Fliegerschiessen, Axalp/Switzerland 2009

For me this is the greatest show on earth!

The Fliegerschiessen (meaning: live firing exercise) is held each October by the Swiss Airforce. Being a military exercise rather than an airshow the public is admitted once a year to certain areas of a military firing range amidst the Alps. From there you are able to watch swiss F-5s and F-18s manoeuvering hard between the mountains, firing their cannons at ground targets. As an extra there are demonstrations of various types of helicopters and the famous Patrouille Suisse. Getting up to the firing range requires a certain level of fitness, especially when lugging up some 10 kg's of photo gear along with drink, food, a change of clothes, and raingear at 5 a.m. ....

As a personal note: Made friends there with two great guys from England and Australia. Ian and Michael - mates, you know who you are!