Hofmann's recommendations

St. Moritz - with a difference

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Pure aviation!

Admittedly, this recommendation is somewhat unusual and not commonplace, but it was exciting for the many spectators. Because, pure aviation! This is how pilot Ivo Vogel describes the special flight that Connoisseur Circle exclusively accompanied.
Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS), the official airline of the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in St. Moritz, provided highlights on three days during the World Championships with spectacular overflights of a Bombardier CS100 together with the Swiss aerobatic team Patrouille Swiss. Intensive preparations were necessary for this flying display, which lasted 14 minutes each time over St. Moritz. "We practiced in the simulator for a total of 15 hours and flew the route around 20 times. Sure, it's an unusual flight, but there's nothing daring about it, everything takes place within the applicable regulations and limits," explains flight captain Andreas Müller before we take off in Zurich.
What follows, 15 minutes into the flight towards the Engadin, is an incredible spectacle. First, our CS100 flies solo over the Herrenabfahrt at around 400 km/h at an altitude of just 300 meters, then the rendezvous with the six Patrouille Swiss interceptors takes place just north of Samedan. Then it's back to the runway at this speed and with the full effects of gravitational acceleration, 1.8G! "In scheduled service, we fly curves of 30 degrees with the CS100. Here it's up to 60 degrees," says flight captain Robert Emiri. During all these manoeuvres, the fighter jets stick to the CS100 at a distance of 30 to 50 meters. The commercial aircraft is not actually made for show flying, but for everyday airline operations on short and medium-haul routes. This again shows how agile an aircraft can be. Meanwhile, we make a tight turn over the station and in the cabin you can hear the roar of the nearby jet fighters as we head back towards the finish slope with its countless fans, surrounded by a kitschy mountain panorama. Unusual as a passenger on board: you look up from the plane to the mountain peaks! And one thing is also clear for the three pilots. "These flights are one of the highlights of a pilot's career," says Emiri. After an hour and 40 minutes, we land back in foggy Zurich, but with beaming faces! Incidentally, this flying display - joint overflights by a SWISS commercial aircraft and the Patrouille Swiss - is to take place again next year. Then for the third time at the Lauberhorn downhill race in Wengen.

St. Moritz - with a difference

Kurt Hofmann

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