Hunter Association Obersimmental's 'Hunterfest'
St.Stephan
Switzerland
August 27, 2016
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The Hunter Association Obersimmental with;
Hunter Mk.58 (J-4015 registered HB-RVS) and Hunter T.68s (J-4206 registered HB-RVV, J-4201 registered HB-RVR and J-4205 registered HB-RVP). |
The Hunter Association Obersimmental's 'Hunterfest'
This small but very entertaining event is all about Switzerland's former military jets putting on a show. Four Hunters and three Vampires which used to fly from the Swiss Air Force's mountain retreats once again grace the skies.
The seven vintage jets dominated the event, each performing three times over the long day. The Swissair marked Douglas DC-3 Dakota arrived and also later displayed flying up and down the tight valley with ease, turning within the confines of the valley itself.
The 50 year old jets were flying from the former Swiss Air Force Hunter and reserve airfield of St.Stephan which was constructed in 1944 but was handed over to the civilians in the 1990s. Flying in the mountains of the Bernese Oberland the Hunterfest has been running for more than ten years. With just around 3,000 or 4,000 thousand enthusiasts attending the event remains very relaxed and quaint. The scenery is breath taking and the close proximity of the veteran aircraft in the parking area and the runway means that the opportunities for amazing photography are exceptional. Having said that and probably due to air show regulations many of the passes by the jets were extraordinarily high, the pilots tending to pull-up as they approached the runway threshold.
The Hunter Association Obersimmental has around 900 members and since 1994 have been over-seeing the servicing and flying of their Hawker Hunters and relies very much on its volunteers, many of whom worked on or flew the jets when they were in service.
They already have next year's event in the diary for Saturday, August 26, 2017. |
| The Hunters and Vampires at St.Stephan. |
| Hunter Mk.58 (J-4015 registered HB-RVS) better known as 'Papyrus' one of 160 Hunters which flew with the Swiss Air Force from 1958 to 1994. |
| Left to right: Hunter Mk.58 (J-4015 registered HB-RVS) better known as 'Papyrus'. |
| Hunter T.68 (J-4206 registered HB-RVV) inscribed 'Double Victory' on the tail and Fliegermuseum-Altenrhein on the nose. |
| Left to right: Hunter T.68 (J-4206 registered HB-RVV). |
| Hunter T.68 (J-4201 registered HB-RVR) in its original Swiss Air Force camouflage, it is also with the Verein Hunter Flying Group. |
| Left to right: Hunter T.68 (J-4201 registered HB-RVR). |
| Hunter T.68 (J-4205 registered HB-RVP) in its original Swiss Air Force camouflage, it is with the Fliegermuseum at Altenrhein. |
| Left to right: Hunter T.68 (J-4205 registered HB-RVP). |
| de Havilland (F+W Emmen) Vampire T.55 (U-1228 registered HB-RVJ) it is with the Fliegermuseum (Swiss Flying Museum) at Altenrhein. |
| Left to right: de Havilland (F+W Emmen) Vampire T.55 (U-1228 registered HB-RVJ). |
| de Havilland (F+W Emmen) Vampire T.55 (U-1208 registered HB-RVF) from the Fliegermuseum (Swiss Flying Museum) at Altenrhein. |
| Left to right: de Havilland (F+W Emmen) Vampire T.55 (U-1208 registered HB-RVF). |
| de Havilland Vampire FB.6 (J-1197 registered HB-RVN) from the Fliegermuseum (Swiss Flying Museum) at Altenrhein. |
| Left to right: de Havilland Vampire FB.6 (J-1197 registered HB-RVN). |
| Douglas DC-3 Dakota (N431HM previously HB-ISC) in period Swissair colours. |
| Left to right: Douglas DC-3 Dakota (N431HM previously HB-ISC) in period Swissair colours. |
Left to right: Morane-Saulnier MS.505 Criquet (A-99 registered HB-EJJ previously F-BCMQ).
Pilatus PC-7 (A-909 T7-FUN) is with the Fliegermuseum at Altenrhein.
Stinson L-5B Sentinel (N121MC painted 299186). |
Left to right: Bell 47G (HB-XJE previously XT193 from Army Air Corps).
Erco Ercoupe 415E (N94804) from 1948.
Antonov An-2 (YL-LEI) named 'Rusalka' of Antonov Club Avianna. |
