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Text: |
Urs Schnyder |
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Pictures: |
Urs Schnyder & Michael E. Fader |
Team 2023 with Names (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Team 2018 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Besides
the well known Patrouille Suisse the Swiss Air Force has a second
Aerobatic Team. This, the PC-7 Team was founded in 1989 for the 75th
Anniversary of the Air Force. It is composed of nine PC-7 aircraft.
Since then the team has been the ambassador of the Air Force together
with the Patrouille Suisse. All the pilots are professionals and members
of one of the three F-18 Squadrons of the Air Force. Flying in the PC-7
Team is an additional duty besides their normal work in the squadrons.
In 1998 there was serious talk about abolishing the team for financial reasons. That this didn’t happen is mainly thanks to Bundesrat Adolf Ogi who strongly supported this unique team. The number of displays increased in the following years with visits to other European countries like Monaco, Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and Denmark on their schedule.
In 2014, for their 25th Anniversary the Pilatus company donated smoke generators to the team which were designed in house. At present seven aircraft are equipped with these generators which are situated in the baggage compartment of the aircraft. The diesel fuel is injected into the right exhaust of the aircraft.The first time this was used was on the 1st of August 2014 at the roll out of the new Pilatus PC-24 business jet at the Buochs airfield.
As the jet aircraft of most aerobatic teams are approaching their retirement, the PC-7 team points the way to the future.
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Important waypoints of the team:
1992 – First display abroad
in Avord (Base Aerienne 702) France
1998 - First display outside of Europa on the 50th Anniversary of
Israels Air Force
2008 – Introduction o the Pilatus NCPC-7 with new Glass-Cockpit .
2013 – Award of the "King Hussein Memorial Sword" for best performance
at RIAT at RAF Fairford
2014 – Display together with the Patrouille Suisse at the AIR14 in
Payerne
2017 – Award of the Bill Hartree Memorial Trophy at the RAF Cosford
airshow
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Season 2023
The PC-7 Team for 2023 is made up of the following Pilots and their ground crews.
| Rufname | Position | Name |
|---|---|---|
| Commander | - | Oberst Lt. Daniel Stämpfli „Stampa“ |
| Uno | Leader | Capt Andreas Menk „Menkster“ |
| Due | Right Wing | Capt Sandro Chinotti „Yuri“ |
| Tre | Left Wing | Capt Andri Gaudenz „Gaudi" |
| Quattro | Slot | Capt Christian Savary „Sassel" |
| Cinque | left outer wing | Capt Beda Stahelin „Beda“ |
| Sexi | Right outer wing | Capt Matthias Grossen „Nemo“ |
| Sette | 2. Solo | Capt Benjamin Matthey-De-L'Endroit „Daffy“ |
| Otto | 1. Solo | Capt Silvian Andereggen „Gollum“ |
| Nove | 2. Lead | Capt Marius Egger „Pnö“ |
| PR1 | Speaker | Capt Philippe Hertig „Philippe“ |
| PR2 | Speaker | Spec Of Cédric Spörri „Cedi“ |
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
