Axalp Fliegerschiessen airshow photos

[TobyV]

Once again I am consuming your bandwidth with photos This is an annual airshow in the Bernese Alps at around 7000ft, originally a live-fire exercise hence the name "Fliegerschiessen", where they shoot at various targets with cannon. From where I live it's several trains via Bern and Interlaken to Brienz, where shuttle buses are laid on to get you to the hiking starting point of the village of Axalp.

Brienz is at an altitude of 566m (1857ft) and Axalp at 1535m (5036ft) giving a an ascent in the bus of 969m or ~3180ft

The difficult part of the ascent on foot from Axalp:






From Axalp to the viewing location on Tschingel is about 4km (2.5mi) hiking but with a height difference of around 650m (2100ft).


Boeing F/A-18C




Eurocopter Super Puma










Airspace policing demosntration: F/A-18C and Cessna Citation 560XL


Cessna Citation 560XL






Pilatus PC-7, PC-21 and F/A-18C






Pilatus PC-21








Northrop F-5E Tiger II














Patrouille Suisse








On the way back to the village of Axalp, where we had to queue for two hours to get a shuttle bus back to Brienz station. The Swiss don't really "do" queuing!



This is not my video, and I suspect it was taken the day before on the practice day, since the weather looks different (some clouds, no wind and the parachuters also jump which they couldn't when I went), to give some idea of what's like to be there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=il-Xn4nd-II

[Dev One]

Thanks Toby - in the words of Wallace - 'A grand day out'.
Keith

[TobyV]

Thanks Toby - in the words of Wallace - 'A grand day out'.
Keith

It was a bit. Up at 5:15 (a time that doesn't exist for me normally ) and got home at 23:45!

[FlyTexas]

Wonderful! As always thanks for sharing your photos with us, Toby.

Brian

[DaveG]

Cracking pictures as always Toby. Stunning backdrop for an airshow. Many thanks for posting.

[Paul K]

Great pictures as always Toby. It's the F-5s that 'do it for me'. Good to see them still flying.

[TobyV]

It's the F-5s that 'do it for me'. Good to see them still flying.

Unfortunately, it was the last year of the F-5 in an interceptor role. The fleet size is now being reduced to just enough aircraft for the Patrouille Suisse and a couple of spare machines. After the referendum failure in 2014 to acquire SAAB Gripens, the Government wishes to propose a new motion in which they would allocate CHF8billion on new future aircraft. This must also be put to public vote. Then later would come the decision as to "which" aircraft...

[Airspeed]

Well, that's a bit different!!
What a scenic airshow!
Thanks, Toby