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77-530: Work on what would become the P-16 commenced during the late 1940s. From the onset, the company intended for the indigenously developed fighter to replace several piston-engined aircraft that were then in service with the Swiss Air Force . During 1952, a pair of prototypes were ordered from FFA. On 25 April 1955, the first prototype performed its maiden flight . On 15 August 1956, the second prototype exceeded

154-471: A supersonic -capable fighter-bomber that would be capable of deployment from the more remote and compact alpine bases. According to periodical Popular Mechanics , this ability to operate from short runways was particularly ambitious, as such a requirement had proved to be a substantial and persistence hindrance in efforts to procure suitable jet fighters for the Swiss Air Force. By the end of 1950,

231-422: A 24 V DC generator, electricity was used for various systems, including the engine starter, fuel pumps, windscreen heating, ultra high frequency (UHF) radio and radar set. Armaments were stored underneath the wings and within a weapons bay housed in the fuselage centre-section; the latter could accommodate rockets , fragmentation or napalm bombs , or a large fuel tank for additional endurance; furthermore,

308-457: A capable interceptor aircraft as well. In terms of its basic configuration, it was furnished with a low-mounted wing, air intakes on the fuselage sides, and the horizontal stabilizer mounted halfway up the fin . The exterior skin was composed of a relatively light-gauge alloy ; in key areas, a specialised sandwich-type design was used to preserve stiffness, such as the wings. To facilitate effective operations when deploying upon unprepared fields,

385-416: A close similarities between the two as "stories" and "fantasy". William had become involved in the P-16 program at a later stage, which included flying the type multiple times, after FFA had reached out to him for his assessment of the aircraft during 1960. The FFA P-16 was a single-seat, single-engine aircraft, designed to be especially well suited to the close air support (CAS) role, but to also perform as

462-456: A long-term full scale air conflict. So the main Swiss Air Force mission is to guarantee Swiss air sovereignty and air defence throughout the country. This is achieved by: Its secondary missions are executing airlift, reconnaissance operations, and gathering and interpreting intelligence for the Swiss political and military leadership. Through the years, the Swiss Air Force traditionally had been

539-636: A low boost requirement were sometimes known as "wee-heat". Other low-boost reheats have included the "tailpipe augmentation"(TPA) on the F-86H (J73) with +10% at take-off and "Bristol Simplified Reheat"(BSR), with about 16% boost at take-off, tested on Derwent V, Orenda, Olympus and Orpheus engines. An Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is on static display at the Midland Air Museum , Coventry Airport , Warwickshire . Very few Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire engines exist, other known examples are preserved at

616-420: A low- aspect ratio ; it featured multi- spar construction. It is provisioned with tip-tanks which, in addition to storing fuel, provide a structural function, acting as end plates. A fuselage break aft of the wings enabled the rapid changing of the engine. The majority of powered systems, such as the flight controls, primarily harnessed Hydraulic power in the form of a Dowty -built high-pressure system; this

693-466: A militia-based service, including its pilots. Its inventory existed of approximately 450 aircraft whose operational service life overlapped several eras. Beginning with its separation from the army in 1966 the Air Force has been reduced in size (currently about 230 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft) moving towards a small professional cadre with fewer reserves and conscripted supporting personnel. Currently

770-543: A pair of 30 mm cannon were permanently mounted in the nose. Aktiengesellschaft für Flugzeugunternehmungen proposed several variants: As of 2007, only a single example of the P-16, which was assembled from elements of two separate prototypes, remains in existence. It is on display at the Swiss Air Force Museum at the Dübendorf Air Base . Data from Switzerland's P-16: Father of

847-567: A part of the army and in October 1936 as an independent service. In peacetime, Dübendorf is the operational air force headquarters. The Swiss Air Force operates from several fixed bases (see current status) but its personnel are also trained to carry out air operations from temporary highway airstrips. In case of crisis or war, several stretches of road are specially prepared for this option. The first military aviation in Switzerland took

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924-659: A permanent home at Dübendorf. Switzerland remained neutral and isolated during the conflict, and the air corps confined its activities to training and exercises, reconnaissance and patrol. It was only with the worsening international situation in the 1930s that an effective air force was established at great cost, with up-to-date Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Morane-Saulnier D‐3800 fighters ordered from Germany and France respectively (the Moranes were licence-built in Switzerland). The Swiss Air Force as an autonomous military service

