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The Air14 or 100 years Swiss Air Force airshow was an international air show organized by the Swiss Air Force in summer 2014 on the Payerne Air Base. It was the biggest airshow in europe.

History

The Swiss Air Force participated in various military and civilian events with demonstrations. In the case of events organized by the military, foreign military aircraft were generally not invited. The reason was strict Swiss neutrality. Civilian airshow organizers, on the other hand, also introduced foreign military aircraft into their program, such as the Harrier several times in the 1976 flying days in Bex. With the end of the Cold War, invitations from the Swiss Air Force to states of the former Eastern Bloc were also received. At the Air94 on 26 and 27 August 1994, a Sukhoi Su-22 of the Slovak Air Force visited Buochs Airport, where Patrouille Suisse celebrated its 30th anniversary on the Hawker Hunter. The highlight of the event was the farewell of the hunters with a formation flight of 40 Hawker Hunter. Es wurde beschlossen, alle zehn Jahre eine solche Airshow durchzuführen. Die nächste Airshow fand daher als Air04 am 4. und 5. September 2004 It was decided to carry out such an airshow every ten years. The next Airshow therefore took place as Air04 on 4. and 5. September 2004 on the military airfield Payerne. Some 275,000 people followed the military spectacle with 186 aircraft. Its highlight was an unusual joint flight of five aerobatics teams. Director for the Air04 was Ian Logan. The next airshow was therefore due in 2014. As the Swiss air force celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014 and Patrouille Suisse celebrated its 50th anniversary and the PC-7 Team celebrated its 25th anniversary, it was decided to extend the festivities on two weekends. It was also decided to keep the Airshow open every day for two weeks with a reduced demonstration program and comprehensive static display for all interested parties. Thus the Air14 lasted with the training day a total of 10 days, of which the Swiss display team's every day at least dhow minimum one demonstration. For the Air24 in the year 2024 again a presentation is planned on only one weekend.

Planning and organization

The planning for the Air14 started in 2009 with the approval of the then Defense Minister Ueli Maurer, head of the army André Blattmann and the then commanding officer of the Swiss Air Force, Markus Gygax. Ian Logan, who was already responsible for the Air04, was appointed General Director for the Air14. The current commander of Patrouille Suisse Nils "Jamie" Hämmerli, the commander of the PC-7 team Werner "Höffi" Hoffmann, coordinated (apart from the Patrouille Suisse for the then commander of the PS Daniel "Dani" Hösli was responsible for all demonstrations of the current resources of the Swiss Air Force. Jascha "José" Haller was responsible for the static display. The opening ceremony of the Air14 was held by the new commander of the Swiss air force, Aldo C. Schellenberg, together with Doris Leuthardin who is responsible for the department of civil aviation..

The Swiss Air Force had various partners for the airshow. These were, among others:Civil defense, Swiss Red Cross, Federal Office of Civil Aviation, Cantonal police Vaud, Cantonal police Canton of Fribourg, REGA, Swiss Federal Railways, Switzerland Tourism, Feldpost (Swiss Army), Fliegermuseum Altenrhein, Flieger-Flab-Museum, Musée de l’aviation militaire de Payerne, Télévision Suisse Romande.

For the Airshow, a transport concept has been developed with three parking areas close to the motorway exit Payerne and near the two adjacent motorway exits with free shuttle buses to the airshow. The Swiss Federal Railways used special trains for the Airshow. The airshow was broadcast live by the Télévision Suisse Romande and also shown as live-streaming on You Tube. Since the airshow had to be self-sustaining, on the one hand entry was demanded, on the other hand the fuelwas from the regular annual quota of the Swiss Air Force's fuelstock as well as the costs with sponsors. In return, the sponsors Henniez and Nestlé had the supply monopoly for food and drinks, but the local business was also taken into account. The Militärflugplatz Emmen acted as an alternate airbase e and as a base for various Swiss aircraft, which performed demonstrations at the Airshow. The Swiss Federal Railways was responsible for the online sale of tickets and combined railway/entry tickets.

Special

The Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) provided a Re 460 locomotive with a special painting for the Air14. The Swiss Post also painted a Postautobus in a special finish for the Air14 and issued two special stamps for this occasion. Swissmint issued a special coin for the 50th anniversary of Patrouille Suisse.

For the Air14 various airworthy oldtimers received a painting that corresponded to that of the aircraft type in the service of the Swiss Air Force. The F/A-18C J-5014 received a color similar to that of Swiss Air Force aircraft in the Second World War. The J-5014 flew displays alone, or in a pair with the, as J-143-painted, Morane HB-RCF, which bore the neutrality painting with additional red and white stripes. Other couples were the FA-18C J-5014 with a Cougar or the Super Puma with the special painting of the Air Transport Squadron 4 (Lufttransportstaffel 4).

The PC-7 team presented a unique flight demonstration on September 7, 2014, when they presented a flight demonstration together with the Patrouille Suisse with a total of 15 aircraft. With a Boeing B-17 and a Morane painted in the then Swiss coloring, a historical event of the Second World War of a shoot-down of a bomber at Dübendorf was imitated. With Claude Nicollier and Chris Austin Hadfield, astronauts were also involved in the Air14. The Air14 had its own official song: One Hundred Years. Singer was the F/A-18 pilot "Jason" Stucki. The Air14 was awarded a "Platinum Award" by the International Council of Air Shows (ICAS) in December 2014 for the diverse flight program with the lively and dynamic presentation of 100 years of military air travel and the future-oriented transport and environmental concept.

