Milestones
May 19, 1938
In order to give Swiss aviation new impetus and to close the gap with other countries, the «Pro Aero» Foundation is formed, to which well-known personalities belong. Its aim is «to arouse understanding and enthusiasm for aviation among public authorities and institutions, and especially among young people».
May 21, 1938
The «Pro Aero» campaign, a collection for the promotion of aviation, is held throughout Switzerland for two days. The campaign aims to create enthusiasm for flying among young people, to encourage the rising generation of pilots, to support model-building, gliding and aerial sport, and to continue the work of the national aviation pioneers. On 22 May special postal flights were to be made to 13 Swiss cities, carrying mail bearing an airmail postage stamp with a supplementary postmark. Because of bad weather, these flights were not completed until 31 May. Receipts from the Pro-Aero special stamp bring in 139,083 Swiss francs for the Foundation. The Pro-Aero special stamp became a sought-after rarity. For a time an uncancelled block of four would cost a collector 22,500 Swiss francs. The stamp campaign, together with donations and also the sale of badges and Cellux labels, brings in the Foundation 632,000 Swiss francs.
August 15, 1938
The Bider, Mittelholzer, Zimmermann Memorial Co-operative (GBMZ) is founded in Zurich. The Pro Aero Foundation, the Swiss Aero Club and National Council member Gottlieb Duttweiler subscribe the initial capital of 500,000 Swiss francs. The purpose of the GBMZ is the promotion of Swiss aviation; up to 1945 it spends about 130,000 Swiss francs on this. Its first venture is the building of a permanent workshop for glider construction in Zurich, in which a series of gliders for training novice pilots and the high-performance Moswey II glider are launched.
May 22, 1939
On the occasion of the national exhibition in Zurich the Pro Aero Foundation carries out special postal flights to all cantonal capitals in the country.
June 30, 1939
There are 150 gliders and 800 glider pilots in Switzerland. Supported by the Pro Aero Foundation, gliding training is offered in 57 gliding groups, under the motto «Flying is a patriotic duty».
July 27, 1939
With the collaboration of the Swiss Pro Aero Foundation, teacher-training courses in model-aircraft construction are held in Einsiedeln (SZ) and Berne, in order to communicate ideas on flying to schoolchildren.
April 30, 1941
The Pro Aero Foundation now has a foundation capital of only 55,727 Swiss francs, as over the period 1933-1940 it had made major support contributions: to powered-flight sport 92,335, gliding 113,248, and for the promotion of national aviation in general 81,267 Swiss francs. The expenditure has contributed to promoting the ideas of flying among young people, in particular model-aircraft construction. The book «Flieg mit» by Walter Ackermann was distributed to school libraries.
May 28, 1941
Under the motto «A nation which does not fly will be left behind !», the Pro Aero Foundation launches its third national campaign for the promotion of aviation with the issue of a special postage stamp and the sale of a flying badge. Two special postal flights organised by the PTT head office take place on the routes Buochs-Payerne and Payerne-Buochs. As a result the post-office administration is able to remit 111,252 Swiss francs to the Foundation.
July 14, 1941
With the support of the Pro Aero Foundation, a teacher-training course in building model aircraft starts in Basle, under the direction of top expert Arnold Degen.
September 27, 1941
The 3rd National Pro-Aero Campaign is launched with the sale of badges in German-speaking Switzerland, and is continued from 27 September in French-speaking Switzerland and Ticino. At the same time, as a publicity campaign, a model sheet is distributed to every household in Switzerland which – when cut out and folded – produces a small glider with good flight characteristics. The Pro Aero Foundation appeals to Swiss youth to build thousands and thousands of model aircraft carefully and to launch these on the campaign days, as a powerful statement of their belief in the future of flying.
July 13, 1943
In memory of Oskar Bider’s flight over the Alps 30 years ago, the Pro Aero Foundation carries out a special postal flight from Berne to Zurich and back. The receipts from the special postage stamp, a Federal commemorative stamp with the overprint «Pro Aero», together with the sale of flying pin-badges, bring in the sum of about 320,000 Swiss francs. Thanks to these substantial receipts, the Pro Aero foundation board makes available immediately to the Swiss Aero Club an additional 100,000 Swiss francs for the more intensive encouragement of young people with an interest in flying.
Februar 3, 1945
Because of financial shortage, the Swiss Aero Club chairman’s conference rescinds the previous combination of functions between general secretariats of the Swiss Aero Club and the Pro Aero Foundation.
March 26, 1946
The Pro Aero Foundation and the Swiss Aero Club come to an agreement on the demarcation of their respective areas of activity. In future the Foundation devotes itself to raising funds for Swiss sporting aviation and subsidising this, the care of which continues to be the responsibility of the Swiss Aero Club.
May 10, 1946
The Pro Aero Foundation acquires from Dr. Tilgenkamp the valuable collection of 2352 photographs and negatives. Later the collection passes to the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.
