The AIR14 programme is now available!

Bern, 02.06.2014 - The Patrouille de France, Frecce Tricolori, Red Arrows, and Al-Fursan; the Gripen, Rafale, MIG-15, Messerschmitt Me262, and many more; display teams, state-of-the-art fighter jets, helicopters and legendary aeroplanes. All these prestigious guests will gather in Payerne on 30 and 31 August, and on 6 and 7 September, under the banner of AIR14 to pay homage to a triple jubilee: 100 years of the Swiss Air Force, 50 years of the Patrouille Suisse and 25 years of the PC-7 TEAM.

Hot off the press a little less than 100 days prior to the event: the general AIR14 programme is now available. Each of the four display days has a different theme based on the Air Force's four fields of activity. On 30 August, the focus is on reconnaissance, the original role allocated to military aviation. The next step in the evolution of military aviation was the air-to-ground capacity, which will be the theme on Sunday, 31 August. Dog fights then assumed critical importance, so air defence provides the entertainment on 6 September. With the technological progress more and more aircraft were available for air transport missions, which will be the theme for the closing day on 7 September.

Although there is a common thread, the daily programmes will be different. Precision will be the byword for seven air displays performed each day. In addition to the Patrouille Suisse and PC-7 TEAM, which are celebrating their anniversaries, the Patrouille de France, the Italian Frecce Tricolori, the British Red Arrows, and the Al-Fursan from the United Arab Emirates, who will fly in Switzerland for the first time, will vie to outperform each other with their aerobatic displays to the delight of the spectators. Modern jets will play an important role as well, with performances from the French Rafale, the British Eurofighter, Swedish and Czech Gripen aircraft, a Canadian CF-18, a Slovak MIG-29, and Greek and Dutch F-16s. Last but not least, tactical manoeuvres will be flown by two French Mirage 2000s. But legendary aeroplanes have not been forgotten either: a B-17 bomber from World War II will join its old adversary, the Messerschmitt Me-262, one of the first jet aircraft, and a MIG-15 aircraft used during the Korean War will reunite in the air with an F-86 Sabre. On the ground, the visitors will discover unique exhibits such as an AWACS and a huge C-17 military transport aircraft.

The air display is the main dish at an air show, but AIR14 offers a complete menu. The Armed Forces' different components, like the Land Forces and the Command Support, Organisation will demonstrate their modern technologies and capabilities to the public. There will be a centenary exhibition and the aviation-related professions from the air traffic controller to the flight attendant to the aeronautical engineer will also be represented. Tourism has not been neglected either, with the presence of Switzerland Tourism and the Payerne region tourist board.

Tickets are available online at www.air14.ch or at any railway station in Switzerland.

Address for enquiries

Laurent Savary
Head of AIR14 Communication
079 356 59 39