Special Edition - Swiss Wing

COMMEMORATIVE AIR FORCE / Swiss Wing
Special Edition
Volume 13, No. 50 CAF Swiss Wing Newsletter
August 2008
CAF
Swiss Wing
in Duxford
On Saturday July 12th 2008 thirty
enthusiastic participants among
which twelve CAF members met early
morning at the Zurich airport. Travel
guide Walter Fürst of Cosmos got his
group together for the Swiss flight to
London Heathrow. Passport control
was easy, baggage delivery took somewhat
longer but soon we were on our
way by bus to Duxford airport.
Table of Contens
Duxford
Max
Full-Reuenthal
The Russians
Courtelary / Ecuvillens
News / Veranstaltungen
Page 1
Page 4
Page 5
Page 7
Page 9
Page 11
We had the whole day to check out the
flight line and chat with the pilots and
crew. The impressive line-up included
– just to mention a few – eleven Super
Marine Spitfires (nine different types),
one Supermarine Seafire, two Hawker
Hurricanes, six P-51 Mustangs and
two Gloster Gladiators. Three Grumman
(FM2-Wildcat, F6F-5K Hellcat,
F8F-2P Bearcat, three Curtiss Hawk
(75, P-40B and P40-N Warhawk), two
Yak fighters (3UA and 9UM) flown by
German pilot Vogelsang, two Nimrods,
three B-17 Flying Fortresses, two
Douglas C-47/C-53 Skytrain/Dakota.
Two Piper L-4, one Ju52 in oldie Lufthansa
colors, two Messerschmitt Me-
109 and Bf-108, a Corsair FG-1D, a
P-39 Airacobra, a Focke-Wulf 190,
one Skyraider, one B25J-20 Mitchell,
one A-26B Invader, a Hawker Hind
K5414, a Swordfish I, one Bücker
Jungmann, a Lockheed Electra, five
Stearman Caydet of the Guinot team
with wing walkers. One HA-1112
-M1L Buchon, three DH 89A De
Havilland Dragon Rapides plus a top
oldie Thulin/Bleriot XI.
With our golden pass we had free
access to the flight line and the private
tent and free entry to the museums.
The uninterrupted program on both
days lasted 3-1/2 hours and the air was
filled with the sound of aircraft engines.
The fly past grouped the same
The flight line
Know to use this
English version
1 st : Go to the German part of the
homepage and print out the German
Version of the Contact
2 nd : Follow the pages and read the
German/English title
3 rd : Not all Pictures legends and
articles are translated in full length
4 th : Have fun and enjoy the Contact
Col Werner Meier
Col Jost Schneeberger

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 2
vintage aircraft together such as the
Battle of Britain Memorial flight.
The fly-pasts were absolutely first class.
The demonstration flights appeared
close to dangerous with the simulated
attacks, low passes and aerobatics. The
sound of engines at times drowned out
the excellent speaker who commented
each action and aircraft. The whole
show was a treat for the Swiss visitors
as such shows would be unimaginable
in Switzerland with its strict rules.
For those who looked for other highlights
there were many tents and shops
offering all sorts of attractions and
presentations referring to the history
of Duxford, a major base during
WW II for the RAF and the US Air
Force. In four large hangars exhibits
cover the American Air Museum,
Hangar No. 2 is dedicated to WW II
US and RAF aircraft, Hangar No.3
covers marine operations and in No.4
the role of Duxford in the «Battle of
Britain» is documented. In a fifth hangar
conservation and restoration work
is in progress.
The American Air Museum exhibit
includes the SR71 Blackbird a U-2,
a B-24 Liberator, F86 Sabre among
others. Unfortunately the museum is
so crowded that it was difficult to get
good pictures.
The Land Warfare Hall realistically
presents ground based situations of the
Burma, North Africa and Normandy
campaigns.
A further building houses British and
Common Wealth aircraft thru the
ages from the earliest days of aviation
ending with the Lancaster, Sunderland,
Vulcan and Concorde. All in all
the Duxford visit was very good value
and all participants had a great time.
After the two days in Duxford and our
stay at the Crown Plaza in Cambridge
a last visit to the RAF Hendon museum
was scheduled on the way to Heathrow
airport.
RAF Museum Hendon
Unfortunately the three hours were
too short to do the exhibits justice.
In five separate hangars «Milestones
of Flight» are presented to name just
a few: Mustang, Mosquito, Kawasaki
Ki 100, Bf 109G, Me 262, Hawker
Tempest, Gipsy Moth, Bleriot Xi, Sikorsky
Hoverfly, Harrier, Euro fighter
Typhoon.
In the bomber hall: Lancaster, Wellington,
Handley Page Halifax, Avro
Vulcan, and Buccaneer. Further exhibits
show the
dam buster raid
a field control
tower and 3-D
Cinema.
The historic
hangars which
date from WWII
contain five separate
themes:
«Whirling Rotors»
covers helicopter
displays
such as Westland
Wessex, Avro
Rota and Bristol
Belvedere. The
«Wings over Water»
theme includes
a Supermarine
Southampton
flying boat of
WW1 vintage, a
Bristol Beaufighter
and emergency
gear for over
water operations.
The «Fighter» section includes two
Spitfires, the only remaining Hawker
Typhoon, Gloster Meteor, F-4 Phantom,
Tornado. Insight into the respec-
Wing walkers..
B-17 and a P-51
A new Twin-Airplane...

