Join us at the International Sanicole Airshow on 21 & 22 September at Hechtel-Eksel in Belgium, for a popular and legendary airshow act coming over from their Alpine homebase in Emmen to celebrate their 60th anniversary: The Patrouille Suisse.
Since their debut at Sanicole in 2009, the magnificent Patrouille suisse have been good friends and welcome guests at our show several times and no doubt, they will once again provide a finale grande.
The Patrouille Suisse started out in 1964 on the beautiful Hawker Hunter, then the main fighter of the Swiss air force. They flew this gorgeous aircraft until 1994, switching to another fighter aircraft in 1995, the Northrop F-5E Tiger II, which remains their aircraft to the present day, setting them apart from most European military display teams who fly training aircraft.
Operationally, the F-5 is nearing the end of its career in Switzerland, with the F-35 joining the ranks of the Swiss air force in a few years.
With their six Tigers, they put on an action-packed routine combining highly precise close formation aerobatics, jaw-dropping opposition passes and loud solo manoeuvres with afterburner, topped off with well-timed salvos of flares that light up the sky! Combined with their gorgeous red and white livery in honour of their home country, they have provided unforgettable moments for millions of spectators throughout the years all over Europe. Their display is packed with tributes to their home country with formations like “Matterhorn” and “Federer”. All pilots are operational combat pilots in the Swiss air force who only fly the F-5 for practices with the team once per week, to make sure they can provide a vibrant spectacle every time.
