First Visit to Meiringen Airbase (September 2026)

I've been wanting to visit Meiringen for a while so we finally booked a week away, and luckily the weather ended up being really good for the duration!

August 31, 2026

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Monday morning was forecast to be a bit drizzly, so we waited until the 1:30pm wave to takeoff, and we went to the classic spot, next to the barrier at the road crossing.

Swiss Air Force - PC-21 - A-106 (GIZMO51)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (YEAST41)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (YEAST42)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (YEAST43)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (YEAST44)

After they had landed, we went back to our hotel as some local spotters had told us they only flew one wave in each the morning and afternoon, however we soon found out that was wrong when we heard them above our hotel just an hour later..

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - YEAST Flight

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (YEAST41)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (YEAST43)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (YEAST44)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (YEAST41)

Tuesday was much better weather, so we went to the rooftop terrace on top of the restaurant, and the tower told the pilots to line up on Runway 10 (where I hoped they would for this spot), however the pilots then requested to takeoff from 28 due to time constraints, so the crash barrier at the end of the runway dropped, and the one over the end was then raised up.

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016

They did however then come in to land on 10 as the wind was still slightly coming from that way.

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238

For the afternoon action, we went to 'Guntleren' to catch the jets just as they were lifting off, which ended up being my personal favourite spot.

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (RAGE31)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (RAGE32)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (RAGE33)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (COPPER42)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (RAGE31)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (RAGE32)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (RAGE33)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (COPPER42)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (RAGE31)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (RAGE32)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (RAGE33)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (COPPER42)

Then the 3:30pm wave...

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (VIPER41)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (VIPER42)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (VIPER43)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (VIPER44)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - VIPER Flight

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (VIPER42)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - VIPER Flight

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (VIPER41)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (VIPER43)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (VIPER44)

Wednesday was more good weather so we were there all day pretty much.

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (VIPER31)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (VIPER32)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (COBRA51)

Swiss Air Force - EC-635 - T-362

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (COBRA52)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5234 (COBRA51)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18D Hornet - J-5238 (COBRA52)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5016 (VIPER31)

Swiss Air Force - F/A-18C Hornet - J-5005 (VIPER32)

At 1:30pm, they opened the small museum in a hangar (first Wednesday each month), so we had a look around, and then they allowed us to sit out on the apron as the jets landed and taxied past us!