Therefore I decided to pay a visit to most of the Swiss airbases. Below is a selection from this week.
When I arrived at Payerne, I heard the sound of chainsaws and saw trees fall over. Normal treelogging I thought. However, then an EC.635 appeared from behind the trees, carrying some of them. Indeed, why not use a Eurocopter if you have one available.
At Payerne, the chopper crews had their exercise, which resulted in many flights with the Super Puma and EC.635.
This former REGA A.109K2 is based at Payerne and flies for the Aviation Accident Investigation Board.
Jet activity was low, but still, nice pictures could be made in the sun.
The next day I decided to pay a visit to Sion. This was a wrong choice, it was extremely quiet at the military side, only this PC-9 could be seen.
So, in the lunch break I headed back to Payerne and was treated to helicopter activity straight away.
The day before, several missions with Bambi-Buckets were already flown by the EC.635. This day it was the same again. However, this time I was lucky enough to hear the pilot announce that he was heading for Forel. Forel is the one of the Swiss AF gunnery ranges, located in the Lac de Neuchatel. I was able to find the range control tower after a bit of searching. The flag was down, so this meant the range was "cold" and I could enter it. From the tower, a very steep path went down the hill to the shores of the lake. From here I had an excellent view on the targets and I saw the EC.635 picking up water and dropping it again. This gave really nice picture opportunities. Apparently the pilot had noticed me as well, as during his last drop he came very close. So close, that 100mm proved to be too much. This picture was made during that pass.
Next day it was Meiringen. This was the main exercise location for exercise STABANTE and flying took place non-stop from dusk till dawn (and also a bit before and after). This was just paradise.
A strange combination of AAA next to the field and Patrouille Suisse Tigers on the runway.
The PC-7s were also flying like crazy. Starting, landing, quick refueling and crew change and off you go again!
There were also some Cougars present to transport press from Meiringen to the simulated conference in Adelboden. This one did a very nice turn upon departure.
An exercise at Meiringen also means that the diagonal taxi track to the Kavernen is in use. This taxi track crosses 2 roads, which are guarded by soldiers. This means that you can come up close and personal with Hornets and Tigers.
Did I already mention that you have beautiful mountain backdrops at Meiringen?
All three special colored Hornets were flying from Meiringen this week.
Hornets coming from their cave.
Because of an accident with hazardous materials (don't know if it was real or part of the exercise), the taxi track that runs from the runway exit Alpha, via the main platform, to the Kavernen was blocked. As a result, all fighters passed through the diagonal taxi track on their way from and to the runway.
The Eye of the Tiger.
All day long cargo was ferried from Meiringen to the Axalp range, for the Fliegerschiessen that was scheduled for the week after. Obviously, toilets were needed as well.
Just perfect sunlight on this Hornet.
Being creative with some backlight.
The next (final) day Emmen, Buochs and Alpnach were scheduled. I was just in time at Emmen to see three PC-21s return, however, I faced the sun, so no pictures.
Buochs was really quiet, only one PC-12 doing some test flights and no sign of the UAE PC-21s.
Then it was off to Alpnach, where some Cougars were in the circuit, do under slung pick ups and drop offs.
The I decided to spend some more time at Meiringen, as it was more on the way home to Lausanne when you come from Alpnach. The flying activity was still the same as the day before, but the weather had now started to change and the first raindrops fell.
How can you go to Meiringen without posting a picture with the runway crossing in it. This one was taken from the excellent roof-terrace.
I hope you like them, comments are always welcome.
