International Airshow Buochs, August 26th/27th, 1994

Let's start with our DeLorean back to one of the most iconic shows in my youth, the Air'94 with the Good Bye to our Hunters. Charged with a few films with 24 and 36 pictures each and an Minolta Dynax with up to 300mm kit lens it was ok, with today's knowledge I whould chose other positions and invest a minimum two days visit...

Lineup was massive, from US Hercules and Eagles to german Tornado and Czeck Su-22; display teams from France, Italy and Spain and of course the Swiss Air Force. 80 Years Swiss Air Force and 30 Years of Patrouille Suisse have to be celebrated !

Mirage 2000D ready for the next 10+ years

 

Our western neighbours are modernising 55 of there 71 resting Mirage 2000D with some important mid-life updates to fullfill there role 'till 2030. The biggest surprise is the installation of an external pod for a canon DEFA 30mm named CC422. The direction générale de l'armement (DGA) wants to give the bomber aircrafts more flexibility with that - needing no more the help of the Mirage 2000C or Rafale aircrafts to supress enemy troops / showing of force on the battleground. Other upgrades includes the change from MAGIG 2 to MICA air-to-air missiles and the possibility to further improve the weapon load and new defence and navigation systems. 

Some important notes about the Mirage 2000D

- first flight february 19th, 1991; operational since april 9th, 1993

- integration of Link16 in between 2009 and 2011, called Mirage 2000D VI

- with the withdrawal of the Mirage F1 in 2014, Mirage 2000D received there ASTAC (Analyseur de Signaux TACtiques) reconnaissance pod

- 1st flight with mid-life update january 7th, 2021

An Mirage 2000D arriving at the Good Bye ceremony for Swiss Air Force's Mirage IIIS at Buochs airfield back in 1999