1001-455: A protracted development programme. This effort would never progress beyond the prototype stage before being eclipsed by more capable aircraft and ultimately terminated. During 1947, independent of the N-20 effort, Swiss firm Flug- und Fahrzeugwerke Altenrhein (FFA) decided to embark on their own independent fighter jet development programme. Designated P-16 , it was reportedly conceived as being

1078-461: A relatively heavy undercarriage , complete with dual-wheels and tyres , was adopted; furthermore, it was designed with surplus strength to accommodate the potential needs of future variants of the P-16. The P-16 could provide a high level of short-field performance, a factor which had been emphasized during its design. To accomplish this, the wing was equipped with various high-lift devices; these included somewhat uncommon full-span Krueger flaps on

1155-451: A separate service independent from the Army , under its present name Schweizer Luftwaffe . With the prospect of a future World War 3 involving nuclear weapons , jet aircraft were purchased: 75 De Havilland Vampires in 1950, followed by over 100 De Havilland Venoms and the same number of Hawker Hunters . The Venoms served until 1983; Vampires until 1990 and Hunters even until 1994. In

1232-730: A turbine development of their own, the ASX , took over the MVSa.1, now renamed ASSa.1 . After a redesign it emerged as the ASSa.2 . In December 1949 the ASSa.2 completed an acceptance test at 7,380 lbf (32,800 N). Its competitor, the Avon RA.3 had a design thrust of 6,500 lbf (29,000 N) at that time. A number of companies expressed interest in the Sapphire, and it was considered as either

1309-514: A variant of the Northrop Grumman AN/TPS-75 and are deployable in areas of difficult terrain or where specific coverage is needed. Peacetime TAFLIR deployment locations are at Dübendorf Air Base and Emmen. In time of crisis or at war they can be deployed anywhere. Air surveillance in Switzerland (including the airspace of Liechtenstein) is also called Permanent Air Surveillance (PLÜ); uninterrupted 24/365 coverage with

1386-564: Is a performance by the Air Force for anyone interested. It is the only event where everybody may have a look at a live exercise at 1,700 m (5,600 ft) above sea level. The use of helicopter ops at high altitudes, search & rescue and firefighting demonstrations also have become a large part of the Axalp air show. After World War II, the service was renamed Airforce and Anti-Aircraft Command ( Schweizerische Flugwaffe Kommando der Flieger und Fliegerabwehrtruppen ). In 1966, this became

1463-468: Is always connected to the Air Defence & Direction Center (ADDC or air ops centre) at Dübendorf Air Base and fully operational on-line on a 24/7 basis, monitoring Swiss airspace. Depending on the international situation, more facilities will be manned; in case of crisis or war (ADDC and 4 facilities operational) radarcoverage will be extended far beyond the Swiss boundaries. Each of these facilities

1540-495: Is capable of making all battle management decisions in case of elimination of the ADDC or other facilities. The first FLORAKO unit activated in 2003 and the operational lifetime of this hi-tech system is guaranteed by its manufacturers for at least 25 years. The system consists of: The radar system may eventually be completed by 2 mobile TAFLIR ( TA ktische FLI eger R adars – Tactical Flight Radars). These AN/MPQ-64 radars are

1617-535: Is the main peacetime activity of the Swiss Air Force. The Air Force distinguishes two types of mission, live mission (observation, identification) and hot mission (intervention). The Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD) is currently headquartered at Emmen airbase. Formerly it used the fixed emplacement BL-64 "Bloodhound" missile system. The current system uses three shorter ranged but mobile systems which may be deployed anywhere. The Swiss Air Force supports third party organisations with equipment and staff. It provides

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1694-607: The Beryl , as well as the much larger F.9 Sapphire . (The names were chosen after a decision to use gemstones for future engine names). The Beryl eventually developed 4,000 lbf (18 kN) thrust, but the only project to select it, the Saunders-Roe SR.A/1 , was cancelled. The Ministry of Supply (MoS) designated the F.9 as the MVSa.1 . In 1948 Metrovick exited the jet engine industry. Armstrong Siddeley, who already had

