Axalp Fliegerschiessen 2012 - Swiss air show (photos)

[TobyV]

After cancellation due to mudslides last year and the Swiss Army being needed to deal with that and cancellation on the first (of two) days this year, Axalp Fliegerschiessen finally took place on Thursday. For those not familiar, this is an "airshow" taking place in the mountains of the Bernese Oberland. After taking the train or car to Brienz, spectators are bussed to the village of Axalp (typically already above the first cloud layer) from where you can either stand in a long queue for a chair lift part of the way or just hike the whole way (like me) the further 700m / 2300ft to the top of Tschingel where you sit on the grass and watch the airshow. The Swiss air force use ammunition against targets in the valley. This year in addition to the F-5s and F/A-18s in their inventory, a demonstrator SAAB Gripen participated as Sweden hopes to sell Gripens to the Swiss to replace the F-5s.
































Note the standing shock around the canopy and the pair of shocks emanating from the cloud of condensing water vapour over the wings.






















Waiting to get the Post Bus from Axalp back to Brienz. The rocky peak on the top right is Tschingel where we watched the airshow from. Altitude ~2240m/7350ft ASL

[dodger]

Hi Toby,

Great photos,

Worth the hike by the look of those shots,

Thanks for sharing.

Cheers,

Roger.

[Jetstreamsky]

Excellent photos

[DaveB]

Lovely shots Toby.. thanks for posting

ATB
DaveB

[Tomliner]

Brilliant pics as usual Toby.Are you sure you weren't riding in a chase plane? EricT

[speedbird591]

Fantastic pictures, Toby. You're getting quite good at this, aren't you?

Your photos are always good, but this set is outstanding and what an amazing place for an air show. I thoroughly enjoyed that, thank you.

Ian

[petermcleland]

Masterly work Toby...Really wonderful shots

[Dev One]

Lovely shots - hope you had your ear defenders as I can imagine the sound reflecting back from the mountains......
Keith

[TobyV]

Thanks for the comments chaps