Final Call FlSt 17 - December 09th, 2025

With the new Fighter F-35 there is also a new organisation needed, Swiss Air Force will have only two squadrons in the future.

Fighter Squadron 11 needs its status for the Nato Tiger Association, so it is the Squadrons 17 and 18 wh will be transmorphed in the new Fighter Squadron 35 (equals 17+18).

The day of the dissolution began bright and sunny, until I arrived in Corcelles Village just near the Payerne Base. Fog, Fog and did I say it already ? Fog.

Lucky me I was able to see some movements , other photographers only heard them. Lucky us - the event will be repeated in better conditions next year - if possible.

Memories on our Hornet Solo Display Team

 After the big announcement last week about the future (or no future) of the Hornet Solo Display Team I've screened my hard disks for some content ...

And no, my content is never ending - first aviation pictures in 1993 and still not all digitalised ...

No more Solo Hornet Display Team in 2025

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.

No Axalp Live Firing Demonstration in 2024 and 2025

Swiss Air Force has cancelled already the very popular Axalp Airshows for 2024 and 2025.

It's not like Swiss Armed Forces have an very restricted budget, but it looks that political and military leaders made multiple commands on new gear without looking on the financial part. Different commands have now to be paid in multiple parts and 2-3 years later than expected.

Swiss Hornet Display Team Schedule, 2022

no AOA limits for 2022 

100 years Payerne airfield - two days of not public celebrations

 

Another event went private due COVID restrictions - but the little airshows we had watched from outside the fences. September 30th, 2021

Swiss Hornet Display, Swiss Super Puma Display, possibilities of aitr transport with helicopters in the Swiss Air Force and the Patrouille Suisse - not bad like an airshow that never was 👍

Swiss Hornet Display Team - Season planning and training week

Today (schedule is one day postphoned) the display training has begun. All medium and low altitude trainings will be held in Payerne.

The show schedule for 2021:

Flight schedule Payerne 2021

Finally - our main base published also the planned activity for 2021 👍

Most of Swiss Air Force's Air policing missions - called Luftpolizeidienst LPD24 / Service de police aérienne 24 (PA24) / Servizio di polizia aerea 24 (PA24) in german/french/italian - where flown out of Payerne. Since December 31st, 2020 those missions are 24/365 'round the clock possible, callsign on radio is HAMMER. 

-> note the info concerning rescheduled flight times for the week of January 18-21 at the end

Special events 2021

January

04 Begin of regular training activity 2021

February

22-05 Pilot School on PC-21 (normally based in Emmen)

March 

22-02 Swiss Hornet Display training weeks

April

05-16 Patrouille Suisse training weeks (mostly out of Emmen), trainings in Bellechasse and Payerne planned

30-01 100 years Payerne airfield - public day Mai 1st

Mai

10-28 Repetition course CR av 11

June

07-11 Flightweek with Mirage IIIDS of Clind'Ailes Museum

21-16 Instruction week / runway closed (aircrafts out of Emmen)

July

19-23 Flightweek with Mirage IIIDS of Clind'Ailes Museum

September

13-17 Flightweek with Mirage IIIDS of Clind'Ailes Museum

20-08 exercice Nighthawk (helicopter)

October

04-29 test weeks with the new ADS 15 drone system

11-29 Repetition course CR av 14 / TA 1

November

22-10 Helicopter exercise in Vidsel (SE) 15-26

29-10 Yorknite exercise (Night flight Training, UK), Meiringen crews the two weeks before

December

16 End of regular training activity 2021

-> info concerning rescheduled flight times for the week of January 18-21

There where some important changes to the regular combat jet flight times (0830-1200/1330-1700h LT) during this week: 1000-1200/1330-1930h LT ! This is a test for possible further use due night flight restrictions in Switzerland. So the normal night flight session on monday eventing 'till 22h LT is also cancelled, training missions of the Air Police on wednesday evening is still valid.

Happy new Year and airshows/events planification for 2021

 Yeah, this year called 2020 was something to remember ... but we hope not to repeat in 2021 !

