One of the most scenic bases of
Europe,
Meiringen Air Force Base
Meiringen is situated in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region. With the
airfield being in a deep valley it offers the aviation photographer the
very best opportunities to capture the Swiss Air Force in action, with
its typically Swiss backdrop.
Meiringen is well known for the annual Air Power Demonstration at Axalp
because of it’s spectacular flying. Another time, apart from Axalp week,
when Meiringen is particularly active is in January, during the World
Economic Forum (WEF), when the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18C Hornet’s are
involved with Combat Air Patrol (CAP) duties. This year Flieger Staffel
8 and 11 where on there annual course in the same period. The combination
of the two would guarantee a lot of flying.
With Meiringen being in a deep valley thje sun will not reach the air
base in this period of the year. There will be some sunshine on the
edges of the runway and with the landing and take off. In 2007 after 9
years of work construction came to a end. The project included the
construction of the new underground area as well as newly made buildings
for FlSt 11 which moved from Dübendorf to Meiringen. Within the project
was included a new canteen and above the canteen a dedicated viewing
area. This terrace is open all day and allows for pictures on the
platform as well as on the runway.
Meiringen is a typical Swiss style air
base including underground hangars carved into the rock below the
Axalphorn mountain. Located to the south of the air base, the caverns is
used during exercises to house the deployed or based aircraft. Outside
the cavern entrance there is a ramp area where the aircraft readied for
the sorties. Once the protecting barriers have been opened and the road
barriers dropped, the aircraft will taxi out of this complex crossing
the public road. From the lowered barriers wide angle shots of the
taxiing aircraft is possible. passing between the buildings on the base
itself, and out to the runway. Immediately after landing the procedure
is reversed and the aircraft returned to the inside of the cavern.
Public roads goes straight across the runway at several points. Barriers
similar to a railway crossing come down minutes before incoming or out
going aircraft. If that is not enough to alert you to take up position
with your camera, a large light on the top of the air traffic control
tower starts flashing at moments of action.
At the western end of the runway the access to the runway and taxi way
are optimal for taking pictures during landing and take off in booth
directions. The aircraft taxi towards you down the long parallel
taxiway. At several different point it is possible to stand real close
to the runway and taxi ways. The possibilities are endless it is even
possible to take pictures of departing and returning aircraft higher op
the mountain.
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