Headerimage

PC-7 TEAM Season 2023

Top level formation flying as an additional side job

Lt Col Daniel Stämpfli

Commander

Despite the professional performance of the PC-7 TEAM, all team members fly these displays as an additional side job. As their full time job, all PC-7 TEAM members are pilots in one of the Swiss Air Force’s three F/A-18 squadrons based in Payerne and Meiringen, and fly some 110 flight hours per year with the F/A-18 Hornet. In this function, they carry out the missions of the Swiss Air Force, which include maintaining air sovereignty and air policing over Swiss territory.

In other air forces, it is rare for all the pilots in an aerobatic team to be full-time professional fighter jet pilots, who additionally perform flight displays. This underlines the high performance and capability of the Swiss Air Force.

Turbo 1

Capt Andreas Menk

«Menkster»
Leader
Turbo 2

Capt Sandro Chinotti

«Yuri»
Right Wing
Turbo 3

Capt Andri Gaudenz

«Gaudi»
Left Wing
Turbo 4

Capt Christian Savary

«Sassel»
Slot
Turbo 5

Capt Beda Staehelin

«Beda»
Left Outer Wing
Turbo 6

Capt Matthias Grossen

«Nemo»
Right Outer Wing
Turbo 7

Capt Benjamin Matthey

«Daffy»
1st Solo
Turbo 8

Capt Silvan Andereggen

«Gollum»
2nd Solo
Turbo 9

Capt Marius Egger

«Pnö»
2nd Lead

Public Relations Officers and Speaker

Capt Philippe Hertig

PR / Speaker

Special Of Cedric Spörri

PR / Speaker

The precise use of special music effects, live radio broadcasts and the distinctive sound of the engines makes the commentary especially effective and lends a dynamic harmony to the entire performance. The weather conditions, topography and spectator areas are always different, making it a real challenge to time the music correctly in alternation with the radio sequences and commentary.