The Meiringen airfield - 24 January 2013

Here we are still here in Meiringen

The occasion this time is to patrol flights in the protection of the World Economic Forum 2013 Davos

The WEF is a meeting that takes place every year between the characters of the best in the world economy and is held in Davos, a town located 1560 meters above sea level, in the canton of Graubünden.

For the protection of all these characters Armed Forces Helvetic, every year, unfold the best of their assett: year, first, also a battery of anti-aircraft artillery.

All years, rotary, an Air Force base is engaged in flights in CAP (Combat Air Patrol) which are carried out in the sky of the Alps with armed aircraft. This year the task fell to the base of Meiringen, headquarters Flugplatzcommando 13, with both committed Fliegerstaffel: l’8 con F 5 Tiger e l’11 con F/A 18 Hornet.

The day was extremely cold and icy wind blew a.

The missions have taken place for the whole day: Hornets then carried out flights lasting 1 hour and 15 'while the F 5 CAP flew about 50 minutes.

Interesting load configurations:

– I 2 Hornet aircraft flew in a couple of different configuration. Were mounted on a, addition to the tank vantrale, 2 AIM 9X alle tips e 2 AMRAAM to the station ventral. Il secondo volava con un pod AN/ASQ-228 Advanced Targeting Forward-Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) instead of to the left Slammer. Probably this device is used for identification in view of possible targets at a great distance: a sort of IRST. On the ventral tank is shown very clearly the frequency to contact to receive instructions as to see any "intruders". Of course, the M 61 Vulcan was the internal load.

– Gli F 5 instead flew in configuration varies: in some cases the planes were equipped with outside, the ventral tank, a pod FPR (Flight Profile Recorder) tip to the left and an AIM 9 inert (recognizable by the lack of rear fins rollerons). in other cases have gone in flight with only a simulacrum to the right tip. A couple went in flight with 2 AIM 9 "Live" wing tips. Note that the Tiger took off in pairs with the use of AB while the F 18 went flying one at a time without ever turning on the afterburner.

During the day, they made a brief appearance two new EC 635 and a pair of Pilatus PC 7.

and now enjoy the pictures .....