Fliegerstaffel 11

Last updated

Fliegerstaffel 11 (Fightersquadron 11) (Tigers) of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron equipped with F/A-18 combat jets and, together with Fliegerstaffel 8, is part of Fliegergeschwader 13. The home base of Fliegerstaffel 11 is Meiringen Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 11 is a full member of the NATO Tiger Association and carries a coat of arms depicting a Tiger head on a black background and the wordmark Staffel 11 below the tiger head as its crest.

Contents

History

Vertical stabilizer of the J-5011 with tiger coating, 2012 Meiringen Airbase (6993461948).jpg
Vertical stabilizer of the J-5011 with tiger coating, 2012

The unit was founded in 1925 as Fliegerkompanie 11 and was equipped with Fokker CVs until 1938. In 1938, Fliegerkompanie 11, switched to the EKW C-35. In 1945 the Fliegerkompanie 11 was renamed to Fliegerstaffel 11. From 1946 to 1959 the Fliegerstaffel 11 used the De Havilland D.H. 100 Vampire from the Alpnach Air Base. From 1959 to 1975 the squadron flew the Hawker Hunter from the new home base Meiringen, afterwards from 1975 to 1979 Alpnach was again the home base. Afterwards, now at Dübendorf Air Base, the training was carried out on the F-5 Tiger and the Fliegerstaffel 11 used this aircraft type from 1979 to 1997. Under the command of Werner "Höffi" Hoffmann, the Fliegerstaffel 11 transferred from the F-5 Tiger to F/A-18 Hornet in 1999.

On Friday, 16 December 2005, the Fliegerstaffel 11 was transferred to the present homebase, Meiringen Air Base, under the commandant Peter «Pablo» Merz from the Dübendorf Air Base (who was not an airbase for wartime operations in the jet age). Peter Merz as a backseater and Michael «Elvis» Rainer as a pilot carried out the last take-off, of an F/A-18 from Dübendorf with the F/A-18D J-5235. The Fliegerstaffel 11 is the only F/A-18 squadron in the world to be operated from an Aircraft cavern in daily operation. Because Dübendorf was the homebase of the Fliegerstaffel 11 largest number of pilots in the Air Operations Center and the Air Defense & Directions Center in the Skyguide Building and the Berufsfliegerkorps at Dübendorf are from the Fliegerstaffel 11. The Commander of the Patrouille Suisse Nils «Jamie» Hämmerli, PC-7 Team Daniel "Stampa" Stämpfli and the co-founder of the F/A-18 Hornet Solo Display and former commander of the PC-7 Teams Werner «Höffi» Hoffmann are pilots from the Fliegerstaffel 11.

Tiger Association

One of the three machines in England, which got a new Squadron badge at the Tiger Meet 1991 at RAF Fairford - a couple flew a show that year Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Switzerland - Air Force AN2081390.jpg
One of the three machines in England, which got a new Squadron badge at the Tiger Meet 1991 at RAF Fairford - a couple flew a show that year
The usual squadron badge of the Fliegerstaffel 11 (without the writing "Staffel 11") on an F-5. J-3019 1992.JPG
The usual squadron badge of the Fliegerstaffel 11 (without the writing “Staffel 11”) on an F-5.

Although Switzerland is not a NATO member, the Fliegerstaffel 11 is a member of the 'Tiger Association', which links all the squadrons with a tiger as a squadron emblem. The Fliegerstaffel 11was the first time as an observer on the NATO Tiger Meet 1981 at Bitburg. The pilots traveled with the Beechcraft Twin Bonanza A-711, this aircraft with the yellow bottom was adorned with tiger stripes, on the engines and a red shark mouth. As of 1991, Fliegerstaffel 11 was no longer just an observer at the Tiger Meet but as a full member with the F-5E. However, there was no special paint, only a new, color-changed squadron emblem on the front. In 1994 and 1996, the pilots from Fliegerstaffel 11were again only as observers with the Learjet 35 T-781 at the tigermeet. From 2002 on as active member with the F / A-18.