1771-531: The F/A-18 Hornet was decisive in its selection. Designed for carrier-borne operations, it was optimally suited to operate from very short runways with steep take-offs. Its radar allowed detection of multiple targets and simultaneously engaging with medium-range air-to-air missiles. Between 1996 and 1999, 34 licence-built Hornets left the assembly lines at Emmen . As the F/A-18 size is larger than either

1848-533: The FFA P-16 . The Sapphire compressor operated well, free from surging, over its complete RPM range without the need for variable inlet guide vanes (VIGV) or bleed. However, early compressor stages suffered from fatigue due to rotating stall at low RPM and various fixes, such as lacing wire, were incorporated. Curtiss-Wright introduced variable ramps on the Wright J65 at the entry to the compressor to prevent

1925-557: The FLORAKO system, wherein the Identifications Officer (IDO) and Track Monitor (TM) monitor and represent the general Recognized Air Picture (RAP). The Air Force has several operational centres. In peacetime, the primary military command centre is at Dübendorf Air Base joint with the civilian air traffic control Skyguide . The locations of the other operational centres are classified. The command centres are part of

2002-692: The KFOR , some supported in large-scale events for relief abroad (e.g. Sumatra after the tsunami). The Air Force supports the Federal Office of Public Health, National Emergency Operations Centre and conducts regular ENSI flights collecting airquality data and radioactivity measurements; it also does parabolic F-5 flights as part of the ARES program of the ETH Zurich and other research institutions. The Air Force also modified all diplomatic flights outside

2079-470: The Mirage III or Tiger II the caverns in the mountains used to protect the aircraft had to be enlarged, a continuing process as of 2011. The 100th anniversary of the Swiss Air Force has been celebrated in 2014 with the airshow Air14 at Payerne . Switzerland is a small country which has always kept its neutrality. Therefore, its air component is also limited in size and not capable of fighting

2156-607: The United States by Wright Aeronautical as the J65 , powering a number of US designs. The Sapphire's primary competitor was the Rolls-Royce Avon . Design evolution of the Sapphire started at Metropolitan-Vickers (Metrovick) in 1943 as an offshoot of the F.2 project. With the F.2 reaching flight quality at about 1,600 lbf (7,100 N), Metrovick turned to producing larger designs, both an enlarged F.2 known as

2233-461: The leading edge , large Fowler-type flaps on the inboard- trailing edge , and Flaperons; ailerons which also operated as flaps. In conjunction, these devices reportedly allowed the aircraft to take off and land within 1,000 ft (330 m) at high altitude, allowing the P-16 to operate from the Alpine valleys characteristic of Switzerland. The wing itself was straight and relatively thin, achieved

2310-632: The sound barrier for the first time. The flight test programme demonstrated the P-16 to be capable of achieving favourable performance; accordingly, a production contract for 100 aircraft was issued by the Swiss Government. In the aftermath of a pre-production aircraft's crash, the Swiss production order was terminated and soon thereafter replaced by orders for the British-built Hawker Hunter . This cancellation had come before any production P-16s had been completed. While

2387-557: The Avon. The ASSa.6 , 8,300 lbf (37,000 N), was used on the Gloster Javelin FAW Mk.1 , Hawker Hunter F.Mk.2 and F.Mk.5, and the prototype Sud Ouest SO 4050 Vautour . The higher thrust ASSa.7 at 11,000 lbf (49 kN) was the first British engine to be rated above 10,000 lbf (44 kN) and it powered the Gloster Javelin FAW Mk.7 , Handley Page Victor B.Mk.1 and a prototype Swiss fighter-bomber,

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2464-550: The European portion of the Second World War , Switzerland was one of several nations who used the new-found peacetime to modernise and expand its industrial and military capabilities. At the time of the war's conclusion, the Swiss Air Force was equipped with numerous piston-engined aircraft, while several high-ranking officials sought to adopt new designs that harnessed newly developed jet propulsion instead. During

2541-756: The F-5s. However, in a national referendum in May 2014 a majority of Swiss rejected the purchase of the Gripen. This included continued operation of the Patrouille Suisse on F-5E. To reduce the risk of a negative referendum outcome the Swiss defence ministry revised its procurement strategy. With its Air 2030 programme The Swiss government now opted for a planning order for a combined purchase of new fighters together with long-range groundbased air defences (GBAD). This programme valued at CHF8 billion ($ 8.1 billion),

