Patrouille Suisse

For over 55 years the Patrouille Suisse has enjoyed great popularity and has embodied typical Swiss values that the team has acquired over many years of work: Maximum precision, discipline, drive, and reliability. The Patrouille Suisse is thus one of Switzerland’s calling cards.

With its spectacular display, the Patrouille Suisse never ceases to amaze the public. Pilots reliably demonstrate their skills when they easily climb into a loop in their six F-5 Tiger fighter planes, perform breath-taking crossing manoeuvres, or conjure up a playful heart of smoke in the sky.

Founded in 1964, the team’s mission is to demonstrate the capabilities of the Swiss Air Force at home and abroad. Unlike many other aerobatic squadrons, the Patrouille Suisse pilots are also involved in everyday tasks such as monitoring Switzerland’s airspace They are military pilots of the professional aviation corps. At the same time, the commentators work as air traffic controllers for Skyguide (Swiss air traffic control), who only perform this additional task during the respective current season. On the ground, the Patrouille Suisse team is supported by a technical crew and forms the basis for all missions.

To explain the often very complex figures and to provide technical background information on the aircraft, the audience is guided through the flight programme by a commentator during the airshow.

The aircraft are always on active duty and are ready for military deployment. Patrouille Suisse is one of the few aerobatic teams in the world flying supersonic jets.

The Patrouille Swiss regularly participates in AIRPOWER.

Northrop F-5E Tiger II