Machinery Swiss Air Force

Swiss Air Force · 09:43 AM

Swiss Air Force Hornet climbing out after a touch-and-go at Meiringen Air Base, Switzerland.

Greetz,
Hans.

Den · 03-27-2012, 09:55 AM

What was your vantage point? On a peak, in a chopper, on a lift chair, sky diving or ...?

RoxnDox · 03-27-2012, 10:59 AM

Nice! I like the effect of the hot exhaust trail against the snowy background... Good vantage point too

Jim

Alliecat · 03-27-2012, 11:06 AM

Very cool

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 11:23 AM

Fantastic photo!!

bluenose · 03-27-2012, 11:53 AM

Great image, the aircraft shows up well against the lighter/white background. As was previously asked, I too am intrigued as to where you were when the photo was taken.

Regards

**LaurenOE** · 03-27-2012, 12:03 PM

I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious.

Gizzynl · 03-27-2012, 12:29 PM

They have a lot of us stuff all stored in caves around the country. If I'm not is taken their entire air force is a it like the national reserves in America? People are rotated into/out active duty. At least that is what I heard.

**boriscleto** · 03-27-2012, 12:42 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious.

The Swiss needed something to replace their Mirage IIIs in the 90s and obviously didn't want to wait for Eurofighter or Rafale. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't go for the Gripen instead of the Hornet. Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet.

The Swiss still operate about 50 F-5E Tiger IIs as well, they are to be replaced by either the Gripen, Eurofighter or Rafale.

**Cee Cee** · 03-27-2012, 03:50 PM

superb shot!

cheers

**LaurenOE** · 03-27-2012, 04:30 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

The Swiss needed something to replace their Mirage IIIs in the 90s and obviously didn't want to wait for Eurofighter or Rafale. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't go for the Gripen instead of the Hornet. Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet.

The Swiss still operate about 50 F-5E Tiger IIs as well, they are to be replaced by either the Gripen, Eurofighter or Rafale.

Ah..gotcha!

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by boriscleto

Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet.

I didn't know that Switzerland built the aircraft themselves under license. Interesting.

Like our Canadian CF-188s which were license built. (Known as CF-18s as well).

**monochrome** · 03-27-2012, 06:27 PM

Originally posted by LaurenOE

I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious.

I thought they were built 10 miles from my house and the Finnish and Australians were the only two to assemble under license. In addition, Canada, Maylasia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia operate the F/A-18.

Switzerland still operates Northrup Grumman F5's they built under license.

F-18C/D Hornet

Switzerland uses F-18C/D,[67] later Swiss specific mid-life update. The Swiss F-18s had no ground attack capability originally, until hardware was retrofitted.

Finnish AF
F-18C/D Hornet

The Finnish Air Force uses F/A-18C/D Hornets, with a Finland-specific mid-life update. The first seven Hornets (D models) were produced by McDonnell Douglas.[42] The 57 single-seat F-18C model units were assembled by Patria in Finland.[66]

joe.penn · 03-27-2012, 06:50 PM

Pretty awesome snap!

**boriscleto** · 03-28-2012, 05:08 AM

Originally posted by monochrome

I thought they were built 10 miles from my house and the Finnish and Australians were the only two to assemble under license. In addition, Canada, Maylasia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia operate the F/A-18.
]

Swiss Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

In the late 1980s the changing political and military world situations implied the need of a multirole aircraft in the Swiss air force. After evaluation, the performance of the F/A-18 Hornet was the decisive factor in its selection. Designed for carrier-borne operations, it was felt to be well suited to operations on short runways with steep takeoffs. Its radar allows the F/A-18 to detect and simultaneously engage multiple targets with long-range guided missiles.
Between 1996 and 1999, 33 licence-built Hornets left the assembly lines at Emmen. With a length of 17 metres, the F/A-18 is longer than the Mirage III. Its wingspan of 12 metres exceeds the F-5 Tiger’s by 4 metres. Therefore the existing caverns in the mountains had to be extended, a continuing process as of 2011. The Swiss F/A-18 weighs 17 tons, approximately 2.5x as much as the Tiger. It can easily load 7 tons, about 6x the useful load of the retired Hawker Hunter. The engines provide for a thrust of 16 tons, approximately 3.5x as much performance as the F-5 engines.

Ghanzer
	View full profile
	Contact via private message
	Find other posts by Ghanzer
	Find threads started by Ghanzer
	Find threads in which Ghanzer has posted

03-27-2012, 12:42 PM	#9
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by LaurenOE I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious. The Swiss needed something to replace their Mirage IIIs in the 90s and obviously didn't want to wait for Eurofighter or Rafale. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't go for the Gripen instead of the Hornet. Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet. The Swiss still operate about 50 F-5E Tiger IIs as well, they are to be replaced by either the Gripen, Eurofighter or Rafale. Last edited by boriscleto; 03-27-2012 at 02:55 PM.