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 3
tive weapon systems is presented as well.
The «RAF Overseas » exhibit includes
a WW1 Bristol Fighter, a Curtiss P40
Kittyhawk, a P-47 Thunderbolt and a
Hawker Hart among others. A further
theme «Jets» includes the Jet Provost,
Hunter FGA9, English Electric
Lightning, Venom and their respective
weapon systems and ejection seats.
The real «Oldiesv» are grouped in the
«Grahame-White Factory» to list just
a few: Sopwith Pup and Triplane, Vickers
F.B.5, Bleriot, Caudron GIII,
Vickers Vimy, Hanriot HD1, SE5a,
Sopwith 1.1/2 Strutter…
Three swiss
visitors.. a
Finally in the «Battle of Britain» hall
in which this historic feat is documented
in great detail. English and German
aircraft involved in this battle
are exhibited in excellent condition:
Spitfire, Hurricane, Defiant, Bf-109,
Bf-110, Ju-88, He-111, Fiat CR42
Falco and the giant Sunderland flying
boat of the Coastal command. Several
dioramas and a 15 minute film vividly
document this period of WWII.
After three days of aviation museums
and air shows we happily boarded
Swiss International Airline flight to
Zürich.
Six Spitfires and a
Yak with rain bow
Col Hansjörg Engler
three
Dragon Rapides

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 4
report
Elected to the
Committee:
Max Schönenberger
At the general meeting 2008 Max
was elected as a member of the Swiss
Wing CAF committee.
Born on February 26th 1941 in Zürich
he went to school in Oerlikon
and absolved an electro-mechanical
apprenticeship followed by study in
electrical engineering at the Winterthur
Technology Institute. Military
service in the artillery followed by
jobs with Bührle and Contraves gave
him an entry in the Air Force and anti-aircraft
unit with responsibility for
the 35 mm anti aircraft cannon and
its electronic control.
In 1964 he started his flight training
and until 2004 he would pursue his
career as a pilot. The stages in short:
Co-pilot with Globe Air on Dart Heralds
on European routes, Captain
with Balair, integration into Swissair
in 1970 initially on DC-9 and DC-10
as co-pilot on international routes.
737 crews to DC-9/MD-80 lasted 4
months. After return to Switzerland
a further job offer to fly for Odette,
later Helvetic airline came along but
after four months his third and final
retirement from commercial flying in
2004 became reality.
Even after retirement Max is still active
in a joint owner group flying a
Cirrus SR20 and a Piper Arrow and
of course also the CAF Stinson. Having
joined the CAF committee he
plans to handle the Flight Ops and is
looking forward to this new task.
In 1985 follows promotion to captain
on MD-81 and later on to B-747
Jumbo Jets. Retirement in 1997 but
six months later recall as training captain
on the MD-80 fleet taken over
from Crossair. After the demise of
Swissair continued service with Swiss
International Airline on MD-80 until
second retirement in 2001.
In 2003 while on a safari in Namibia
he was contacted by a South-African
and former captain with Crossair to
help in training of MD-80 crews of
the low cost South African carrier
«Kulula». The transition training of