May 22, 1946
The Pro Aero Foundation, in collaboration with the PTT, carries out postal flights with special postage stamps from Lausanne to Lucerne and Locarno. The net receipts amount to 219,893 Swiss francs.
April 27, 1949
Adolf Gehriger begins special Pro Aero Foundation postal flights from La Chaux-de-Fonds to St. Gallen and Lugano and back, with surcharge stamps and a special postmark. It was possible for the first time to gain the services of Hans Erni for the pictorial design of the stamp. At around 200,000 Swiss francs the financial return was excellent.
January 1, 1953
Berne Cantonal Councillor and National Councillor Arnold Seematter becomes the new Chairman of the Pro Aero Foundation. He takes over from Corps Commandant Fritz Prisi, who had been Chairman of the Foundation since it was formed in May 1938.
July 13, 1963
The Pro Aero Foundation carries out its special postal flights with a new special postage stamp as Oskar Bider memorial flights from Langenbruck to Berne and from Berne to Locarno.
April 26, 1969
The 1st Swiss and International Air Mail Exhibition, LUPO 69, begins in the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne, with 145 exhibitors from 20 countries. On the following day the IXth. International Congress of the International Federation of Aerophilatelic Societies (FISA) takes place, with delegates from all parts of the world. In addition, on 30 April special postal flights from Zurich to Lausanne and back are carried out under the patronage of the Pro Aero Foundation, to mark 50 years of air-mail service.
May 3, 1971
The former Chairman of the Pro Aero foundation board, former Federal Councillor Dr. E Celio, becomes Honorary Chairman. Professor Eduard Amstutz is elected as his successor.
June 1, 1972
To mark «50 years of international air-mail traffic, 1922-1972 – Geneva-Zurich-Nuremberg», the PTT issues a special postage stamp. Receipts from the sale of the special stamps amount to 2.7 million Swiss francs, 80% of which goes to the Pro Aero Foundation, 20% to the Swiss Air Ambulance Service.
April 30, 1974
The Pro Aero Foundation presents its new advertising film inviting young people to train as pilots, «Dimensions of Freedom», in the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne.
November 16, 1980
In Sion, the Environmental Commission of the Swiss Aero Club, headed by Beat Schär, is honoured by the Pro Aero Foundation for its work in the problem area of light aviation and environmental protection over many years, by the award of the Golden Commendation.
March 9, 1981
To mark the golden jubilee of the formation of Swissair the PTT issues a special Pro Aero postage stamp (designed by Hans Erni). On 30 April four Pro Aero flights radiating from Switzerland on the North-East-South-West axes were carried out with it.
April 30, 1981
To commemorate the start of Swissair air traffic 50 years ago four Pro Aero radial flights were undertaken: from Geneva to Buenos Aires and from Zurich to Helsinki, Chicago and Jakarta.
November 11, 1981
Professor Eduard Amstutz retires after ten years service as Chairman of the Pro Aero foundation board. His successor will be former Corps Commandant Kurt Bolliger.
July 31, 1983
The first Pro Aero youth camp for the encouragement of the rising generation of aviators starts in St. Moritz Bad. The initiators are Werner Koelliker and Emil Giezendanner. 56 boys and girls from all linguistic regions build model aircraft under the guidance of the Swiss Aero Club. Up to 1999, over 2200 young people took part in the 17 youth camps held in the Engadine since then.
1985
Creation of the Pro Aero Commendation for special services to aviation. The first prize-winner is former National Councillor Dr. Eugen Dietschi, Basel. Founder member of the Foundation in 1938 and since then permanent member of the foundation board. A major promoter of aviation.
September 7, 1987
At the General Meeting of the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) in Stockholm the Pro Aero Foundation is honoured with the award of the FAI Group Diploma.
May 10, 1988
Pro Aero, a foundation for the promotion of national aviation, celebrates its 50 years of existence with a ceremony held in the Swiss Transport House in Lucerne.
May 27, 1988
To mark the 50th anniversary of the Pro Aero Foundation, a jubilee postal flight with two Ju-22, a Super Puma and a Crossair Metroliner takes place from Dübendorf via Samedan and Agno to Geneva-Cointrin. The PTT sells CHF 1.40 stamps with a surcharge of 60 cents to a total value of 4.375 million Swiss francs, which brings the Foundation net receipts of 2.742 million Swiss francs.
October 20, 1989
The Pro Aero Foundation gives itself new Articles of Association. Its aim and purpose remain the promotion of Swiss aviation. Expenditure is then also considerable: each year contributions to a value of 400,000 Swiss francs are directed to branches of aerial sport and to encouraging young people. The financial resources come from special postage stamps and special postal flights.
December 12, 1992
In the Dübendorf Aviation Museum the Pro Aero Foundation honours astronaut Claude Nicollier with the award of the Golden Commendation.
November 25, 1993
Former Corps Commandant Ernst Wyler becomes the new Chairman of the Pro Aero foundation board, as successor to former Corps Commandant Kurt Bolliger, Chairman since 1981.