2618-654: The FLORIDA ( FL ugsicherungs O perations R adar ID entifikation A larm – Flight Ops, Radar Identifying, and Alerting) air defense system. Since its phasing out, however, the Swiss airspace control and defence is being carried out by the THALES Raytheon FLORAKO . This system is being operated from 4 fixed locations on the Pilatus , Scopi , Weisshorn and Weissfluh mountains. At least one of these Command, Control, and Communications (C3) facilities

2695-543: The Learjet General characteristics Performance Armament Swiss Air Force The Swiss Air Force ( German : Schweizer Luftwaffe ; French : Forces aériennes suisses ; Italian : Forze aeree svizzere ; Romansh : Aviatica militara svizra ) is the air component of the Swiss Armed Forces , established on 31 July 1914, three days after the outbreak of World War I , as

2772-455: The P-16 later worked for Lear, and the design of both the P-16 and Learjet 23 bore several similarities; some historians have alleged the latter was a direct derivative of the former. According to Bill Lear's son, William P. Lear, the designs of the P-16 and the Learjet possessed substantial differences, particularly in terms of their wing and tail configurations, dismissing claims of there being

2849-521: The Swiss Air Force because of the tourist industry. Due to these reasons, the Swiss Air Force is increasingly participating in air defence training exercises with many NATO counterparts. These exercises have covered the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , the Euro 2008 football championships, and the annual World Economic Forum . During the past 35 years, Swiss military and civil airspace control depended on

2926-463: The Swiss Air Force had procured numerous subsonic jet aircraft from foreign sources, including the British de Havilland Vampire and de Havilland Venom fighters; however, the service still had a vacant role for a supersonic-capable fighter. During 1952, a pair of prototypes were ordered from FFA. On 25 April 1955, the first of these aircraft ( J-3001 ) performed its maiden flight . This prototype

3003-763: The Swiss F-18 component reached its 50,000 flight hour milestone. Due to the RUAG Upgrade 21 (UG21) programme between 2004 and 2009 and the Mid-Life Update (MLU) its operational lifecycle will be guaranteed until 2022. From 2011 the air force intended to start the Partial F-5 Tiger Replacement programme for 22 new aircraft with the JAS 39 Gripen , Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale as replacement candidates. In November 2011

3080-553: The Swiss air force has a peacetime strength of 1,600 career military and about 20,000 reservists on call. Its air defence consists of 30 McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets and 53 Northrop F-5 Tiger IIs (110 purchased in 1978–85). The F/A-18 pilots are career military; the F-5 pilots however are reservists (mostly air- or freight-liner pilots with F-5 rating). During reserve duty periods they are assigned to military duties refreshing their operational live flying training and rating. In 2008,

3157-547: The Swiss government announced its decision to buy 22 Gripen New Generation fighters. The contract for the 22 aircraft was signed at 3.1 billion Swiss francs. On 25 August 2012, the order was confirmed by both the Swedish and Swiss authorities. The first new aircraft would be delivered in 2018 and the intention was to lease 11 current generation (eight JAS 39Cs/3 JAS 39Ds) Gripen fighters from 2016 to 2020 in order to train Swiss fighter pilots while avoiding expensive upkeep of

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3234-451: The U.S. military in Bern, U.S. military attaché Barnwell R. Legge , instructed the soldiers not to flee so as to allow the U.S. Legation to coordinate their escape attempts, but the majority of the soldiers thought it was a diplomatic ruse or did not receive the instruction directly. On 1 October 1944 Switzerland housed 39,670 internees in all: 20,650 from Italy, 10,082 from Poland, 2,643 from

3311-641: The United States, 1,121 from the United Kingdom (including five Australians), 822 from the Soviet Union, and 245 from France. In September the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was commissioned by the U.S. Supreme Command to organize the escapes of 1,000 American internees, but the task was not effectively accomplished before late winter 1944/45. Soldiers who were caught after their escape from

3388-572: The airfield brigade 32 was founded as part of a reorganization. The airbase group comprised all military airfields in Switzerland, around 16,000 members of the army. Built up by a: In combination with the Bundesamt für Militärflugplätze (BAMF), this organization, together with its ZV Central Administration in Dübendorf, constituted a robust structure, which could be activated by mobilization within 48 hours. The Patrouille Suisse aerobatics team

