The first week-end of September 2004 will long be remembered as the week-end during which another of the legendary Swiss airshows like the one in Sion 1997 took place. This year it was time for AIR04 at the Swiss Air Force base Payerne. For the 90th anniversary of the Swiss Air Force (SAF) , the 40th anniversary of the Patrouille Suisse and the 15th of the PC-7 a really impressive programm was presented to the crowd.
Where? Payerne - Switzerland When? 04-05/09/2004
I am pretty sure that every one of the 275.000 visitors will remember this event for a very long time. The show was the biggest one on the European continent this year with 67 flight demonstrations during the week-end. 6 jet display teams and numerous jet aircraft filled a flight program from 9 in the morning until 5pm, with only a short break at around midday that was just long enough to queue for a sandwich and a drink.
Saturday's display was mainly packed with jet action during the day. The search of the SAF for a successor of the ageing F-5 Tigers attracted 3rd generation jets like the Eurofighter, Rafale, Gripen and F/A-18F Super Hornet to come the Payerne and fight with their flight demo for the favour of the crowd and the officials. And with a lot of gadgets as well, of course.
Besides this 'competitions' a rare display of the Finish AF F/A-18 could also be admired, as well as the most impressive F-15 Eagle West Coast Demo display. F-16s from the Netherlands and Belgium participated also, as well a a French Mirage 2000 that also flew an air-air refuelling demo with a French KC-135 and a Swiss F-18 Hornet. The former Swiss military aviation was represented in the flight display with a formation of 4 Hunters and a Vampire. But the big event on Saturday was the mass formation fly-by of all the national display teams that were on place which gathered for a huge and unforgettable overfly of 40 jets. Sunday was dominated by the display teams of whom 6 could be seen during the day, let alone all the numerous jet fighter action. The organisation of the flight program was on both days excellent with a nice mix of jets, displays teams, vintage aircraft and helicopters. And if everybody has forgotten about the traffic jams Air04 will remain a marvellous Airshow in everybodies mind!
It is a bit of a shame The Swiss do not very often organize Airshows like this one.. but when they do, they do it with Swiss precision and in style!
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
Eurofighter Typhoon
---- ---- ---- ----
Dassault Rafale
---- ---- ---- ----
Saab Gripen
---- ---- ---- ----
Mirage 2000
---- ---- ---- ----
F-15C West Coast Demo Team
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
Finish F/A-18A Hornet
---- ---- ---- ----
Swiss F-18C Hornet
---- ---- ---- ----
British Harrier GR7
---- ---- ---- ----
Belgian F-16A
---- ---- ---- ----
Dutch F-16C Fighting Falcon
---- ---- ---- ----
Patrouille des Patrouille
---- ---- ---- ----
Patrouille Suisse
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
PC-7 Team
---- ---- ---- ----
Red Arrows
---- ---- ---- ----
Frecce Tricolori
---- ---- ---- ----
Team 60
---- ---- ---- ----
Patrulla Aguilla
---- ---- ---- ----
---- ---- ---- ----
Team Breitling
---- ---- ---- ----
Hunters & Vampires
---- ---- ---- ----
Fouga Display
---- ---- ---- ----
Breitling Super Constellation
---- ---- ---- ----
Pilatus PC-12
---- ---- ---- ----
Bo 105
---- ---- ---- ----
Supar Puma
---- ---- ---- ----
Agusta A109
---- ---- ---- ----
French Air Force - KC-135F + Mirage 2000 & Swiss F-18C
Radom Airshow 2018 had the Polish Air Force’s 100th anniversary as a main theme. Concluding from past events the expectations were very high, and the event attracted highlights such as the Ukrainian Suchoi Su-27 Flanker or the JF-17 from Pakistan for the flying display. In…Read More
This was another plane spotting trip to Taiwan. Even though it has a vivid aviation photography scene, it’s tropical climate and a military on high alert do not make it an easy country to pursue this hobby. With the aim to photograph some aircraft of…Read More
10.000ft above Belgium the howling sound of the Lockheed Martin’s F-16AM Fighting Falcon F100 jet engine could clearly be heard. No wonder, as the Demo Pilot for the Belgian Air Force, Sr. Cpt Darte, callsign „Vador“, knows how to place his jet only meters behind…Read More
This airshow was held to celebrate 100 years of aviation in Pilsen / Plzeň. Even though this fourth most populous city in Western Bohemia, Czech Republic, is undeniably better known for the type of blond lager beer to which the city gave its name, it also…Read More
This open doors day at Payerne AF Base, located near Bern, was originally meant as a celebration day for young recruits of the Swiss AF, who officially got their promotion that day. For the parents…Read More
Reims, the capital of the Campagne, France's finest wine region, is also home of the French Air Forces (FAF) Base aérienne 112 (Air Base 112) "Commandant Marin-La-Meslée" which host three fighter wings equipped with Mirage…Read More
Another big event and one reason for our trip: the Farewell Show of the Mitsubishi F-1 at Tsuiki.Unfortunately the rain did continue dropping on the roof when we woke up in our cold room on…Read More
One month before this year's ILA the signs were good that the show might emerge from the status of a small trade fair. Well, at least a little bis. The trade fair has been promoted…Read More
I am pretty sure that every one of the 275.000 visitors will remember this event for a very long time. The show was the biggest one on the European continent this year with 67 flight demonstrations during the week-end. 6 jet display teams and numerous jet aircraft filled a flight program from 9 in the morning until 5pm, with only a short break at around midday that was just long enough to queue for a sandwich and a drink.
Saturday's display was mainly packed with jet action during the day. The search of the SAF for a successor of the ageing F-5 Tigers attracted 3rd generation jets like the Eurofighter, Rafale, Gripen and F/A-18F Super Hornet to come the Payerne and fight with their flight demo for the favour of the crowd and the officials. And with a lot of gadgets as well, of course.
Netherlands and Belgium participated also, as well a a French Mirage 2000 that also flew an air-air refuelling demo with a French KC-135 and a Swiss F-18 Hornet. The former Swiss military aviation was represented in the flight display with a formation of 4 Hunters and a Vampire. But the big event on Saturday was the mass formation fly-by of all the national display teams that were on place which gathered for a huge and unforgettable overfly of 40 jets. Sunday was dominated by the display teams of whom 6 could be seen during the day, let alone all the numerous jet fighter action. 
The organisation of the flight program was on both days excellent with a nice mix of jets, displays teams, vintage aircraft and helicopters. And if everybody has forgotten about the traffic jams Air04 will remain a marvellous Airshow in everybodies mind!
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
