The Parliament has discussed some financial reductions to the Swiss Air Force. No more Hornet Solo Display Team, no more Swiss Para Wings and the Super Puma Display Team have to adapt it's very spectacular Demo to an tactical one.
PC-21 will become an official one and PC-7 Team with no changes.
Original Info (german)
Luftwaffe will adapt the range of its demonstration teams from 2025
Bern, 29.11.2024 - To contribute to the austerity measures, the Air Force will reduce the deployment of its demonstration elements. Essentially, this refers to the suspension of the F/A-18 Swiss Hornet Solo Display Team and the abandonment of the Swiss Para Wings as of January 1st. January 2025. These measures also serve the aim of focusing resources on the introduction of the new fighter aircraft.
Spread over the year, the Swiss Air Force has been taking part in around 50 events and demonstrations at home and abroad for decades with its now five demonstration teams. In connection with the consistent implementation of austerity measures and a focus on strengthening defense capability, the Air Force will adapt the portfolio of demonstration teams from 2025. Specifically and taking into account the political processes, the adjustments relate to the following points:
• The F/A-18 Swiss Hornet Solo Display will be released on January 1st. January 2025 suspended. This is particularly in order to consistently use the heavily loaded F/A-18 fleet on pilot operations and training;
• Swiss Para Wings will be available from 1. Abandoned January 2025. Instead, the Parachute Reconnaissance Company shows 17 tactical parachute jumps on selected occasions;
• The Super Puma Display Team is increasingly focusing its program on demonstrating its capabilities in tactical air transport;
• The PC-21 Solo Display is now recorded as a demonstration element and used on selected occasions. This with a focus on demonstrating the modern, forward-looking training of Swiss military pilots on the PC-21;
• Patrouille Suisse is tentatively scheduled to continue flying on the F-5 Tiger until 2027;
• The PC-7 TEAM remains unchanged.
In addition, the total number of demonstrations and exhibitions – both on the ground and in the air – will be halved. In the future, demonstrations abroad will only be planned in exceptional cases.
Contribution to savings measures by the Defense Group
With these adjustments, the Air Force is making a further contribution to the consistent implementation of the Defense Group's austerity measures. In addition, the measures are intended to use the flying hours released for the benefit of the operations and the training and further education of the pilots. Further corresponding measures are in preparation.
Another view into my archive ... this time nearly an quarter of an century back in the summer of 2000. There I've loaded my bicycle with my photo gear (main gear that time was an Nikon F4S and Sigma's 170-500mm lens) and rode about 2 hours from Emmen Airfield to the Bürgenstock mountain. No radio scanner available - just waiting for the show going on.
