Yesterday’s military exercise is being lauded as a success.
Four F/A 18 fighter jets landed and took off from the A1 autoroute in canton Vaud.
Although the section of the road has been designed for the purpose, it hasn’t been done since 1991.
The Air Force points out Switzerland has only three operational air bases and using the autoroutes means planes can be spread out across the country in case of conflict.
Hundreds of VIPs watched the planes, but the public were kept well away.
It wasn’t just the landings and take-offs, technical crews mocked up changing a tyre on one of the planes while on the road.
Pilots point out landing on the road is very different from an airfield – the autoroute is narrower and there’s no radar approach assistance.
While this was the first exercise of its type for many years – it's unlikely to be the last. Other road sections can be used as runways and in three years the Air Force is getting F-35s.
But all the rules were followed yesterday, the planes had vignettes on their windscreens.
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