Aviation Photography - Axalp Air Power Demonstration 2007

Shadows and Light - 2005 Shadows and Light - 2006 Axalp Air Power Demonstration 2005 Axalp 2006 Axalp 2007

Axalp 2007
The Axalp Experience
'Shadows and Light'

The Swiss Air Force’s Axalp Air Power Demonstration held annually, is not just an air show it is an experience. The Ebenfluh firing range is found at the top of Axalphorn mountain in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland region. You have to work pretty hard to get your photographs here. First there is the climb up, more on that later; secondly the shooting conditions are challenging to say the least. It is a place of ‘Shadows and Light’.

You are facing towards the south and the sun, in front of you is a much higher peak, which has snow covered slopes that are permanently in shadow. Particularly in the morning the aircraft fly past in this shadow, once out of it they are back-lit. With a background of snow it is very difficult to judge the right exposure to retain some texture in the bright white snow. I tend to reduce the exposure by 1/3 to 2/3 stop. If the sky is blue, the shadows and snow have a blue colour cast. A Skylight 1B filter or a bit of extra work with PhotoShop’s colour balance should put that right. Whilst conditions here compared to those at conventional air shows, are more tricky, Axalp offers some extraordinary opportunities for some unique images.

For those who make the assent, they are rewarded with some of the best aviation photography available, second only to the back seat of a fast jet. The weather can play a big part in this event. In 2003 the two display days (Wednesday and Thursday) scheduled for the show, were cancelled due to bad weather and the risk of avalanches. On the Friday reserve day the show went ahead however. In 2002 the show was cancelled altogether due to a fatal accident of a Alouette pilot in another part of Switzerland.

Each year it appears that more and more people are taking up the challenge of the climb. Usually and weather permitting an expected 2,000 people attend the show on the Wednesday with around 1,000 on the second day. Back in 1990’s only around 500 were there to witness the flying, and of those, only a handful were from beyond the local community.

F/A-18C Hornet pulling 'G' while creating impressive vortices, image 072_1437w5

McDonnell-Douglas F/A-18C Hornet (J-5013)

'Top-shots' of jets flying through the shadow of Axalp's mountains by the three jets to display at this years demonstration.
Left to right: F/A-18C Hornet (J-5006) in early morning action.

Left to right: Safety check, Aérospatiale SA.316B Alouette III (V-262) checks the firing range for stray walkers before live firing can begin.
AS.332M-1 Super Puma (T-312) and AS.532UL Cougar (T-335) in the early morning sun.
The Patrouille Suisse's with their six F-5E's close the show each day adding smoke in the valley to produce more unusual lighting effects.

Photography at Axalp
I would like to share some information, using images and experience gained from visits to Axalp over previous years.

How do you get there?
The Ebenfluh Firing Range is at 7,614 feet (2,321m) and requires quite a climb to get there. From the main Meiringen to Interlaken road, you take a narrow and winding road up to Axalp village, which is at 4,900 feet (1,500m). An early start is recommended, as parking is limited, so by 6:30 a.m. at Axalp village is reasonable. It will be dark, but that does not create any particular problems. A recently installed chair lift from above Axalp village, is in operation from around 6:30 a.m. this will save perhaps and hour of climbing. For those who prefer to make the climb totally by foot, expect it to take around 2½ hours. If you aim to get to the range by 8:30 a.m. you won’t miss any of the flying action.

Left: If you start the walk very early you will be able to photograph the sun coming up from the control tower at the top.

There is a much easier way up to the range! Flying from nearby Meiringen air base, 300 VIP’s and 30 accredited journalists are ferried up by helicopter each day. This is done after the morning’s flying has ended, at 11:00 a.m., by around six Puma/Cougar helicopters. The journey taking a mere six minutes.

The firing range targets
Both the F-5E and F/A-18C employ a 20mm cannon to fire at two types of ground erected targets. Firstly there are pairs 20 foot (6m) wide orange Day-Glo cloth targets on the mountainside facing up and down the valley. A second type of target employed is a pair of 6 feet (2m) square orange metal panels which are bolted to the rock. The nearest pair of targets are erected just 750 feet (230m) away from the crowd line.