03-27-2012, 06:27 PM	#13
monochrome Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Working From Home Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 26,276	Originally posted by LaurenOE I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious. I thought they were built 10 miles from my house and the Finnish and Australians were the only two to assemble under license. In addition, Canada, Maylasia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia operate the F/A-18. Switzerland still operates Northrup Grumman F5's they built under license. F-18C/D Hornet Switzerland uses F-18C/D,[67] later Swiss specific mid-life update. The Swiss F-18s had no ground attack capability originally, until hardware was retrofitted. Finnish AF F-18C/D Hornet The Finnish Air Force uses F/A-18C/D Hornets, with a Finland-specific mid-life update. The first seven Hornets (D models) were produced by McDonnell Douglas.[42] The 57 single-seat F-18C model units were assembled by Patria in Finland.[66] Last edited by monochrome; 03-27-2012 at 06:34 PM.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Machinery Air Force One Under Glass	usn ret	Post Your Photos!	3	10-31-2011 01:53 AM
Travel U.S. Air Force Academy	Bob Harris	Post Your Photos!	12	02-12-2011 08:05 PM
Architecture Air Force Academy Chapel	Bob Harris	Post Your Photos!	8	02-09-2011 06:10 PM
Misc Air Force One	MPrince	Post Your Photos!	4	07-27-2010 02:53 PM
Argentinian Air Force Air Show	Andres	Post Your Photos!	5	05-08-2009 06:44 PM

03-27-2012, 09:55 AM	#2
Den Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Washington (State) Posts: 929	What was your vantage point? On a peak, in a chopper, on a lift chair, sky diving or ...?

03-27-2012, 10:59 AM	#3
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	Nice! I like the effect of the hot exhaust trail against the snowy background... Good vantage point too Jim

03-27-2012, 11:06 AM	#4
Alliecat Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: East of Everywhere, Canada Posts: 740	Very cool

03-27-2012, 11:23 AM	#5
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Fantastic photo!!

03-27-2012, 11:53 AM	#6
bluenose Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: S. Ontario Posts: 227	Great image, the aircraft shows up well against the lighter/white background. As was previously asked, I too am intrigued as to where you were when the photo was taken. Regards

03-27-2012, 12:03 PM	#7
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	I didn't know the Swiss had strike/attack aircraft...and an F/A-18 no less. No Aeromachi or Euro Fighter or Panavia something? Curious.

03-27-2012, 12:29 PM	#8
Gizzynl Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Eastern, middle part of the Netherlands Posts: 29	They have a lot of us stuff all stored in caves around the country. If I'm not is taken their entire air force is a it like the national reserves in America? People are rotated into/out active duty. At least that is what I heard.

03-27-2012, 03:50 PM	#10
Cee Cee Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Glenroy, Melbourne Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,441	superb shot! cheers

03-27-2012, 04:30 PM	#11
LaurenOE Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Back in Florida, but worldwide gigs! Photos: Albums Posts: 3,690	Originally posted by boriscleto The Swiss needed something to replace their Mirage IIIs in the 90s and obviously didn't want to wait for Eurofighter or Rafale. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't go for the Gripen instead of the Hornet. Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet. The Swiss still operate about 50 F-5E Tiger IIs as well, they are to be replaced by either the Gripen, Eurofighter or Rafale. Ah..gotcha!

03-27-2012, 05:23 PM	#12
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by boriscleto Maybe SAAB didn't want to give them a license to build the Gripen themselves like McDonnell Douglas did with the Hornet. I didn't know that Switzerland built the aircraft themselves under license. Interesting. Like our Canadian CF-188s which were license built. (Known as CF-18s as well).

03-27-2012, 06:50 PM	#14
joe.penn Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maryland (Right Outside Washington DC) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,902	Pretty awesome snap!

03-28-2012, 05:08 AM	#15
boriscleto Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: North Syracuse, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 16,475	Originally posted by monochrome I thought they were built 10 miles from my house and the Finnish and Australians were the only two to assemble under license. In addition, Canada, Maylasia, Spain, and Saudi Arabia operate the F/A-18. ] Swiss Air Force - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Quote: In the late 1980s the changing political and military world situations implied the need of a multirole aircraft in the Swiss air force. After evaluation, the performance of the F/A-18 Hornet was the decisive factor in its selection. Designed for carrier-borne operations, it was felt to be well suited to operations on short runways with steep takeoffs. Its radar allows the F/A-18 to detect and simultaneously engage multiple targets with long-range guided missiles. Between 1996 and 1999, 33 licence-built Hornets left the assembly lines at Emmen. With a length of 17 metres, the F/A-18 is longer than the Mirage III. Its wingspan of 12 metres exceeds the F-5 Tiger’s by 4 metres. Therefore the existing caverns in the mountains had to be extended, a continuing process as of 2011. The Swiss F/A-18 weighs 17 tons, approximately 2.5x as much as the Tiger. It can easily load 7 tons, about 6x the useful load of the retired Hawker Hunter. The engines provide for a thrust of 16 tons, approximately 3.5x as much performance as the F-5 engines.