Meiringen – 8 and 9 October 2019
I tell you now that, even this year, it went wrong. And I'm 2 times on 3.
After the latest 2 extraordinary occasions of 2017 (you can see which) and 2018, recommences the unfortunate series of Axalp.
Actually adventurers who braved the steep paths dell'Axalphorn day 7 and 8 October, They took home a photographic booty-rate, and on the net you can find different things: unfortunately I was not among those.
Authorized by the Swiss Air Force to rise the day 9 thanks to a passage of a powerful Swiss Super Puma, I introduced myself to 08:30 of the day 8 on the grounds of the pleasant airport place in the Aar river valley, determined to take back the movements of the day of testing. The time, foretold by the predictions, It is not the best, at least at that time. Everything is silent and I go back to the runway 28, I positioned where I see the mobile control tower. I just in time to arrive and the engines of the Super Puma and EC 635 parked begin to turn.
Within minutes, the quiet air of the valley gets rammed by the rotors of helicopters bringing in share everything you need for the day.
The flights are followed incessant: from takeoff to landing pass less than 15 minutes in which the big Super Puma embark men and materials with the rotor in motion, take off, land all'Axalp, land all, ridecollano from the base portion and riatterrano in Meiringen, to start the tour.
All 10:30 They are beginning to hear the howls of the setting in motion of the General Electric F 404 the Hornet: They are eight and that means coming 4 F 18.
The first to appear is the Special Color of Fliegerstaffel 11 “Tiger”, stationed on the same basis: the roaring tiger painted on the sun shines drifts that eventually is made off in the clouds, now almost completely disappeared. Take-offs occur in rapid sequence, with wide use of the afterburner and, in less than 4 minutes, Silence returns boss.
It is also for this reason that I clearly hear the ringing of the SMS on my mobile: is a message Printing Office of the Schweizer Luftwaffe announcing me that, due to adverse weather, the planned exercise of 9/10 will not take place. I expected that. We try to take advantage of what it offers the day.
I see that the movable tower moves toward the head 10: I have to move myself to a place that allows me to photograph landings.
A pitch has been set up (equipped with chemical baths, because here in Switzerland they think of everything) right in the middle track, on the side in favor of the sun, and I head there.
As I walk I hear the sound of agile bioreactors punctuated by gusts of Vulcan spewing 6000 strokes per minute to targets positioned on the polygon on the mountain behind us: those present are definitely fun.
I 4 return after only 40 minutes and canonized landings. The subsequent take-offs are planned for 13:30 and then I hasten to eat something.
The afternoon is dedicated to the complete proof of what he had to offer tomorrow (I later discovered that exercise scheduled day 10 It jumped) and the same aircraft pounced morning, punctual, asphalt: in a minute from the brake release of the first aircraft they are all in flight. As the morning: 40 minutes and are all on ground. Meanwhile, the spectacle continues all'Axalp photographer and the Super Puma in takeoff with the Bambi Bucket to simulate the shutdown of a fire and, subsequently, very high flight, a beautiful formation of F 18, PC 21 and PC 7:
Go far away also a Kamov 32 the Heliswiss, with its unusual counter-rotating rotors.
After the exercise starts the comings and goings of Super Puma and EC 635 to bring back to the base camp men and materials. I take this opportunity to photograph the incessant steps, with helicopters lit side of a sun that has completely taken possession of heaven: it seems impossible that tomorrow can be a time so inclement. They lifted off (in the usual few dozen meters) also 2 PC 6 the Swiss Army paratroopers.
At the end they are really alone when the pilots of a Super Puma decide to do the catwalk in front of me, with the means taxiing. What can I say …… THANKS!!!
It is the last chance for today: I put the gear and I go back to the hotel, hopefully succeed, the morning after, to do at least something.
In the morning I wake up and .... it doesn't rain. While eating breakfast I hear the sound of an F 18 taking off on me: not be able to get in the polygon but some pictures will come out.
Too optimistic: while, in car, I headed to the airport starts to go down a few drops. I can photograph only the landing of the only Hornet took off and the arrival of an EC 635 before you open all the windows of heaven and come down half Flood who will accompany me until the arrival at home.
I say… .in one of the least rainy summers in history… .. just today it had to come all together? Better luck next year?
For this year accontentavi of these