Left to right: Two west facing 20 foot (6m) wide orange cloth targets (left) were erected for each days flying. The dust and numerous holes were a result of several passes from the F-5E Tiger II’s and F/A-18C Hornets firing from their nose mounted cannon.
Sparks fly up from around the orange metal panels which are bolted to the mountainside, as the ammunition ricochets off the surrounding rock.
Northrop F-5E Tiger II (J-3068) firing from its two nose mounted Colt-Browning 20mm M39 cannon. The F-5E was firing between two groups of spectators at targets that were no more than 250 yards (230m) away from the crowd line.
F/A-18C Hornet (J-5014), descending at a 10º angle of attack, to fire in bursts of 240 rounds at the target.

Left to right: The view from Axalp village of the Ebenfluh firing range. AS.532UL Cougar (T-341) is about to touch down at the range beside the control tower to collect it's VIP passengers. Cockpit view of AS.532UL Cougar (T-341) showing the moving map display, Axalp in the centre. The fleet of Super Pumas and Cougars return at the end of the show for the mass evacuation from the summit of 330 VIP's and accredited media.

Where to go?
The are three basic locations for photography. The closest is by the control tower. To get there for the mornings flying, you need to be in position by 8:30 a.m. From this time the path across there is roped off till lunchtime. If you don’t make this deadline, then it is not a problem; a morning spent at the second location known as ‘Tschingel’ is fine. This location is a little further back than the control tower and also further down the valley. The photography from here offers some different angles and light. During the morning practise, and the afternoon’s show, the aircraft fly through the gap between these two locations, firing 20mm rounds at a pair of targets. It is for safety reasons that the path is closed during the flying. A third location is known as ‘Brau’, is further down the valley. This location is much lower (easier climb) than the other two locations. At this location only some of the aircraft pass by and low enough, but when they do it offers some very good close low flying images.

Three views of the Ebenfluh control tower on Axalphorn.
Left to right: Looking across from ‘Tschingel’; from the Puma landing spot and from the helicopter's cockpit when on approach. Just shadow, a Cougar is about to touch down.

Left to right: Most of the spectators gather on ‘Tschingel’, shot taken from the control tower area; the Patrouille Suisse sweep low past ‘Brau’ from the west, on their way up the valley past ‘Tschingel’ and the control tower. Finally an SA.316B Alouette III approaches the second landing area between the control tower and ‘Tschingel’, the background shows the preferred alternate route back to Axalp, down the valley from Axalphorn. The final image shows one of the routes taken by many of the spectators back down from the range at the end of the demonstration.

How did it all begin?
During World War Two the Switzerland’s neutrality was threatened, with frequent border violations. Swiss, German and Allied aircraft were all involved in aerial combat over Swiss territory. Alpine airfields were constructed, notably at Turtman (closed December 2003) and Meiringen, where caverns were carved into the mountains to house it’s military aircraft. During this period, in 1942 and 1943, the Ebenfluh firing range was put in to service.

To this day, the range is in regular use for the training of pilots in low level flying in a mountain environment and for live firing of ammunition at ground based targets. The Ebenfluh range is in operation from October 1 till April 30, with a break over Christmas. The event has been held in October for many years with the exception of 2004, when the Swiss Air Force wanted to commemorate their 90^th anniversary in style. The resulting ‘Air 04’ air show at Payerne, attracted 275,000 people and 150 aircraft from eleven countries.

If you go, be prepared
The setting is spectacular, as is the flying. However you must be properly prepared, if you are to enjoy the experience. Ideally you should get to Axalp Village by 06:00, it will be dark, so a flash light could be useful. A chair-lift runs from the village and appears to open around 6:30, this will save an hour of time and reduce effort. The climb is arduous but manageable by most if you go up in your own time. Proper walking boots are essential, many use a hiking stick. Pack your gear into a back-pack. Assume the temperatures are going to be below freezing with a stiff wind, so warm clothes are very, very necessary. Take food and plenty of water and don’t forget the suntan lotion.
In 2006 and 2007 it was freezing when we set off from Axalp village. Once up on Axalphorn mountain when the sun had come up and with no wind, it really felt warm, but don't expect these mild conditions every year.

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