The
first week-end of September 2004 will long be remembered as
the week-end during which another of the legendary Swiss airshows
like
the one in Sion 1997 took place. This year it was time for
AIR04 at the Swiss Air Force base Payerne.
For the 90th anniversary of the Swiss Air Force (SAF) , the
40th anniversary of the Patrouille Suisse and the 15th of
the PC-7 a really impressive programm was presented to the
crowd and I am pretty sure that every one of the 275.000 visitors
will remember this event for a very long time.
The
show was the biggest one on the European continent this year
with 67 flight demonstrations during the week-end. 6 jet display
teams and numerous jet aircraft filled a flight program from
9 in the morning until 5pm, with only a short break at around
midday that was just long enough to queue for a sandwich and
a drink.
Saturday's display was mainly packed with jet action during
the day. The search of the SAF for a successor of the ageing
F-5 Tigers attracted 3rd generation jets like the Eurofighter,
rafale, Gripen and F/A-18F Super Hornet to come the Payerne
and fight with their flight demo for the favour of the crowd
and the officials. And with a lot of gadgets as well, of course.
Besides this 'competitions' a rare display of the Finish AF
F/A-18 could also be admired, as well as the most impressive
F-15 Eagle West Coast Demo display. F-16s from the Netherlands
and Belgium participated also, as well a a French Mirage 2000
that also flew an air-air refuelling demo with a French KC-135
and a Swiss F-18 Hornet. The former Swiss military aviation
was represented in the flight display with a formation of
4 Hunters and a Vampire. But
the big event on Saturday was the mass formation fly-by of
all the national display teams that were on place which gathered
for a huge and unforgettable overfly of 40 jets.
Sunday was dominated by the display teams of whom 6 could
be seen during the day, let alone all the numerous jet fighter
action. The
organisation of the flight program was on both days excellent
with a nice mix of jets, displays teams, vintage aircraft
and helicopters. And if everybody has forgotten about the
traffic jams Air04 will remain a marvellous Airshow in everybodies
mind!
It is a bit of a shame The Swiss do not very often organize
AIrshows like this one.. but when they do, they do it with
Swiss precision and in style!
The
first week-end of September 2004 will long be remembered as
the week-end during which another of the legendary Swiss airshows
like
the one in Sion 1997 took place. This year it was time for
AIR04 at the Swiss Air Force base Payerne.
The
show was the biggest one on the European continent this year
with 67 flight demonstrations during the week-end. 6 jet display
teams and numerous jet aircraft filled a flight program from
9 in the morning until 5pm, with only a short break at around
midday that was just long enough to queue for a sandwich and
a drink.
But
the big event on Saturday was the mass formation fly-by of
all the national display teams that were on place which gathered
for a huge and unforgettable overfly of 40 jets.
The
organisation of the flight program was on both days excellent
with a nice mix of jets, displays teams, vintage aircraft
and helicopters. And if everybody has forgotten about the
traffic jams Air04 will remain a marvellous Airshow in everybodies
mind!