Hermes 900 HFE drone crash in Israel (August 05th,2020) Investigation results on the cause now available

 Source and Links for more infos

Hermes 900 HFE drone crash in Israel: Investigation results on the cause of the crash now available

Bern, 11.05.2021 - Following the crash of a drone of type Hermes 900 HFE intended for the Swiss Armed Forces over Israeli territory, the Israeli Ministry of Transport initiated an investigation to clarify the cause of the accident. The final report is now available. The manufacturer has repaired the damage and will cover all costs.

On 05 August 2020, a drone of the type Hermes 900 HFE intended for Switzerland crashed over Israeli territory.  The cause of the crash was subsequently investigated under the direction of the Israeli Ministry of Transport. Clarification has been completed and the investigation results are available.

Crash was due to unexpectedly strong oscillations

According to the accident report, the crash was due to the fact that the V tail unit became detached from the fuselage of the drone due to unexpectedly strong oscillations. The drone could thus no longer be controlled and crashed.

The manufacturer has repaired the damage and will cover all costs

The Israeli manufacturing company Elbit Systems Ltd was able to eliminate the cause of this problem with regard to further production of the drone, without changing the drone’s design. The damage is to be borne entirely by Elbit Systems Ltd (see notice of 06/08/2020).
The crash occurred on a test flight of the drone. This resulted in total loss of the drone, but no damage to persons or third-party damage. This is a drone which was intended for the Swiss Armed Forces as part of the delivery scope of the ADS15 procurement.

Delivery from the second semester 2022

Reliable detailed scheduling is still difficult. According to current information, the drones will be delivered from the second semester of 2022 to the summer of 2023. Approval of the radar for the sense-and-avoid system is planned for the end of 2024. The current delays are due, on the one hand, to the time and effort required for certification with the Civil Aviation Authority Israel (CAAI), which was underestimated by the supplier, and on the other hand, to the delayed development of the radar system for sense-and-avoid. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted industry and has severely limited cooperation with the supplier due to travel restrictions and quarantine requirements. Until the approval of the sense-and-avoid radar, the Hermes 900 HFE drone will be deployed in uncontrolled airspace and with an escort aircraft by day.

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Address for enquiries

Kaj-Gunnar Sievert
Head of Communications armasuisse
+41 58 464 62 47

Leeuwarden Crash of 2016: Patrouille Suisse Pilot accused by Military Justice

The Office of the Armed Forces Attorney General / Military Justice has brought charges against a pilot of the Patrouille Suisse. This collided with a second Patrouille Suisse fighter jet during a training flight for the “Netherland Air Force Open Days 2016”. The pilot was able to save himself with the ejection seat and was only slightly injured, his aircraft was completely destroyed. A second aircraft was damaged. 

The financial amount accounts for:

- F-5E Tiger II aircraft crashed: 800100.- CHF

- F-5E Tiger II aircraft damaged: 146282.80 CHF

- Secure crash site/Wreck recovery/reparations on a damaged greenhouse and rehabilitation of a pond: 1.25 Mio EUR, Swiss government paid 398484.95 CHF

The “Netherland Air Force Open Days 2016” took place at the Dutch air force base in Leeuwarden from June 7 to 11, 2016, and the Swiss Air Force's “Patrouille Suisse” aerobatic team also took part. On June 9, 2016, two “Northrop F-5E Tiger II” combat aircraft operated by Patrouille Suisse collided near the air force base during a training flight. As a result of the collision, one of the two pilots lost control of his aircraft and operated the ejection seat. He suffered minor injuries during the ejection seat launch and the subsequent landing in a greenhouse. The plane crashed in the immediate vicinity of the greenhouse by a pond and suffered a total write-off. The second aircraft was also damaged by the collision, but remained maneuverable. It could be landed safely by the pilot. The auditor of the military justice has now brought charges against the pilot of the crashed aircraft in a military court.  The auditor accuses the pilot of violating his duty of care during the approach maneuver flown by him and thereby causing the collision. For this reason, he has become aware of the negligent misuse and waste of material (Art. 73 No. 1 Paragraph 1 MStG), the negligent disruption of public transport (Art. 169a No. 1 Paragraph 2 MStG) as well as the multiple negligent non-compliance of Service regulations (Art. 72 Abs. 2 MStG) made guilty. The auditor has accordingly brought charges against the pilot before the military tribunal 2.  