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 5
report
Summer Part in
Full-Reuenthal
The traditional summer party of the
Swiss military museum took place on
the first July weekend. The CAF was
present with members of the committee
and the yellow promotional tent
was pitched on the grounds of Full-
Reuenthal.
After a cloudy Friday followed a sunny
Saturday and large crowd gathered
early to witness the show and visit the
museum. There were opportunities to
take rides in armored cars and troop
transports. New and old tanks and tracked
vehicles were demonstrated on
the training grounds.
On the hour the great surprise of the
day was the aerial show. Our Stinson
flown by Werni Meier and alternatively
Max Schönenberger demonstrated
the use of identification lights
«IFF» identification friend or foe or
Henry Saladin as commentator of the Stinson show...

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 6
the dropping of a message bag which
promptly was picked up by motorcycle
driver on an old Harley 1942! An
impressive go-around (no landing site)
demonstrated the maneuverability of
the L-5. The identification lights had
recently been installed to further contribute
to the authentic appearance of
this aircraft.
The afternoon program included a
classic parade of cavalry, mobile infantry
on bicycles and armored vehicles.
With noise, steam and whistles
a huge steam locomotive with some
carriages for VIP’s arrived and was stationed
for all to see. Sunday morning
the weather continued sunny and our
Stinson could again perform but later
heavy rain forced all the ground troops
to move inside where the party continued.
We thank the organizers and the crews
for a job well done. A pity for those
who stayed home.
Col Henry Saladin
Cavalry
The CAF Swiss Wing tent
Messenger on the bike

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 7
report
What do we know about the early developments
of Russian aviation German
and Allied aviation history is well
documented and widely known. The
difficulties encountered by the Swiss
aviation pioneers are well known facts.
Of the state of the Soviet aviation industry
on the eve of WW II we are not
so well informed.
Did you know that in 1940 more than
1300 aviation factories were relocated
over more than 1000 miles behind the
Ural Mountains and that production
resumed within a very short time
With the following article I would like
to offer an insight into the Russian
Aviation.
Col Werner Meier
A short chronology:
August 19th 1828 first flight by a woman
in a hot air balloon.
1902 First wind channel built by Nikolai
Jegorowich Shukovsky.
1909 first flight of Russian aircraft,
Gakkel-III and Kudaschew-1, independently
of each other.
1910 Boris Rossinsky completes flight
training on a Blériot in France and is
first Russian pilot.
-
Die Russen kommen - Ein Schlagwort der 50ziger- und
60ziger-Jahren
The Russians are coming: A slogan of the fifties and sixties
1913 on May 13th the first 4-engined
aircraft, Sikorsky «LaGrande» takes to
the air with constructor Igor Sikorsky
at the controls.
1916 first Russian aero engine built by
Mikulin and Stetchkin.
1918 Nikolai Jegorovich Shukovsky
is founder of the Central Aerohydrodynamic
Institute (ZAGI) In the
following years the fundamentals of
aerodynamics are researched, several
inventions and aircraft types are designed
and built. Some of the well known
builders are connected with this institute.
1923 on February 9th a Soviet-German
Company initially named «Deruluft»
later renamed Aeroflot is founded.
The first service Moscow- Nishni
Nowgorod is inaugurated.
1933 August 17th the first Soviet rocket
GIRD-09 with liquid propellant
is launched.
1926 November 26th the Tupolev
ANT-4 takes off on its maiden flight.
Igor Iwanowitsch Sikorski
«La Grand» 4 engine aircraft
It is the first all metal cantilever wing
aircraft.
1934 on June 17th the 8-engine Tupolev
ANT-20 flies for the first time.
With a wingspan of 63 meters and a
take-off weight of 42’000 kg it is at
that time the heaviest land based aircraft.
1937 on June 18th a Tupolev ANT-
25 crosses the North Pole for the first
time on a long distance flight to the
USA. The pilots Tchakalov, Baidukov
GIRD-09 rocket
ANT-4, first multi-engine all metal cantilever wing aircraft
ANT-20 eight engine aircraft

