12.08.2021: As mentioned in July the bi-annual transponder check on my plane is due, but Kuerzi Avionics stopped any work on GA aircraft, concentrating on their design activities. After discussing the case with a few other plane owners we realised that four of us had to do the transponder check, so we asked Avionitec, based at Zurich Airport whether they could do the check in Lommis. They confirmed, so we agreed on today as date when all four plane owners were available. The little “fleet” consisted of a Bücker-131, two Kitfox 7 and my SportCruiser. As the battery was also due on my ELT I dropped it off at their office two days ago, so that they could replace the battery, to perform the mandatory check and return it today. That all went well, the avionics specialist from Avionitec showed up on time, brought the ELT and did all checks on all four aircraft in no time. Good service, I guess we will repeat the exercise in two years.
Our flying club celebrates its 75th anniversary the upcoming weekend, so preparations were in full swing today, with lots of volunteers busy installing barriers, speakers, signs etc.
Unfortunately I’m unavailable this weekend to volunteer, and to see the airshow, but I could still see two of the highlights of the airshow, which are the F/A-18 demonstration, as well as the Patrouille Suisse, the aerobatics team of the Swiss Air Force. The F/A-18 demo was scheduled for today, and took place just about when the transponder checks were finished, the training of the Patrouille Suisse is scheduled for tomorrow.
Below a view over the airfield, with an Antonov An-2 which had laned just before the F/A-18 demo started.
The demo started with a low pass, followed by a sharp pullup…
…which was followed by a sequence of spectacular manoeuvres.
At one of the passes the F/A-18 flew past one of the many red kites we have in the area around the airfield, but it wasn’t as close as what the picture suggests.
Below a nice view of the afterburners, the noise is part of the show….
Finally a fast low-pass, followed by a steep and what seemed never-ending pull-up, by which the F/A-18 disappeared in the sky.
13.08.2021: As mentioned above, the training of the Patrouille Suisse for next weekend’s airshow was scheduled for today. As I’m still working at least two days a week in my home office, and as my home is only 15 minutes by car from Lommis I took a one hour break from work to go and see their training.
The demonstration started with a number of flybys in different formations
At one point two planes leave the formation, and then perform a number of acts as solo planes, as pair and together with the remaining four aircraft,….
…who continue in between the solo acts with a number of formation flybys.
Below the two solo planes passing each other in opposite direction…
… as well as a solo plane performed a number of rapid rolls.
While one of the solo planes re-joined the formation a group of geese seemed to try to build a formation too…
The remaining solo plane did a last manoeuvre…
…before the team did the final break up manoeuvre, which during the actual airshow is done with ejecting flares.