The presumption of innocence continues to apply to the defendant.  

Video of the crash (source: yt)

Video of landing damaged aircraft (source: yt)

Video departure of the repaired damaged aircraft (source: yt)

Black days for military aerobatic teams worldwide

The crash of the Patrouille Suisse (first since the founding in 1964!) was only one of a few these days back in 2016. On the same day a Su-27 Flanker of the Russian Knights crashed in Russia killing its pilot and one week after two incidents to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels; on June 2nd a Thunderbirds F-16 crashed near Colorado Springs (Pilot ejected) and a few hours later on the same day Blue Angels Opposing Solo crashed during a display training in Tennessee killing its pilot.

Source and more documents: Swiss Federation

Notes for media professionals: On March 28, 2019, the Kommunikation Militärjustiz published extensive media raw material on the results of the preliminary evidence taken by the military investigating magistrate on the aircraft accident on June 9, 2016. 

This text reflects the status of the investigations from March 2019. It includes the results of the preliminary taking of evidence, but not the preliminary investigation, which was only carried out after the publication of the media raw material. This text can therefore deviate in details from the results of the preliminary investigation. The media raw material can be downloaded under "Links".

Trial: Swiss Hornet Pilot that crashed in France in 2015 acquitted

The 43-year-old F/A-18 fighter jet pilot was charged with multiple negligent failure to comply with service regulations before Military Court II in Aarau.

The pilot was also acquitted of allegations of misuse and leakage of material. The court refrains from disciplinary punishment. The auditor had requested a conditional fine of 60 daily rates. The defense attorney demanded an acquittal.

The F / A-18 fighter jet crashed uncontrollably near the French town of Glamondans and was totally destroyed. According to the indictment, there was a total loss of around 55 million francs.

During the two-day trial, the pilot had reported the problems during combat training. Until the end he did not know what problem he had. It was about preventing flying into the ground. It was an emergency."I only had one try, only a few seconds. I did what I could," he said. In all other accidents in the past 25 years, the Swiss pilots with the F/A-18 crashed and died. "I have chosen life," said the pilot.

With the happy ending of this story I will also publish my favourite cartoon to this incident, made by Tagesanzeiger cartoonist Kurt Schaad:

(And I say Pierre, that was not a duck !)

Pilot of Hornet Crash 2015 in France now on trial

 The aircraft - Hornet D J-5235 - crashed during an air combat training with two F-5 Tiger II in the binational EUC25 training area near Glamondance (F) on october 14th, 2015. Pilot ejected with only minor injuries and is now on trial for not following rules/emergency procedures to safe the aircraft.

The Pilot - Martin H. - was one of three test pilots for flying the Gripen due the evaluation 2014 and can be seen here on an swiss television documentary. The presumption of innocence continues to apply to the accused pilot: https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/gripen-drei-schweizer-piloten-trainieren-in-schweden

The aircraft crashed was mainly in use by armasuisse as a test aircraft with special wiring - seen here in january 2004 

Reports of the french/swiss investigation (on June 13th, 2017) stated that (source):

 ... In the last exercise phase, the left engine of the F / A-18D stalled, which resulted in a drop in engine performance. The aircraft began to roll to the left with an unwanted rolling motion and quickly lost altitude. The pilot was no longer able to bring the aircraft into a stable flight position. Shortly afterwards he operated the ejector seat. The plane then crashed on an arable land near the village of Glamondans in the French Jura. The pilot survived slightly injured.

.../ ... 

Based on these results, the F / A-18 pilot is initially suspected of violating Art. 72 MStG (non-compliance with service regulations) and Art. 73 MStG (misuse and waste of material). In order to be able to determine whether a criminal act was committed in a specific case, the examining magistrate asked divisional officer Bernhard Müller, deputy commander and chief operations officer of the Air Force, to order a preliminary investigation. The latter approved the application and ordered a preliminary investigation.

The presumption of innocence continues to apply to the accused pilot.

