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SWISS AIR SHOW IN THE ALPS

Every year at the beginning of October the Swiss Air Force performs its "flight demonstrations" in front of a grandiose backdrop. The firing range is at an altitude of 2,240meters. Whoever wants to watch this very special "air show", needs to be in good shape. The only way visitors can reach the Axalp in the Bernese Oberland is by marching up for an hour and a half. Only range officers and judging marshals are allowed to use a small cable car.

The strenuous effort is definitely worth it, because nowhere else in the world can you see modern fighters at close range in front of breathtaking panoramic mountains in brilliant sunshine. This is why two to three thousand enthusiasts start the stony ascent at an early hour. There are also 600 invited guests, who have been flown in from Interlaken very comfortably by Super Puma helicopters.

It was Switzerland's turn to hold the European Air Chiefs Conference (EURAC) this year and the participants watched the air show as well. The 17 Air Force bosses also visited the Pilatus works and discussed topics like the division of air space, air transport capabilities, deployment of drones and availability of tankers during the conference.

As during many previous years visitors on the Axalp experienced a 90min program, in which all branches of the Swiss Air Force including jets, trainers, helicopters and parachutists took part. The date for this spectacle was October 6 and 7. The Swiss Air Force wants to demonstrate its high level of achievement with impressive performances.

The show starts traditionally with the very spectacular and photogenic fly over of two Dassault Mirage III RS. At exactly 14:00hrs these flew across the Krete at Mach 0.8 only 50meters above the spectators. After a mountain rescue with an Alouette III and a fire-fighting stunt of two Super Pumas, the two Mirage reconnaissance fighters appeared from nowhere at the horizon. This time they had returned in order to fire a burst with so-called incendiary rounds at target No.1, and after a razor sharp flight they dived into the valleys.

Two of the four targets (i.e. No 1 and 4) are situated only about 250 meters below the spectators. The attack flights, firing and hitting the targets of each individual fighter can therefore be experienced very well optically and acoustically.

Four British Aerospace Hawk from the pilot school in Sion demonstrated with their 30-mm-canons, which are fitted under the fuselage, that trainers can very well be used in action. Eight Northrop Grumman F-5E Tigers flew in a formal course at three targets, using their 20-mm-canons, which are installed in their nose.

Maintaining air sovereignty, one of the main tasks of the Air Force, was demonstrated with the interception of a Beech Super King Air by two F-5s. After decommissioning the Mirage IIIS fighter and 19 of the F-5 Tiger II at the end of this year, the Swiss Air Force only has about 90 Tigers and 33 Boeing F-18C/D Hornets at its disposal for air defence tasks.

Two F-5 and two F-18C performed a simple aerial battle using flares. After the US Navy lost an F-18 in the Mediterranean last summer, having fired the on board canon, Fernand Carell, Commander of the Swiss Air Force, imposed a firing ban, until the cause of the accident is found. This ban still remains in force, which explains why the Hornets did not perform a firing demonstration. However, Hornet fans were compensated for this when Captain Frederic Ryff, Pilot with 17 Squadron, flew an impressive display with J-5023.

After yet another extremely close flight of four Mirage III RS, followed by canon fire at three targets, the Patrouille Suisse with their six red F-5s formed the optical high light. With snow covered mountains in the background it was a picture, which can only be experienced once a year on the Axalp.