3465-483: The biggest arms procurement programme in modern Swiss history. Defence minister Viola Amherd unveiled results of studies tackling the defence procurement package: fighters replacing both the current F-5 Tigers and F/A-18 Hornets scheduled to be retired in the 2020s as well as a reconfigured GBAD. Armasuisse , the Federal Office for Defence Procurement, asked several firms to submit pricing for 40 aircraft including missile armament and logistics as well as an assessment of

3542-479: The blades causing catastrophic engine failures and loss of the aircraft. "Centre-line closure" also caused a Sapphire failure on a Victor B.1. An afterburner with limited boost was required for the Javelin's ASSa.7, making it the ASSa.7LR . 12% boost was required at high altitudes to regain the bomber intercept performance that had been lost carrying the new de Havilland Firestreak missiles. Afterburners with

3619-458: The cancellation, FFA decided to continue the P-16 program at its own expense for a while. The company completing two further aircraft, which conformed to the more capable MK III standard; these ( X-HB-VAC/J-3004 and X-HB-VAD/J-3005 ) conducted their first flights in July 1959 and March 1960 respectively, while their last flights were performed during April 1960 and June 1960. One of the last flights

3696-554: The civilian radar Skyguide with FLORAKO radardata enabling safe air traffic management. Air Force helicopters and drones regularly conduct surveillance flights for the Border Guard Corps GWK, for general surveillance at major events and search flights ( SAR ) for national police and Rega (air rescue) . The Fire Department also uses its drones and helicopters with FLIR to locate forestfires and to extinguish them with Bambibuckets . 3 helicopters supported Swisscoy in

3773-402: The company continued the program independently for a time, completing a further two aircraft, no buyers could be found for the type. The P-16s were examined by Bill Lear , who later developed the highly successful Learjet family of business jets . However, the P-16 was never introduced into service by any operator, and only a single example of the type remains presently. Following the end of

3850-442: The earlier prototypes in a variety of ways; perhaps most significantly, these aircraft were furnished with the more powerful Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire 7 engine in place of the prototype's Sapphire 6. Reportedly, test flights of the pre-production aircraft proved itself to have promise; during 1958, a production contract was awarded for 100 aircraft. However, another accident occurred when the first pre-production machine ( J-3003 )

3927-505: The end of the 1950s, reflecting both the threat of possible invasion by the Soviet Union and a nuclear warfare , Swiss military doctrine changed to mobile defence that included missions outside its territory, in order to defeat stand-off attacks and nuclear threats, including the possibility of defensive employment of air-delivered nuclear weapons . However the inability to field a force capability to carry out such missions led to

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4004-463: The form of balloon transport, pioneered by Swiss balloonist Eduard Spelterini , but by 1914 there was still little official support for an air corps. The outbreak of World War I changed opinions drastically and cavalry officer Theodor Real was charged with forming a flying corps. He commandeered three civilian aircraft at Bern's airfield and set about training the initial nine pilots at a makeshift airfield close to Wankdorf Stadium , later moving to

4081-488: The internment camp, were often detained in the Wauwilermoos internment camp near Luzern. Official Swiss records identify 6,501 airspace violations during the course of the war, with 198 foreign aircraft landing on Swiss territory and 56 aircraft crashing there. With the threat of WW2 and the possible need for the army and civilian population to retreat into the mountains ( Reduit ) as proposed by General Guisan, it

4158-501: The late 1940s Switzerland purchased the North American P-51 Mustang from US surplus WW2 stock. The aircraft initially was intended as a stop-gap solution for the Swiss army in order to maintain a defence force during a time when the outdated Bf 109E's and Swiss built D-3801 Moranes were being phased out but the licensed production of the British designed Dh-100 Vampires and Dh-112 Venoms was not in full swing. At

4235-542: The main or backup powerplant for most British designs of the late '40s and early '50s. The ASSa.5 with 7,500 lbf (33,000 N) thrust was used only on the English Electric P.1A , prototype for the Lightning. A simple fixed-nozzle reheat was fitted to extend the performance boundary for stability and control testing from about Mach 1.1 to beyond Mach 1.5. Future versions of the Lightning were powered by

