)
Sophie Martel, Fabio Franco (I) and Aldo Marengo (I)
WAC 2015, Châteauroux, F
Swiss Unlimited Team 2015 :
Pilots : Emiliano Del Buono, Pierre Marmy, Hanspeter Rohner, Markus Rüesch and Isidor Von Arx.
2016
2018
SNAC 2018 – Lodrino
HB-MSC, former Cap 231 EX of Christian Schweizer left the Swiss Museum of Transportation…
Picture by Christian Bremer
… to go in the middle of a roundabout in Grenchen !
Picture by Hans Bärtschi
2019
“Swiss National Aerobatic Championship” become “Swiss National Aerobatic Championships“
2020
AeroRevue April 2020, SAA 50th Anniversary.
Article en français – Artikel auf Deutsch
SAA 50th Anniversary Party
Triengen, August 22, 2020
2021
2022
Due to an unexpected hailstorm on 7 September 2022, SNAC 2022 was interrupted as most of the aircraft were damaged.