The Fliegerstaffel 11 won the award Silver Tiger Trophy in 1982 and 2008. From 24 to 27 March 1983 and from 17 to 21 October 1986, the Fliegerstaffel 11 was the host of the Mini Tiger Meets at Meiringen. From 11 to 14 March 2005 the Fliegerstaffel 11 was the organizer of the Snow Survival Exercise in Sion. Because of these Tigermeets usually one or more aircraft of “tigersquadrons” received a special "tiger" painting. In 2003 it was decided to do it as well with a F/A-18C for the Fliegerstaffel 11. The choice was the F / A-18C with the registration J-5011, the 11 for theFliegerstaffel 11. However, the machine received no major change for the first time, only the additional tank and the AIM-9 Sidewinder dummys on the wingtiprails got a tigerstyle paint. In 2004, the aircraft received a permanent color scheme. This machine is used for TigerMeeting events. In normal flight operation the J-5011 is given priority to the squadron commander of Fliegerstaffel 11, but is also flown by other pilots. If the current F/A-18 Hornet Solo Display pilot is from the Fliegerstaffel 11, he will fly the J-5011, if possible. Fliegerstaffel 11 was the first squadron of the Swiss Air Force which received an aircraft with a permanent special painting, and a few years passed until the Fliegerstaffel 17, Fliegerstaffel 18 and Fliegerstaffel 19 also got their own squadron aircraft.

Accidents

On 23 October, a two-seat F/A-18D crashed into the mountain Lopper near the Pilatus. The pilot Stefan "Stiwi" Jäger of the Fliegerstaffel 11 and the Aviation medical examiner Volker Lang of the Aeromedical Center (AMC) as passenger were killed. [1] The machine was in the course of a patrol mission on the way to Lake Lucerne an simulated Air policing training. The aviation medical examiner flew, according to the Luftwaffe, to get an impression of the requirements in the cockpit of a fighter jet on such an air policing mission. . [2] As a result of the Aviation accidents and incidents investigation of the Military justice, a "misconception of the situation" has been determined by the pilot as the reason for the controlled flight into terrain. In the investigation report, the investigator of the military jury recommended, on the one hand, that passenger flights should be carried out on combat aircraft only in good weather, and on the other hand the examination of the training of the reversing maneuver, especially in bad weather situations and in low level flight. . [3] This could have consequences for the security management of the Swiss Air Force (as of June 2014). [1]

Aircraft

J-50'''11'', F/A-18C Hornet, of the Fliegerstaffel ''11'', in 2009 McDonnell Douglas F-A-18C Hornet, Switzerland - Air Force JP6677284.jpg
J-50’’’11’’, F/A-18C Hornet, of the Fliegerstaffel ‘’11’’, in 2009
F/A-18C Hornet (J-5011) in 2019 tiger markings Swiss Air Force F.A-18C Hornet arr 2019 RIAT Fairford 18July2019 arp.jpg
F/A-18C Hornet (J-5011) in 2019 tiger markings

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swiss Air Force</span> Air component of the Swiss Armed Forces

The Swiss Air Force is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces, established on 31 July 1914 as a part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meiringen Air Base</span> Airport

Meiringen Air Base, also known as the Unterbach Military Airfield, is a Swiss military airbase located near the hamlet of Unterbach and the town of Meiringen, in the canton of Bern. It is one of three main airbases of the Swiss Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dübendorf Air Base</span> Military airfield in Switzerland

Dübendorf Military Airport was a military airfield of the Swiss Air Force northeast of Dübendorf in Switzerland, located east of Zürich.

Daniel «Dani» Hösli is a former Swiss Air Force pilot. He was a professional officer who gained the rank of lieutenant colonel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 1</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 1 was a professional military pilots squadron, belonging to the Überwachungsgeschwader of the Swiss Air Force until its last service in 2003. At that point, it was equipped with Northrop F-5 and used the military airfield of Turtmann as a designated war base. Fliegerstaffel 1 carried a stylized Vogel Rokh as its coat of arms, a red background and a white figure 1 completed their emblem.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 5</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 5 was a unit of the Swiss Air Force. It belonged to the Überwachungsgeschwader with professional military pilots. It was equipped with the Hawker Hunter. Its home base was Interlaken Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 5 carried as a coat of arms a black lynx with yellow eyes, which stretched its right paw with claws. From his mouth came red flames, which went into the background. The badge was round and had a white base. Under the lynx was written in black 5éme escadrille. Later, the badge was changed into a shield-shaped coat-of-arms with a stylized lynx head, often mistaken as a dragon head.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 6</span> Unit of Swiss Air Force