4312-474: The next decades. On the 30th of June 2021 the F-35A was announced as the winner of the competition. On 10 December 2010, the last 20 outdated Aérospatiale Alouette III were replaced by two VIP configuration Eurocopter EC135s and 18 Eurocopter EC635s . The first EC-635 was delivered in 2008. In peacetime the air defence radar coverage is maintained on a 24/7 basis. Until late 2020, the aviator corps however

4389-445: The number of aircraft necessary to fulfil Swiss needs and kicked off the competition for 5 types of combat aircraft under consideration (Eurofighter Typhoon, Boeing F-18 Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Lockheed Martin F-35A and Saab Gripen E) at Payerne airbase. With a reconfigured GBAD system covering appx 15,000 km2 in the densely populated Swiss plateau the balance between fighter aircraft and ground-based air defence would be ensured for

4466-601: The opening times of the FOCA and represents the REGA (Swiss Air Rescue) communication systems. The Swiss Air Force operates the Rescue Coordination Center "RCC Zurich" on behalf of the FOCA at the Dübendorf Air Base . (2023) Panther 33.700 6×6 A135 Flugfeldlöschwagen schwer Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire The Armstrong Siddeley Sapphire is a British turbojet engine that

4543-559: The prototypes EFW N-20 and FFA P-16 , Switzerland did not invest in development combat aircraft anymore. In 1964 the procurement of the Dassault Mirage 3 fighters (1964–2002) caused a scandal due to severe budget overruns . The commander, the chief of the general staff and the minister of defence were forced to resign, followed by a complete restructuring of the air force and air defence units in 1968 and leading to separation of users and procurement officials. In February 1968,

4620-420: The return of traditional "protection of own territory" doctrine. Meanwhile, the army started preparing ad hoc airbases in the mountains, with sections of highway strengthened to act as runways and hangars carved out of the mountains . In 1954 the first Air Radar Recruit School activated, the first early warning radar systems were installed and the concept of command & control facilities at mountain summits

4697-445: The same time period, Swiss defense companies also sought to develop increasingly capable equipment, including Eidgenössische Flugzeugwerke Emmen  [ de ] 's EFW N-20 , which would be Switzerland's first domestically designed and manufactured jet fighter. According to author Fiona Lombardi, development of the N-20 was greatly hindered by a lack of technical knowledge and over-ambitious performance demands, which contributed to

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4774-495: The stalling and blade excitation. Armstrong-Siddeley tested a similar solution on the Sapphire but incorporated blade changes instead to reduce the blade response to the stalling. Caygill states that one of the most serious problems encountered throughout the life of the Gloster Javelin was caused by "centre-line closure" on the Sapphire engine. Flying through thick cloud could cause the compressor case to shrink and rub

4851-447: The threat. The aim for a 24-hour Quick Reaction Alert readiness of two armed F/A-18 fighters was achieved on 31 December 2020. A major problem in defending the Swiss airspace is the size of the country. The Swiss maximum extension is only 348 kilometres (216 mi). Commercial airliners may pass over in about 15–20 minutes, while fast jets would take even less time. However, noise-abatement issues traditionally caused problems for

4928-440: The unit "Einsatz Luftwaffe," the chief of which is directly subordinate to the commander of the Air Force. It consists of the operations center of the Air Force, redundant direct connections to the emergency organizations ( air rescue and federal police ), as well as to the 2 Skyguide air traffic centers (Geneva and Zurich) and to the relevant military and civilian air traffic control centers of neighboring countries. Air policing

5005-570: The war, the Allied bomber offensive sometimes took US or British bombers into Swiss airspace, either damaged craft seeking safe haven or even on occasions bombing Swiss cities by accident. Swiss aircraft would attempt to intercept individual aircraft and force them to land, interning the crews. Only one further Swiss pilot was killed during the war, shot down by a US fighter in September 1944. From September red and white neutrality bands were added to

5082-590: The wings of aircraft to stop accidental attacks on Swiss aircraft by Allied aircraft. From 1943 Switzerland shot down American and British aircraft, mainly bombers, overflying Switzerland during World War II: six by Swiss air force fighters and nine by flak cannons. 36 Allied airmen were killed. On 1 October 1943 the first American bomber was shot down near Bad Ragaz : Only three men survived. Officers were interned in Davos , airmen in Adelboden . The representative of

