Axalp Fliegerschiessen 2010

[TobyV]

They don't have many airshows in Switzerland, but I can safely say that in Britain, I've never experienced one like this! A 3 hour train ride to Briens followed by about 30-45mins on the bus which took me above the cloud layer to Axalp, followed by a 2-3hr hike up to a ridge at about 2200m / 7200ft altitude. The airshow only lasts 2hrs and is a part excercise with aircraft firing cannon as various targets around the valley.

If anyone would like to see pictures of clouds and trees and mountains, I can post those tomorrow!














































Toby

[austerdriver]

Nice pictures Toby. I like the pictures of the (Ithink) F-5 jet aircraft.

[SkippyBing]

Awesome!

[DaveB]

Not quite as good as the Swiss Navy

Nice to see a Puma-like helicopter still going strong

I've often wondered why Switzerland has an airforce (or even an army for that matter). I guess it's because we can't afford their watches so foreign countries pay in surplus arms Hmm.. perhaps not quite PC but something to ponder over

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

That have a Navy too.sort of, that patrols the lakes with small boats

[emfrat]

Didn't Switzerland win the America's Cup a few years back (??from the Kiwis?? )

ATB
MikeW

[austerdriver]

Yes they did win the Americas Cup. Hope we can get it back to NZ someday.

[TobyV]

Yup the air force is a mix of F-5 and F-18. The F-5s seem to be used primarily as interceptors and electronic warfare aircraft and the F-18s for strike capabilities. The military is taken pretty seeriously over here and every male up to the age of 35 does his 3 weeks military service once or twice a year having done a longer stint of initial training. Plus they all have a gun to take home. Quite odd to see lots of young guys in uniform hanging around oin station platforms on Sunday evening with holdalls and rifles slung over their shoulders!

[Filonian]

Cracking pictures Toby. Thanks for sharing.


Graham

[jonesey2k]

Funny that. Everybody has guns but where is the gun crime? We should take a leaf out of their book.