Topics

The flight program was designed to be versatile for visitors who visited the event only one day, as well as for visitors who followed the program on all four main days. Each of these days should show a broad spectrum of the Swiss military aviation from the founding years to the present, as well as individual demonstrations, team demonstrations and special acts for the anniversary. Therefore, the program was subdivided into "Teams", "Jets", "Oldtimer Jets", "Propeller aircraft", "Helicopters", "Special demonstrations" and "Tribute 100 Years Military aviation". Each of these days had a theme and a color as well as a leitmotiv. This was also listed in the program, on the tickets as well as during specialist weekends on the respective topic:

• Saturday August 30, 2014 The Sky Outwatch (Green)

Reconnaissance in the past, today and the future.

• Sunday 31 August 2014 Above the Battlefilds (Amber)

Air to ground in the past, today and the future.

• Saturday 6 September 2014 The Spirit of Air Defense (Cyan)

Air Defense in the past, today and the future.

• Sunday September 7, 2014 Heavy Metal and Evolution (Purple)

Innovation and Air Transport in the past, today and the future.

The days between the weekends were also public. Some days had a focus on specific visitors, so they were designed for school classes, for people with disabilities and for various companies.

One of the tasks of Air14 was to show the visitors the the professions in the Swiss Military and in the aviation industry of Switzerland. Therefore, the Swiss Military had set up tents in which the various (teaching) professions were shown. For this purpose, companies participating in Swiss aviation were also involved in the exhibition. These were, among others, the Swiss International Air Lines, Skyguide, REGA, RUAG, Pilatus Aircraft. In addition, various sections of the military and their tasks were presented to the visitors in static exhibitions. Such as the Military police, EOD, Swissint, CBRN defense. In addition to flying equipment, the Swiss Air Force was also present with ground-based systems such as the TAFLIR, IFAS- Comunicationsbeam- Piranha, FIM-92 Stinger, Oerlikon GDF mm with fire control unit Skyguard and RAPIER. The army was present with the Armoured recovery vehicle Buffalo, Leopard 2, M109, M113, Mowag Eagle, Mowag Piranha IB 6 × 6, Mowag Piranha 8x8, Mowag Duro GMTF, CV9030CH, Mobile Bridge and Mobile Rollway.

Criticism

The Air14 was criticized in advance from anti-military organizations and politicians.. The criticism of the unnecessary waste of money could be weakened by the transparent recording of the funding by tickets sale, sponsors and partners. Criticism from the point of view of environmental protection was also limited, as transports where done by the Swiss Federal Railways and parking fees for visitors using the car, a comprehensive waste and recycling system, as well as the strict observance of the usual annual hourly tariff quota, were taken into account. The criticism of some exponents that it was unfortunate to celebrate "killing machines" did not attract much attention among the population and the press. However, due to the Crime Crisis the invitation of the Russian aerobatics team Russian Knights was criticized. The Swiss air Force's leadership said Air14 was not a political event. The commander of the Russian Air Force also pointed out that the aircraft, even if they are able for combat use, are used exclusively for aerobatics and should come as a sign of friendship to Switzerland. The Swiss Air Forces's leadership and the Air14 organization's committees held the invitation. However, shortly before the Air14, they were forced by the Federal Council to unload the 'Russkiye Witjasi'. This turn led to criticism of the Air14, as never before was an invited aerobatics team unloaded at an airshow. In addition, this decision put the neutrality of the Federal Council in question, as only the Russian team was unloaded, while the participation of other states, also active in conflicts, was not questioned.

Bibliography

• Magazine Air14 Histoire Hommage Innovation
• Schweizer Luftwaffe, Jahrespublikation (Anual publication) 2015, Page. 71
• Schweizer Luftwaffe, Jahrespublikation (Anual publication) 2014, Page. 9–11
• Magazine intra, 2/14, Page. 4–9
• Magazine armee.ch, 2/14, Page. 2–13
• Demonstration program Air14

External links

• Air14 Payerne auf der Website der Schweizer Luftwaffe
• David Marquis: Den 100. Geburtstag feiern (PDF; 3,8 MB). In: armee.ch, Nr. 1/2013.

References

1. http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/die-groesste-flugshow-europas-fliegen-sie-ueber-die-air14-id3091894.html
2. "Air '94 Buochs". aviatikphoto.ch (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
3. "Air04 Payerne". swiss-wings.ch (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
4. "Air04 Payerne". swiss-wings.ch (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
5. "Payerne von Fliegerfreunden überrannt". Blick (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
6. intra. 2/14 Page 6
7. Fahrettin Calislar. "Es brummt und dröhnt am Himmel". Freiburger Nachrichten (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
8. "Flugmeeting AIR14". Schweizerische Eidgenossenschaft (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
9. https://www.google.ch/search?q=Air+14+postauto&biw=1366&bih=659&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjbh_u2oKjKAhUHoQ4KHfdxDso4ChD8BQgGKAE
10. One Hundred Years
11. http://www.schule.sh.ch/fileadmin/Dokumente/Wochenbriefe/Einladung_Tag_der_Schuelerinne_8._und_9._Klasse.pdf
12. https://web.archive.org/web/20160709213745/http://vdesign.ch/berufe-der-schweizer-armee-an-der-air14
13. Christian van Singer. "Air 2014. Erhebliche Unterstützung des Bundes und Einladung von Schulklassen trotz fehlendem historischen Bezug". Die Bundesversammlung – Das Schweizer Parlament (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
14. "Absage-an-die-Russischen-Ritter". Tagesanzeiger (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
15. Christoph Lenz. "SVP-Heer schäumt wegen «Bundesrat hirnlos»". Blick (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)
16. Philipp Loser. "Das Pseudosanktiönchen wird Herrn Putin kaum treffen" (PDF). Der Bund (in German). Retrieved 2016-01-16. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |trans_title=, |day=, |month=, and |deadurl= (help)

• Swiss Air Force
• Air shows