23 April 2012 – Payerne
Today we decided to go to Meiringen to see a bit 'of F 5 E F 18. With Andrea and Alessandra leave early. The day is perfect: a bit 'windy but the sky is blue and cloudless. A Meiringen flying hawks and buzzards but only at the top we see contrails that form tight turns and acrobatics to aerial duel. We also hear a couple of sonic booms.
We learn that in Payerne is an ongoing joint exercise with Mirage 2000 French, Sparrowhawk 2012. The decision we take in less than 10 milliseconds.
We arrive in Payerne to see off the ground before the afternoon sortie Hornet and Mirage 2000.
We reach quickly the embankment located in the south-east of the area and, after a while ', we can watch the landings. The French Mirage taxiing on the slip road below us and stop in front, maneuvering to arrange themselves into perspective for photos: BRAVISSIMO !!! Eventually they greet and go to the parking lot.
The time to refuel the planes and change the drivers and start again: the Hornet taking off one at a time while the French take off in tandem with abundant use of the afterburner, giving us truly spectacular images, also helped by the background by the "correct" colors.
For landings we carry on the opposite side of the track, to change the perspective. This time we pass near the F 18 Swiss, we can resume unhindered since at Payerne the safety net ... ..no there !!!!
Let's go home satisfied (as always in Switzerland) and with the memories full. Next year .....