5159-404: Was also introduced in which the air superiority fighter in interceptor role stood central. In 1974 the first 2 Northrop F-5 Tiger fighters were tested and in 1978 the first F-5 Tiger fighter/interceptor squadron became operational. In the late 1980s changing political and military world situations implied the need for multirole aircraft in the Air Force. After evaluation, the performance of

5236-478: Was clear that the army air force needed the ability to attack enemy ground forces in the mountains. To practice this Axalp was selected. After WW2 ground attack by jet aircraft was practiced at Axalp, including strafing and bombing exercises. During the Cold War, military liaison officers from western, eastern and non-aligned nations were invited to the screenings. Nowadays Axalpfliegerschiessen ("Airshow Axalp")

5313-552: Was created in October 1936. Although Switzerland remained neutral throughout World War II , it had to deal with numerous violations of its airspace by combatants from both sides – initially by German aircraft, especially during their invasion of France in 1940. Zealous Swiss pilots attacked and shot down eleven German aircraft, losing two of their own, before a threatening memorandum from the German leadership forced General Guisan to forbid air combat above Swiss territory. Later in

5390-399: Was destroyed in a crash on 25 March 1958 after 102 flights. According to Lombardi, the second crash was a major blow to the project; it has been claimed that the Swiss Government decided to cancel the entire order due to the accidents involved. By the end of the 1950s, Switzerland opted to procure British-built Hawker Hunters to meet the Swiss Air Force's needs instead of the P-16. Following

5467-447: Was driven by the aircraft's turbojet engine and supplemented by accumulators for emergency operation of the undercarriage, air brakes and flaps. A second backup system is provided via a pneumatic system , powering the wheel brakes as well as undercarriage deployment and jettisoning the canopy. Bleed air drawn from the engine provided cockpit pressurization and air conditioning for pilot comfort. The electrical system incorporated

5544-566: Was founded in 1964, the 50th anniversary year of Swiss army aviation. In 1969, air force logistics and air defence were reassigned into brigades, the Armed Forces Meteo Group and Avalanche Rescue Service came under air force and air defence command and the Para Reconnaissance Company was established. In the 1970s major manoeuvres with over 22,000 participants took place. A new air defence concept

5621-597: Was incapable of maintaining a matching state of readiness due to limited budget and lack of staff available and was operated from 06:00-22:00 local time only. This became painfully clear as the Swiss Air Force was unable to respond to the Ethiopian Airlines ET702 hijacking in February 2014 which occurred outside routine operating hours. Agreements with Italy and France in particular enabled fighters from both air forces to enter Swiss airspace to handle

5698-475: Was introduced; leading to acquisition of the FLORIDA early warning and command guidance system in 1965 followed by the current FLORAKO system in 2003. At the same time, ground-based air defence (GBAD) projects were initiated such as radar-equipped medium-caliber guns with an integrated 63 Superfledermaus (Superbat) fire control system' as well as the BL-64 ‘Bloodhound’ air defence missile system (1964–1999). After

5775-538: Was produced by Armstrong Siddeley in the 1950s. It was the ultimate development of work that had started as the Metrovick F.2 in 1940, evolving into an advanced axial flow design with an annular combustion chamber that developed over 11,000 lbf (49 kN). It powered early versions of the Hawker Hunter and Handley Page Victor , and every Gloster Javelin . Production was also started under licence in

5852-464: Was subsequently destroyed in a crash on 31 August 1955, having conducted 22 flights with a cumulative flight time of 12 hours 38 minutes. On 15 August 1956, the second prototype exceeded the sound barrier for the first time. This prototype completed another 310 flights by March 1958, being withdrawn shortly thereafter. A development contract for a batch of four pre-production aircraft was awarded. These aircraft, which were designated Mk II , differed from

5929-464: Was the one and only presentation abroad at Friedrichshafen on the 26th of June 1960. Despite attempts by the company to attract customers, no buyers ultimately emerged for the type. Certain design aspects of the P-16 were used by business man and inventor Bill Lear when developing the first of the highly successful Learjet family of business jets, the Learjet 23 . Several of the engineers behind

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