F / A-18 crash of 2015: Main hearing in military court (source)

Bern, 11/24/2020 - On December 9, 2020, the main hearing against the pilot of the F / A-18 fighter plane, which crashed in 2015 in the French Jura, begins in Aarau before Military Court 2. He is accused of multiple negligent non-compliance with service regulations as well as negligent abuse and waste of material.

From December 9 to 11, 2020, the main hearing of Military Court 2 against the pilot of the F / A-18 fighter aircraft will take place in Aarau, which crashed on October 14, 2015 as part of air combat training near the French village of Glamondans near the Swiss border. The indictment accuses the pilot of multiple negligent non-compliance with service regulations as well as negligent misuse and waste of material. The trial is expected to last three days. Military Court 2 is presided over by Lieutenant Colonel Christoph Rüedi.

The hearing begins on Wednesday, December 9, 2020, 8:15 a.m., in the Chamber of the Commercial Court of the Canton Aargau (Obere Vorstadt 40, 5000 Aarau). It's public. The number of visitor places is limited due to the protective measures in connection with COVID-19.

Media representatives and other interested persons who want to take part in the main public hearing are asked to register with the Communication Military Justice Department by Friday, December 4, 2020 at the latest. The registered persons will be informed up to two days before the main hearing whether they can take part in the main hearing. Identification and registration is required in the courthouse. The registered media workers will be sent additional information (including indictment) about the proceedings before the main hearing.

shortly after the crash a rapid response unit deployed to the crash site in France out of Meiringen

Collision PC-7 Team with Camera, St. Moritz 2017: Former team leader awaits trial

After the collision of an (NC)PC-7 Turbo Trainer aircraft with an cable on Ski Worldcup February 17, 2017 at St. Moritz, military justice is ready for the trial against the former team leader. The pilot touching the cable and damaging aircraft and installations was already acquitted for.

Source: https://www.admin.ch/gov/de/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-79349.html

Swiss Air Force's fastest Recce - the IAI/RUAG ADS-95 RANGER drone

Since the end of the Mach2 Mirage III RS 'AMIR' in 2003, our fastest Recce is 4.61m long, has an wingspan of 5.71m and has an Vmax of 220km/h ! The quality of the pictures are lower than those on the Mirage, but available in real time and with a range of 4 hours.

Swiss Army uses the Israeli-Swiss drone IAI/RUAG ADS-95 for reconaissance missions. The drone costs about 2.5 Mio SFr ($1.9million), 27 systems (including mobile equipment for command and control) where delivered beginning in 1999. An flighthour costs about 7300 SFr and about 40-60 flights are made for Swiss Border Patrol (Grenzschutz) each year.
The AufklärungsDrohnenSystem 95 is the evolution of the ADS-90 with increased range and charge.

ADS-90

Based on the IAI Ranger and built by F+W Emmen, this 1st drone of the Swiss Air Force had an MTOW of 270 kg with an maximum charge of 41 kg. With 240 km/h maximum speed a bit faster than the ADS-95.

Prototype XP-01 on a poster

 D-101 due Armeetage'99, Frauenfeld

ADS-95

The modified version of the ADS-90 with a MTOW of 275 kg and a maximum charge of 45 kg. Updated Sensors and support vehicles.

 Sometimes (sh)it happens - but without incident on humans/animals - see here for example

Production of ADS-95 systems for Finnish and Swiss Air Force

Here some video pictures published by the Swiss Air Force a couple of years ago:

With those little birds, the pictures are quit nice. German Luftwaffe published some actual footage of there sensors on Tornado aircraft, also capable for live-streaming to the headquarter:

Photo taken by the infrared sensor of the TORNADO:

 Photo edited by fusion of infrared and normal photo taken by TORNADO: 

Source of the German Air Force Tornado Pictures


ADS-15
After an evaluation of multiple modern systems (Long List included five systems, Short List and tests in Switzerland with two systems), Elbit won the competition with the Hermes 900. 'Swissification' consists of a motor change to Diesel and - due that change of gravity - longer wings. Swiss Air Force Insiders hopes the changes/tests in RUAG wind tunnel are paid by Elbit according an article in the NZZ newspaper of September 04th, 2016.


