While the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos has exceeded, in political and economic terms, the zenith, it is still visited by the powerful of the world every year in January. Of course the great community of aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters find their way to the Zurich airport to hunt for exotic aircraft. 

This year's WEF week brought some colorful and special guests to Zurich as the report by Andy Herzog, Stefan Gschwind & Andreas Schmucki of Wings Aviation impressively shows.

Government aircraft

Ilyushin IL-76MD Russian Air Force, 224th Transport Wing, RA-76686  (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Ilyushin IL-76MD Russian Air Force,Transport Wing, RA-78796 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Ilyushin IL-76MD Russian Air Force,Transport Wing, RA-78796 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Ilyushin IL-76MD Russian Air Force, 224th Transport Wing, RA-76686 (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki

Ilyushin IL-76MD Russian Air Force,Transport Wing, RA-78796 (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki

Gulfstream G-450 Armada de Mexico (Mexican Navy), XC-LMF (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Gulfstream G-450 Armada de Mexico (Mexican Navy), XC-LMF (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Gulfstream G-V-SP Tanzania Government, 5H-ONE (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B737-7ED, BBJ South African Government, ZS-RSA  (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Boeing B737-7ED, BBJ South African Government, ZS-RSA 7 (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B737-7NG, BBJ Nigerian Government, 5N-FGT (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B737-7NG, BBJ Nigerian Government, 5N-FGT (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Boeing B737-7NG, BBJ Nigerian Government, 5N-FGT (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Airbus A319-115X-CJ Ukraine Government, UR-ABA (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Airbus A319-133X, CJ (15+02), German Air Force. Arriving of the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, participating in this year’s WEF at Davos (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

BAe 146 Avro RJ (ZE701) Royal Air Force (RAF). Picture taking short before leaving of the British Prime Minister, David Cameron, who was attending the WEF summit at Davos. (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B737-800 BBJ #20042, United States Air Force (USAF) (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Boeing C-40C (B737-7CP/BBJ) #50932, United States Air Force (USAF) (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Gulfstream G-V Private owned, N940AJ (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Embraer EMB-170-200LR Polish Government, SP-LIG (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Gulfstream G-550 Private owned, M-YBJK  (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Airbus A318-112, CJ-Elite Jordanian Government, VQ-BDD (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar (T-331), Swiss Air Force (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Bombardier BD-7001A10 Global Express TAG Aviation Espana, EC-LTF  (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Airbus A319-115, CJ Reliance Aviation, VT-IAH (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Airbus A319-133X, CJ Qatar Amiri Flight, A7-HHJ (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

The prelude of interesting visitors/aircraft began already on Friday before the WEF with the landing of two Ilyushin 76MD of Rossiya (Russian government) brought goods and vehicles for the government delegation to Zurich. This not being enough, in the WEF week four further "Rossiya" aircrafts landed at ZRH; a Tupolev Tu-214US, two Ilyushin IL-96-300, and an even rarer Tupolev Tu-154M that could be seen and photographed also during our night tour in beautiful light.  
In addition to the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev came more government and Heads of State in their government aircraft, such as the German Chancellor Angela Merkel (A319, Air Force 15 +02), British Prime Minister David Cameron (BAe-146 Avro RJ, RAF ZE701) , the Ukrainian government (A319 CJ, UR-ABA) and last but not least the government delegation fof Azerbaijan (B767-300ER, 4K-AI01)

Further "highlights" of the WEF-2013 were:

• 5H-ONE,Gulfstream G-V, Government of Tanzania

• XC-LMF,Gulfstream G-450, Armada de Mexico (Navy)

• HP-1A, Embraer EMB-135BJ-Legacy, Panama Government

• ZS-RSA, B737-7ED(BBJ), South African Air Force

• 5N-FGT, B737-7NG(BBJ), Nigerian Air Force

• VQ-BDD, A318-112(CJ), Jordanian Government

• #50932, C-40C(B737-7CP), United States Air Force

• #20-1101, B747-47C, Japan Air Self Defence Force (Air Force “ONE”)

BIZ-Jets from around the world

Since even this year, Zurich-Kloten had only a limited number of additional pitches (54), many of the BIZjets subsequently flew to other airports in Switzerland and the neighboring countries. In view of the more than 1,000 additional aircraft movements during the WEF week the responsible department of the airport authorities saw a positive balance on organizational and safety aspects.

