TWIN TOWN PARTNERSHIP

Twinning is usually associated with the political sphere, where two municipalities join forces in a spirit of friendship.

The same thing happened with the model-making club—Gam2000—in Mendrisio, Switzerland, and the club—Elimania—in Cirimido, in the province of Como, Italy.

Sunday, March 22, was supposed to mark the start of the new flying season.

But alas, the day began cloudy and with the threat of rain.

The wind chill was around 5–10°.

The same was true in Cirimido. Low clouds hung over the airfield; people were wearing heavy jackets and hats and shivering. It was really a day to stay in bed.

Nevertheless, a considerable number of people had turned out, so the day looked very promising.

In addition to a series of beautiful and magnificent models, I’d like to talk a bit about two models in particular.

There was the new jet from the Frecce Tricolori aerobatic team—the Leonardo M-346.

A truly splendid scale jet model, with its original paint scheme—a sight to behold.

Then there was the Cugar, a veteran among jets. What makes this model unique is the specific design of its ailerons.

I’ll continue to follow the story and talk about it later.

There was a constant coming and going of aircraft in the sky, and despite everything, people were having a good time.

Finally, around aperitif time, the sun came out and everyone was able to enjoy the pleasant warmth, followed by an excellent lunch.

Unfortunately, the afternoon wasn’t much better than the morning, and so a wonderful day ended on a chilly note.

A heartfelt thank you to the group—Elimania—for their hospitality. ■

*Photos: W. Voeller, Elimania, M. Coloimbo, A. Ciancia*