aviation - the past, present and future of flight

pool of aircraft, as individual airframes are

never assigned to a particular squadron,

whatever unit markings or special colour

schemes may suggest.

Squadrons complete annual refresher

courses (Wiederholungskurs, WK), which is

normally a one-week build up and planning

phase, with a two-week active period when

most flights take place.

The squadrons rotate their WKs and

operating bases to align with flight-intensive

periods of combat air patrols (CAP) during

the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Davos,

held each year in the latter part of January,

and other major political or sporting events.

Patrols of two aircraft during the forum,

which is attended by world leaders and

chiefs of major international companies,

carry live munitions, see aircraft carrying

the AIM-9X on the wing tips and a pair of

AMRAAMs on the centre stations, although

one Hornet may be augmented with the

FLIR pod for targeting and designation. For

the past few years, the Hornet’s central

external fuel tank have been labelled

with ‘STBY 121.5’ as a reference for

intercepted airplanes to communicate on

the international distress frequency, if so

required.

The F/A-18 is the first Swiss Air Force

aircraft to be purely flown by professional,

full-time pilots. Other jet types used to be

a mix of professionals from the surveillance

wing (UeG) and militia pilots who have

regular occupations away from the military.

Due to the complexity of the Hornet and

its associated systems, it was considered to

be a full-time pilot platform and this doctrine

continues.

Pilot instruction begins in Switzerland via

the Sphair programme, where flight students

are screened for their potential prior to

attending compulsory military conscription,

with officer education, and then flight training

in Locarno-Magadino on the Pilatus PC-7

trainer. The path to the Hornet is via the PC-

21, whose cockpit replicates that of the F/A-

18 so that student pilots feel familiar with the

avionics and systems that they’ll fly with later.

The air force has recently announced

that the complete pilot training period will be

reduced from eight years to five in the hope

of attracting more recruits.

Three years ago the Gripen deal, which

failed, was seen as a replacement for the

F-5 Tiger II. Now, evaluation is under way for

a new single type to replace both the Tiger

and Hornet. This is a more comprehensive

programme that has, so far, received political

support from across parliament, even from

military-shy socialist factions.

In the meantime, the Hornet remains at

the forefront of Switzerland’s air force and will

continue in service for some years receiving

updates and investments.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 33

A pre-Link 16 modified F/A-18C touching down at Dübendorf in March 2005. The carrier-

designed nose gear leg is shown to good effect.

Hornets opening up the annual Axalp

air display with flares in 2017. The Axalp

weapons range is 7,200ft above sea level

and 5,400ft above the valley floor. 

28-33_swiss_hornetsDC.mfDC.indd 33 05/02/2018 12:56