Axalp Air Power Demonstration 2021 – Swiss Air Force Live-Fire Training

On October 18 and 20, 2021, the Swiss Air Force conducted its annual Axalp Air Power Demonstration in the alpine region above Meiringen Air Base. This unique event offers aviation enthusiasts and defense observers the rare opportunity to witness live-fire exercises and tactical flight operations in a dramatic mountain environment – unlike any other airshow in the world.

This photo gallery features exclusive images of the F/A-18 Hornet, Pilatus PC-21, and Cougar helicopters performing formation flights, flare drops, low-level attack runs, and aerial maneuvers over the Ebenfluh firing range. Despite challenging weather conditions, Axalp 2021 once again demonstrated the operational readiness and flying precision of the Swiss Air Force.

➤ Scroll down to view the full gallery and relive the highlights of Axalp 2021.

The aviation live fire demonstration Axalp (known as Fliegerschiessen or "aviator shooting") is an air show of the Swiss Air Force on the shooting range Axalp-Ebenfluh (also called Äbeflue). There is a designated spectator area at the summit of Tschingel (46.7066°N 8.0476°E, 2240 m), about 1 km west of the target area. Initially a wartime exercise arena, in use during 1942–1945, Axalp-Ebenfluh was retained as an air force training ground after 1945. The first shooting exercise with jet engine planes, de Havilland Vampire, was held in 1949. Exercises were not public, and observation was by invitation. British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery and Marshal of the Royal Air Force Lord Tedder were present at the exercise of February 1950. The exercises are usually held annually over two days on the beginning of October. Fighter planes no longer do bombing runs with exercise bombs, as was the original main purpose of the wartime exercise range. The event was extended into a public air show in the 1990s, in addition to the live fire exercises also including aerobatic displays, including performances by Patrouille Suisse. The "live fire" involves the use of aircraft cannons on ground targets mounted on the rock face. Depending on weather conditions, there are also exercises involving army helicopters, parachutists or landing troops. The event was cancelled in 2001 due to an accident with an air force Alouette III a few days before the scheduled date. The number of spectators was estimated at 6,500 in 2005, 9,000 in 2006 and 2009, and at 11,000 in 2012 The event was cancelled due to bad weather conditions in 2013 and 2015, and not scheduled in 2014 due to the Air14 show in Payerne. It was again cancelled in 2016 due to several accidents suffered by the Swiss Air Force. It was again held in 2017 and 2018.

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→ Read: Axalp Fliegerschiessen '21 Experience Report

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