Official site of the Drohnen-Kommando 84

Super Constellation back to the air summer 2018

Picture: HB-RSC due Airshow in Bex, 2007 - available in 1200px

The last hours saw quite a lot of bad news in military aviation with deadly crash of one of the solo pilots of the Thunderbirds (see below) and an F-15K of the Republic of South Korea Air Force (RoKAF) missing in the country's rural south. Thuesday saw two other crashes with an CH-53E Super Stallion and an AV-8B Harrier of the US Marines.

Thunderbirds Aircraft Mishap
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. - A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range today at approximately 10:30 a.m. during a routine aerial demonstration training flight. The identity of the pilot is being withheld for 24-hours pending next of kin notification. An investigation is being conducted into the cause of the mishap.The team's participation at the March Air Reserve Base "The March Field Air & Space Expo" has been cancelled. It is unknown how this accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds Season.
More information will be provided as it becomes available.

Much better news in Europe, with the Super Constellation HB-RSC in big maintenance work now. After the cancellation of the flights last year mainly due the new build of 24 wing flap link rods and damages due fire - see on my blog - the Super Constellation Flyers announced seeing the light on the horizon, with end of revision planned this summer. The aircraft will be completly revised and only regular maintenance work to be done the following (many !) years:

Liebe Supporter*innen und Connie-Freunde
Technische Probleme verhinderten im vergangenen Jahr eine interessante Flugsaison mit unserer Super Constellation.
Die Absage der Flugsaison 2017 haben wir dann zum Anlass genommen, zusammen mit Fachleuten und dem BAZL, unsere «Star of Switzerland» auf Herz und Nieren zu checken. Dabei haben wir feststellen müssen, dass wir rund zwei Millionen Franken benötigen, um unsere Super Connie wieder in die Luft zu bekommen. Viel Geld und Zuversicht waren also nötig. Im Herbst 2017 standen die vom Vorstand aufgestellten Ampeln auf «grün» und wir haben dem SCFA Association Assembly im November die Weiterführung unseres Projektes beantragt.
Nachdem unsere Besitzer dem Antrag des Vorstandes zugestimmt hatten, erhielten wir von Connie-begeisterten Donatoren und Spender*innen genügend Geld und von der SWISS einen fixen Hangarplatz für sechs Monate. Somit konnten die dringend anstehenden Arbeiten am Flugzeug endlich in Angriff genommen werden.
Doch auch 2018 wird kein normales Flugjahr, denn die technischen Herausforderungen sind immer noch enorm. Aber dank unseren Spezialisten für die Instandstellungs- und Wartungsarbeiten an unserer «Grand Old Lady» werden wir es schaffen! Zwar steht noch kein Datum fest, wann die Connie wieder abheben wird. Die derzeitige Planung aber sieht vor, dass wir im Laufe des Sommers 2018 die vom Luftamt geforderten Testflüge absolvieren und das Flugtraining mit den Piloten und Flight-Engineers durchführen können. Danach sind endlich wieder Flüge mit Ihnen geplant.
Nicht nur Sie, auch der Vorstand ist ungeduldig und sähe es gern, wenn alle Arbeiten am Flugzeug schneller erledigt würden. Doch die geplanten Kontrollen und Revisionen fördern immer wieder kleinere und grössere «Findings» zu Tage, die uns den Takt vorgeben. Und gerade weil unsere Spezialisten so akribisch vorgehen sind wir überzeugt, dass nach Abschluss all dieser Arbeiten unsere L-1049 Super Constellation «HB-RSC» in einem derart guten Zustand sein wird, dass nicht immer wieder neue Überraschungen auf uns zukommen werden. Ein normaler, standardisierter Wartungsablauf wird dann die Regel sein und unsere jährlichen Maintenance-Kosten merklich senken.
Dann wird uns das Bundesamt (BAZL) auch das ersehnte «Permit to fly» ausstellen und die «Star of Switzerland» noch viele Jahre am europäischen Himmel zu sehen sein. Zur Freude unserer Supporter, Associate Members und vielen flugbegeisterten Aviatikfans!
Wir danken herzlich für Ihre Unterstützung, Ihr Vertrauen und Ihre Geduld.
Mit besten Connie-Grüssen
der SCFA-Vorstand
Hans Breitenmoser, Ernst Frei, Rolf Harlacher, Monika Pieren,
Urs Peter Naef, Peter Manzoni, Marko Mrkonjic