I wish you and your families all the best and stay safe, from Covid19 AND the daily traffic accidents 💖

Some planifications in the new year - 2021

(complete list on flugzeugforum.de) 

January

10-16 Internationale Alpine Ballonwoche Arosa (Night-Glooming 10.), Arosa (CH) 

11-03 KVK/WK LT Kdo 03, Alpnach - LSMA (CH)

23-24 Audi FIS Womans Ski World Cup 2021, Crans Montana (CH), normally with PC-7 Team

April

03 Frühjahrs-Helitreffen, Leuggern-Böttstein - MfG Loorholz (CH)

21 FF-Basevisit I 2021, Meiringen - LSMM (CH)

21-24 AERO 2021, Friedrichshafen - EDNY (DE)

30-01 100 Years Payerne (30. not public / 01. Open Day), Payerne - LSMP (CH)

June

07-02 KVK/WK LT Kdo 02, Alpnach - LSMA (CH)

11-13 09. Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2021, Lenzerheide (CH) with PC-7 Team or Patrouille Suisse

26-27 Zuger Seefest, Zug (CH) with PC-7 Team or Patrouille Suisse

July

25-31 ProAero Jugendlager, Samedan - S-chanf (CH)

31-01 18. Loorholz-Flugtage, Leuggern-Böttstein - MfG Loorholz (CH)

August

16-10 WK FlPl Kdo 13, Meiringen - LSMM (CH)

20-22 12. Acro Show, Villeneuve VD (CH), normally with Hornet Display Team

20-22 Flugtage Wittinsburg 2021, Wittinsburg (CH)

21 Hunterfest 2021, St.Stephan - LSMH (CH)

28-29 Dittinger Flugtage, Dittingen - LSPD (CH)

September

04 25 Jahre Hunterverein Mollis, Mollis - LSMF (CH)

05 Flüüger-Chilbi Bleienbach, Langenthal-Bleienbach - LSPL (CH)

05-12 Swiss National Aerobatic Championship (Swiss National Freestyle Championship 11.09.), Môtiers - LSTO (CH)

17-20 Montreux Acrobaties Accro d'acro, Montreux (CH)

18-19 RIO (Rencontre Internationale d'Oldtimer) 2.4, Gruyère - LSGT (CH), 

October

02-03 42. Flugtag MFG Affoltern, Hausen am Albis (CH)

27 FF-Basevisit II 2021, Meiringen - LSMM (CH)

Display Teams training weeks cancelled due COVID-19

 This year is a very hard year - at the moment all training weeks are cancelled. Let's hope it will get better in october for another chance.

Axalp (Ebenfluh) Air Power Demonstration 2020 cancelled

 Like most of us feared, also this event is cancelled due the COVID crisis

Display schedule Hornet Display Team training week, August 2020

Changes are still possible due COVID'19, but it looks that Hornet Display too is preparing the training week. Due the actual situation, Nicolas 'Vincent' Rossier will take responsibility to fly 2020 and the new pilot will be trained in 2021 if the situation permits.

Moyenne Alt: Medium Altitude
Basse Alt: Low Altitude

Display Schedules of the Swiss Air Force in Corona-Times

Quite a lot of Airshows for this year are already cancelled, also Swiss Air Force's Display Teams had to change there training weeks and more.

23/24 june 2018: Rencontre Internationale d'Oldtimers - RIO 2.3, Ecuvillens (Fribourg)

The program of the airshow some kilometers from my doorstep is very nice again - and with two Display Teams of the Swiss Air Force, Hornet and PC-7 Team !

PC-7 Team

21 Std. · Instagram · 

RIO 2.3 #ecuvillens and @rockthering are you ready?

We are flying next weekend in Ecuvillens at the oldtimer airshow.

Come and see us next friday 14:15lt in Ecuvillens. It's a training together with the #swisshornetdisplayteam 💪. And at 19:05lt in #hinwil @rockthering 🤘.

Saturday at 19:05lt in Hinwil @rockthering 🤘.

Sunday we are flying again in Ecuvillens at 15:30lt.

#pc7_team #pc7team #avgeeks #airdisplay #swissness #fa18hornet @armee.ch

official homepage

Pictures

THE airshow without cords - you can touch nearly everything

the official SURPRISE was the fabulous P-51 Mustang

11'000 visitors where enjoying the sound and the weather

SURPRISE No2 and not in the program - one of the biggest birds in europe, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) ! He took my attention during display of the Messerschmitt Me 108 Taifun

The fabulous Corsair of La Fêrte Alais in France

SURPRISE No3 and not in the program too - the world's biggest aircraft, the Antonov AN-225 on the way to Dakar !!!