Aeromedia
corso Giambone 46/18
10135 Torino (Italy)
Swiss McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet Debut
First public appearance, in static and flying display, for the new McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s acquired by the Swiss air force. This was the main event of the International Air Show Sion on 6th, 7th and 8th of June 1997.
During the '80s, the Swiss air force decided to replace its ageing Mirage IIIS fighters; the choice for the new aircraft type saw the Mirage 2000, the F-16 and the F-18 as the main competitors.
In 1988 the Swiss government decided in favour of the F/A-18; four years later the Swiss parliament gave its go-ahead to buy thirty-two F/A-18Cs single seaters and two F/A-18Ds two-seaters.
Two aircraft have been delivered directly from the USA recently and the remaining Hornets are on delivery in kit form for local assembly. The Swiss aviation industry is also involved for the production of some components.
The number and type of the F/A-18 on display at Sion suggests that, at the moment, the two-seaters in Swiss service are not less than three.
In the picture: the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18D J-5233 of the Swiss air force.
