Wiederholungskurs at Meiringen 2012

Staffel 11

Twice a year, Swiss Air Force units have training courses mixing part-time units with full-time units. One of the bases used is Meiringen, situated in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region. From April 30th until May 11th 2012, Fliegerstaffel 8 and Fliegerstaffel 11 had the flying part of their “Wiederholungskurs” (repetition course) at Meiringen air force base. 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, in a typical alpine backdrop.

Meiringen is like a blueprint for Swiss air bases, with taxiways running through the surrounding village, underground hangars carved into the rocks below the Axalphorn mountain and public footpaths crossing the runway. Located to the south of the air base, the caverns are used during the exercises to house the deployed or based aircraft. Outside the cavern entrance there is a ramp area where the aircraft are readied for the sorties. From the cavern, planes will taxi trough the "fields" to the runway, even passing a small bridge on the way. Given the fact that there a almost no fences surrounding the base, photo opportunities are endless.

The Wiederholungskurs started at April 16th with two weeks of preparation and a few days of basic flying, working up to simulated wartime conditions flying. During this course around 1.400 soldiers will have taken part in the combined air and ground exercises at Meiringen.
 

Staffel 8

Fliegerstaffel 11 (Fl St 11) is one of three F/A-18 squadrons flown by full-time pilots of the Berufsfliegerkorps (BFK). The unit is part of Fliegergeschwader 13, operating from Meiringen airbase, which functions as its homebase both during peacetime and when operationally assigned. In 2004 Fliegerstaffel 11 had the distinction of becoming the first Swiss Air Force fighter squadron to be inaugurated as a full member of the NATO Tiger Association (NTA).

Fliegerstaffel 8 (Fl St 8) is currently one of three remaining front-line F-5E Tiger II squadrons crewed by so-called “Miliz” pilots. Miliz Staffels are manned by pilots who in their normal working days fly with commercial airlines or in other jobs. When called to active duty, its operationally assigned airfield is Meiringen airbase and they are also part of Fliegergeschwader 13.The actual flying part started on Monday the 30th at 08:00 and lasted until 18:00. Night flying was scheduled on Mondays from 19:00 until 22:00.

At least four daily waves were executed, both with F-5E’s and F/A-18’s. Approaches and take-offs were performed in both directions, enabling the pilots to practice procedures, which at times can be quite challenging, like evading a 800m rock face while steering clear of surrounding villages. 

In recent years, the Swiss Air Force held a competition for the replacement of the F-5E Tiger II. At the moment the selected winner is the Saab Gripen, but there are still (political) obstacles to be taken before the final order is ready to be signed. So the agile F-5 can still be seen a few more years in Switzerland.