It must be the ultimate place to fly a jet: the Swiss Alps. Mountainranges, glaciers, green valleys and clearblue lakes. For the Dutch Hawker Hunter Association it was part of a dream: bring one of their own to the yearly Hunterfest held at Sankt Stephan airfield in the Obersimmental right in the heart of the Swiss Alps.
On Wednesday 18 August 2010, after a lengthy period of careful planning and getting all the necessary paperwork through the European aviation bureaucracy, Twinseat Hunter T Mark 8C N-321 (G-BWGL) departed Leeuwarden airbase in the Northern province of Friesland in The Netherlands for a journey to St. Stephan. Stops were made at Volkel AB -for fuel- and Bern-Belp airport to pick up a Swiss navigator.
The groundcrew of the Dutch Hunter Association was already awaiting the jet in Switzerland.
The Dutch team received a more than warm welcome from the Swiss, all becoming instant friends. It was special for the people from the Obersimmental to get a foreign, let alone Dutch Hunter to visit them. Needless to say, the feelings were mutual.
The Hunterfest at Sankt Stephan is a yearly event, organised by the Hunterverein Obersimmental. This association is made up of villagers and together they own a wellknown aircraft: the Papyrus Hunter. This jet, serial J-4040 is painted in newspaperprint style lettering, to commemorate the farewell to the Hunter in Swiss Air Force service at Fliegerstaffel 15. Unfortunately it could not take part in the event as it was tucked away in a shelter for heavy maintenance.
Over the week the Swiss and Dutch Hunters, together with a dualseat Vampire performed flights, typically half hour rides.
On Saturday the 21st Sankt Stephan woke up to a glorious day: deepblue skies, calm wind, sunshine all around. Slowly the crowds took possession of the airfield and all kinds of aircraft arrived as part of the airshow/fly-in. The local DC3 gave a display before setting off to another airfield, helicopters performed pleasure rides. A Super Puma of the Swiss Airforce gave a remarkable display but most importantly: the Hunters graced the skies with their immaculate looks and sounds.
It might have been a once in a lifetime event for the Dutch Hunter, they left some unforgettable memories in the Alps.
G-BWGL, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
HB-RVJ, Vampire
-, -
HB-RVW, Hunter
-, Hunter
HB-RVR, Hunter
HB-RVR, Hunter
T-317, AS332
T-317, AS332
T-317, AS332
HB-RVN, Vampire
HB-RVP, Hunter
HB-RVP, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
G-BWGL, Hunter
HB-ISC, C-47
HB-ISC, C-47
18-21 August 2010
Flightlines/flying:
| Serial |
Type |
Operator |
| HB-RVP/J-4205 |
Hunter T. Mk.68 |
Swiss Hunter Team Altenrhein |
| HB-RVR/J-4201 |
Hunter T. Mk.68 |
Amici Dell`Hunter Sion |
| HB-RVW/J-4203 |
Hunter T.Mk.68 |
Clin d`Ailes Payerne |
| G-BWGL/N-321 |
Hunter T. Mk.8C |
Dutch Hawker Hunter Foundation |
| HB-RVJ/U-1228 |
Vampire T. Mk.55 |
Fliegermuseum Altenrhein |
| HB-RVN/J-1197 |
Vampire F. Mk.6 |
Eric Chardonnens |
In Hangar/flying:
| Serial |
Type |
Operator |
| HB-ISC |
DC3 |
"SwissAir" |
| HB-JTB |
Challenger 300 |
private |
In shelter:
| Serial |
Type |
Operator |
| HB-RVS/J-4040 |
Hunter F. Mk.58 |
Hunterverein Obersimmental |
Visiting/flightlines/flying:
| Serial |
Type |
Operator |
| T-317 |
AS332 |
Swiss Air Force |
| HB-XWH |
A109K2 |
REGA |
| HB-ZHA |
AS350 |
Heli Gotthard |
| HB-ZGV |
AS350 |
Eagle |
| LX-PAC |
O-1C |
private French Army c/s |
| + many more |
|
Flying only on 20 August:
| Serial |
Type |
Operator |
| J-5004 |
F/A-18C |
Swiss Air Force |
| J-5233 |
F/A-18D |
Swiss Air Force |
These Hornets performed a couple formation flypasts with Hunters J4203 and J4205 to brighten up the wedding of a former Swiss AF Staffel commander, who celebrated his wedding party in the Papyrus Hunter shelter.
by Richard Nels - Goed Nieuws uit Rotterdam.