March 8, 1994
Erich Meier, editor of the «Neuer Zürcher Zeitung» is honoured by the Pro Aero Foundation for his great journalistic services to Swiss aviation by the posthumous award of its Commendation.
December 16, 1994
Last official service flight of a Hunter fighter aircraft in the Air Force. The aircraft J-4001, which arrived from England on 3 April 1958 as the first of a total of 160 machines in Switzerland is handed over to the Air Force Museum in Dübendorf after 36 years of flying service. On the same occasion the initiator of the Aviation Museum, Hans Giger, formerly director of the Federal Office for Military Airfields, is honoured with the award of the Pro Aero Foundation Commendation.
March 25, 1995
At the Swiss Aero Club delegates meeting in the House of Sport in Berne Werner Koelliker is honoured with the award of the Pro Aero Foundation Commendation for his work in promoting the sport of model-flying over many years.
April 25, 1998
Special postal flight from Lausanne-La Blécherette to Berne to mark the diamond jubilee of the Pro Aero Foundation, as part of the 31st day of Swiss air-mail philately.
June 27, 1998
At Samedan airfield on the occasion of “60 years of the Pro Aero Foundation/50 years of the International Gliding Championship” Bernhard (Benno) Lüthi is honoured with the Pro Aero Commendation for his promotion of the national gliding movement over many years.
December 7, 1999
The Pro Aero Foundation awards its 1999 Commendation for special services to aviation to the Air Force and its ALBA team for the humanitarian foreign deployment launched spontaneously during the Kosovo conflict with three Super Puma helicopters, which was then sustained for 17 weeks from Albania with continuous logistic support from Switzerland.
June 16, 2000
In the Air Force Museum in Dübendorf the Pro Aero Foundation honours the Breitling Orbiter 3 team with Bertrand Piccard by the award of its 2000 Commendation for the first successful circumnavigation of the world in a balloon.
September 13, 2001
In Payerne, the Pro Aero Foundation honors the Luftwaffe surveillance squadron (UeG) with the recognition award «Military» for «Recognition for 60 years of operational readiness and flight instructor activity of its members for generations of young military pilots».
October 25, 2001
The Swiss Air pilot Hans Georg Schmid is awarded the Pro Aero Recognition Prize «Civil» in Grenchen in «Recognition of his high flying performance on the occasion of the double round-the-world flight in self-propelled aircraft».
April 27, 2002
The 23rd winner of the Pro Aero Recognition Award is Rega. The Swiss Air Rescue Service has been honored for its exceptional performance in air rescue over the past 50 years.
July 23, 2002
On the occasion of the youth camp, Marco Schnyder was honored for his efforts over 20 years, including ten years as camp manager, by the board of trustees with the small Pro Aero medal for his merits.
October 24, 2002
As of January 1, 2003, the new and seventh President of the Board of Trustees Pro Aero will be replaced by former Corps Commander Hans Rudolf Fehrlin.
October 31, 2005
The Task Force SUMA of the Swiss Air Force receives the golden Pro Aero medal for special achievements in the field of military aviation. In recognition of the rapid and successful humanitarian response in the disaster area of Aceh / Indonesia following the devastating tsunami tide of 26 December 2004.
July 25, 2006
In S-chanf, Anton Landolt receives the Pro Aero Recognition Award for his untiring and successful commitment to the launch of Ecolight aircraft in Switzerland.
June 16, 2007
The Swiss Museum of Transport Lucerne receives the Pro Aero Award for outstanding achievements in the field of civil aviation. This in recognition of the excellent interactive presentation of «human-technology-game-science» in the new aerospace hall.
July 22-28, 2007
The AeCS Pro Aero Youth Camp takes place for the 25th time.
April 26, 2008
The Flieger- and Flab Museum Dübendorf receives the Pro Aero Award for the excellent interactive presentation of human-technical-game-history. A civil recognition award was not awarded in 2008.
March 14, 2009
The AeCS model aircraft division has been awarded the Pro Aero Recognition Award for its outstanding commitment to youth and young talent development. A military recognition award was not awarded in 2009.
March 19, 2011
On this date, two civil recognition prizes were awarded from the Pro Aero Foundation: The Aero-Club Switzerland and the Organizing Committee «100 years of aviation in Switzerland» for the successful implementation of Switzerland's anniversary activities in 2010 and to Yannick Bovier and Francisco Agullo for the successful round-the-world flight with Ecolight aircraft. A military recognition award was not awarded in 2010.
October 5, 2011
The civil Pro Aero Award 2011 goes to the Center for Aviation Competence (CFAC) of the University of St. Gallen. A military recognition award was not awarded in 2011.
July 31, 2012
In S-chanf receives as part of the Pro Aero Aviation Youth Camp Dr. Ernst Tanner, Trogen, the Pro Aero Award 2012 for his «outstanding and unique services, especially through the first Saharan crossing in helicopters and through unmatched assistance to people by means of air transports».