Pilatus PC-12/47E Air Corviglia (ex Air Engadina) HB-FVD (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Caterham Jet, Malaysia, 9M-CJG (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Raytheon 390 Premier Ukraine Private owned, UR-NST (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Dassault Falcon 900EX Servizi Aerei Italy, I-SEAS (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Gulfstream G-IV-SP Private owned, VQ-BMT (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Bombardier BD-100-1A10-Challenger 300 Private owned, M-CLAB (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express at sunset (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Pilatus PC-12/45 Saxon Aviation UK, M-ICKY (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Cessna 525 Citation MSR Flug-Charter, D-IPCS (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Cessna 525B Citation III Air Hamburg, D-CJET (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Cessna 680 Citation Sovereign Arab Wings, JY-AWH (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Bombardier BD-700-1A11, Global 5000 Private owned, D-ACDE (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Bombardier BD-700-1A10 Global Express Private owned, OE-IDO (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Boeing B737-7JB-BBJ Jet Aviation Business Jets, VP-BFT (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Boeing B737-7HF-BBJ Hanwha Chemical Corp., HL-7227  (Picture courtesy Andreas Schmucki)

Photo impressions of the night tour

As in the years before BUCHAIR.net organized, in relating with the appropriate authorities of Zurich airport, the popular "Ramp-Tours" for the many spotters from Switzerland and abroad.
For the first time two "Night Tours" were organized, which posed a special challenge to the photographers and they were fully booked in a short time. Not an easy task, considering the difficult lighting conditions, more photographic equipment (tripod) and the freezing temperatures.
Due to limited number of participants, enough preparation time and the excellent organization by Buchair.net we got our money's worth and photographers were able to capture some delightful night Impressions on the apron.

Gulfstream G-V Private owned, N882WT (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B737-7ED, BBJ South African Government, ZS-RSA in glance, yellow light at the apron (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B767-300ER Azerbaijan Airline (Government). 4K-AI01during de-icing and later on during push-back (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Boeing B767-300ER Azerbaijan Airline (Government). 4K-AI01during de-icing and later on during push-back (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Tupolev Tu-154M Rossiya (Russian Government), RA-85843 A very rare “Bird” in the western hemisphere in these days! (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Tupolev Tu-154M Rossiya (Russian Government), RA-85843 A very rare “Bird” in the western hemisphere in these days! (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Airbus A319-115X, CJ Ukraine Government, UR-ABA early evening short before take-off (Picture courtesy Andreas Herzog)

Night impression of a Global Express and Gulfstream parked at the ramp  (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Bombardier BD-700-1A10XRS Jet Aviation Business Jets, N6D (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Gulfstream G-V Private owned, N882WT (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Ilyushin IL-96-300 Rossiya (Russian Government) RA-96012 preparing for take-off at night (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

An impressive night shot of the Tupolev Tu-214US (RA-64524), of Rossiya (Russian Government), ready for taxi (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Boeing B737-860 Ethiopian Airline (Government), ET-APK (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Nice front shot of the Boeing B737-7HF-BBJ (HL-7227), Hanwha Chemical Corp. (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Boeing B767-300ER Azerbaijan Airline (Government) “BAKU-1”, 4K-AI01 preparing for take-off (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar (T-333), Swiss Air Force, ready to fly back to Davos  (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

B747-47C (#20-1101), Japan Air Self Defense Force (Air Force “ONE”)  (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

Close-up of the cockpit section,B747-47C (#20-1101), Japan Air Self Defense Force (Air Force “ONE”) (Picture courtesy Stefan Gschwind)

A great start to the new "spotter season" 2013 with many exotic aircrafts and fantastic images, both day and night. For the smooth operation of these unique tours, our thanks go’s to the Airport responsible and organizers and especially to Buchair.net.
The next WEF takes place from 22nd – 25th January 2014 in Davos. Spotter tour information, organized by Buchair.net, can be found by November 2013 on their website: www.buchairnet.ch 

last update  10. Februar 2013

written 7. Februar 2013

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