Axalp-Ebenfluh Swiss Air Force Flight Demonstration
Bernese Oberland, Switzerland, October 2009.
Diary
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Diary
Monday 5th October
After a flight from London Heathrow and a couple of hours coach journey I finally arrived at the Meiringen base around 6pm to watch some F-18 Hornets depart. The base offers excellent opportunities for photography with equally good facilities.
Access is very straightforward with a small road coming off the main road to/from Meiringen which leads almost directly to the side of the runway.
Tuesday 6th October
A 4.45am start with the ascent starting from Axalp village at 5.30am. It was pitch black so head torches were in order especially after we had left the road and headed onto the mountain.It took about 2hr 40 min's to reach the control tower at the very top, stopping along the way to admire the incredible scenery and the dawn of a new day. Flying started around 9.00am for around 2 hours with a civilised break for lunch prior to flying starting again at 2pm. It is incredible to witness and hear the F5's and F18's firing their guns from in front, to the side and behind you. The flying by the Swiss pilots is amongst the very best I have seen. Having witnessed some incredible passes at low level in the UK, especially from the US F15's the Swiss power into the narrow valley, after burners lit and pull some incredible turns as they pull up hard to avoid the mountains directly in front of them. A couple of hours descent back to the village with hundreds of images safely captured in truly remarkable surroundings.
Wednesday 7th October
A 4.30am start arriving Axalp village at 5.15am. A different route today going along the road until its very end and then heading around the back before a final steep ascent. It was a stunning walk with an almost full moon lighting up the mountains and literally thousands of stars brilliantly shining. It's a hard climb but with views to die for it's a wonderful experience. Arrived at the top about 15 minutes before dawn with the sky just starting to go through its changes in colour - 7500 feet up in the Alps, dawn approaching from the East, can it really get any better?
It felt like a meeting of nations once in situ with Canadians, French, Belgians, Dutch, American, Japanese and of course hundreds of Swiss. The flying started again at 9am with a practice for the main show which started at exactly 2pm when two pairs of Hornets approached low and fast from the West after burners lit, vapour pouring off their wings as all 4 bank and pull up hard right.An hour and half later and the show is over and thousands of people slowly begin to make the decent back to the Axalp village.
Thursday 8th October
The choice of Tuesday and Wednesday at the range paid off as the day dawned with low cloud and rain. Flying was underway from Meringen shortly before 9am so I spent the day there taking advantage of the superb viewing facilities. The rain had saturated the runway and with the atmosphere filled with moist air some good opportunities were available for vapour, spray and reflections.
Friday 9th October
An hour and half trip to the Payerne base today. Payerne also offers excellent viewing and photography opportunities with the on air field museum situated about half way down the runway with a small restaurant and patio area to watch and photograph the jets.