The Fliegerstaffel 6 of the Swiss Air Force is a militia squadron equipped with Northrop F-5E and is together with the Fliegerstaffel 18 part of the Fliegergeschwader 14. The home base of the Fliegerstaffel 6 is Payerne Air Base. As coat of arms, the Fliegerstaffel 6 carried since 1940 a marching duck, with a proudly swollen breast carrying a halberd. The "Jusqu'au bout" motto means until the bitter end. Before this badge, it was first a six-pointed star with a witch on her flying broom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 7</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 7 was a Swiss Air Force squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft until 1994. Their home base at the time was the Meiringen Air Base. As a coat of arms, Fliegerstaffel 7 carried a jumping yellow Trout named "Jaqueline" on a dark blue background. The badge itself was an isosceles triangle with a black border that stood on top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 8</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 8 «Vandalos» is a Swiss Air Force militia squadron, equipped with Northrop F-5E and forms Fliegergeschwader 13 with Fliegerstaffel 11. The home base of the unit is Meiringen Air Base. As coat of arms, the Fliegerstaffel 8 carries as a red sawfish, floating through the lower opening of a black number 8 on a white ground. The sawfish is called Vandalo .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 10</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 10 was a Swiss Air Force unit consisting of professional military pilots, belonging to the Überwachungsgeschwader. Their home base at the dissolution was the Military Airfield at Buochs, where ist was equipped with Mirage IIIRS. Fliegerstaffel 10 carried as their coat of arms the AMIR badge. This badge shows on a white ground a falcon head drawn with black lines, the neck of which is filled with blue color. The beak rises above the round badge, above the head of the falcon is a number 10 in red. Except for the number 10, the badge is identical to the AMIR badge of the Fliegerstaffel 3 and the Fliegerstaffel 4.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 13</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 13 of the Swiss Air Force was equipped with Northrop F-5 flown by militia pilots when disbanded in 2000. Their home base at the dissolution was Payerne Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 13 wore a shield-shaped insignia with a blue outer edge, showing an eagle with wings spread out and open claws ready to capture its prey, against a white background, with the red number 13 in front of the upper wing. The old emblem was round with an orange background and black border. It showed the stylized side view of a black wasp looking in the direction of the viewer; over its head was the number 13.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 15</span> Military unit

The late Fliegerstaffel 15 of the Swiss Air Force was active until 1994 and equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft. The home base of their last service was the airfield at St. Stephan. The Fliegerstaffel 15 carried as their coat of arms a paper aircraft on a blue ground with a red "15". The old badge of the FlSt15 was a black bird of prey with white background and two red circles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 17</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 17 "Falcons" of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron of professional pilots flying McDonnell Douglas F/A-18. Together with Fliegerstaffel 6 it forms Fliegergeschwader 11. The home base of the squadron is Payerne Air Base. Fliegerstaffel 17 features a red falcon on a white ground with the black number 17 as its coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 18</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 18 «Panthers» of the Swiss Air Force is a Berufsfliegerkorps squadron equipped with McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 and forms Fliegergeschwader 14 together with Fliegerstaffel 19. The home base of the Fliegerstaffel 18 is Payerne Air Base. The Fliegerstaffel 18 carries a Black Panther against a green backdrop as its coat of arms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 19</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 19 of the Swiss Air Force is a militia squadron equipped with Northrop F-5E and forms together with Fliegerstaffel 18 Fliegergeschwader 14. The home base of the fliegerstaffel 19 is Sion Airport. The "Fliegerstaffel 19" carries as a coat of arms a stylized swan on a blue background.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 21</span> Military unit

Fliegerstaffel 21 was a Swiss Air Force squadron equipped with Hawker Hunter aircraft at the dissolution in 1994. Their home base was at the Raron Military Airfield. As a coat of arms, Fliegerstaffel 21 carried a white beaver, firing two guns while riding a red shark. On the shark is the black digit 21.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fliegerstaffel 24</span> Military unit

The Fliegerstaffel 24 fighter squadron 24 of the Swiss Air Force was a former standalone squadron, which is now the ECM (German:EKF) part of the Zielflugstaffel 12. It is a militia squadron and belongs to the airfield command 7. Its home base is the Militärflugplatz Emmen. The Fliegerstaffel 24 carries as coat of arms an eagle in front of a light blue background, holding a lightning bolt in the right claw, in the background is a red-orange number 24 and above the coat of arms is a red-orange area with the black writing "Fliegerstaffel".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berufsfliegerkorps</span> Military unit

The Berufsfliegerkorps (BFK) are the professional pilots of the Swiss Air Force.

Fanny "Shotty" Chollet is the first woman in Switzerland to fly a jet fighter plane, the F/A-18. She is a career officer in the Swiss Air Force and currently holds the rank of captain.

This article represents the structure of the Swiss Armed Forces as of 1 January 2018:

References

  1. 1 2 Es war ein Pilotenfehler! In: Blick, June 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ Marcel Gyr: Auch mitfliegender Arzt tot. In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung', October 24, 2013.
  3. ↑ "crash of 23 October 2013: results of the air accident investigation" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2017. Press release of the Military Justice, June 20, 2014 (PDF; 1,2 MB.)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.