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 8
and Beljakov cover a distance of 9130
kilometers. In the same year this record
is broken with 10148 km by Gromov
also with an ANT-25.
1940 on February 28th first flight by
a USSR rocket propelled aircraft RP-
318-I designed by Viktor Fjodorovic
Bolkovitinov. In the same year the first
Soviet jet engine with an axial compressor
is ready for service.
1948 on December 26th first Soviet
aircraft, the Lavotchnik La-176 achieves
supersonic flight.
1959 on October 31st. For the first
time a Soviet aircraft breaks the absolute
speed record with a MIG-21 at
2388 km/h.
1960 first turbo-fan jet engine Solovjov
D-20P is in service.
1968 on December 31st first supersonic
passenger aircraft Tu-144 takes
off.
Rocket propelled aircraft RP-318-I
Tupolev ANT-25 Non-stop flight Moscow to Portland (USA) in 63 hours and
25 minutes
Igor Ivanovic Sikorsky
Sikorsky was instrumental in developing
the first four-engine air transports. However
he is better known for his involvement
in the design and construction of
helicopters. He was born on May 25th
1889 in Kiev. He studied at the marine
institute of St Petersburg. As chief
engineer he developed the « La Grande»
which he piloted himself on May 13th
1913.
In WW I Sikorsky aircraft were already
used as bomber. In 1919 Igor emigrates
to the US at the age of 30. He founds
the Sikorsky Aero Engineering Company
which was later taken over by United
Aircraft. Meanwhile both companies are
part of United Technology. The company
developed the S-42 Flying Boats which
became famous as the Pan-Am Clippers.
However the name remains tied
to helicopters. During his Russian times
Sikorsky already experimented with helicopters.
On May 13th 1940 he undertook
the first free fl ight with the VS-300
which had a main rotor and a tail rotor.
This design remains the principal configuration
of helicopters to this date.
Col Werner Meier
Lavotchnik La-176 achieves supersonic flight, December 26, 1948 (Prototyp F-86 on April 26, 1948)

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 9
report
Visiting:
Courtelary und
Ecuvillens
Tradition has it that the pilots from Bienne
represent the CAF at meetings in
western Switzerland. Since we missed
the Raron and Reichenbach events it
was a must to mark presence at the annual
«Aerotique» event in Ecuvillens
where oldtimers of all kinds namely
planes, cars and motorcycles gather in
June.
Henry Saladin and I met at Birrfeld
early morning on June 28th and since
the coffee shop was still closed we preflight
our Stinson promptly and were
on our way shortly before nine. On a
westerly course we climbed out of the
morning haze to follow the Jura ridges
which are typical for the north-west
part of Switzerland.
Downwind RWY 06, Courtelary grass-strip , 500 Meter long.
The Queen - «De Havilland DH. 104 Dove» in Ecuvillens
Erlebnisreisen für Fliegereibegeisterte!
Für Kenner von Spezialisten mit Herzblut zusammengestellt.
Acapa Tours GmbH, Geschäftsstelle Aarberg:
Cosmos Tours, Mühlaudamm 6, 3270 Aarberg, Tel. 032 392 75 80 / Fax 032 392 75 81
E-Mail: info@cosmos-tours.ch / www.cosmos-tours.ch
The engine performed well after the
cylinder overhaul. Soon I had adjusted
the power settings and mixture to give
a reassuring feeling. The morning sun
already had its effect and we easily gained
height with early thermals to cross
the ridge near Grenchen. Steady descent
into the valley of Saint Imier and
shortly the grass strip of Courtelary
elevation 2372 ft came into sight. We
touched down and enjoyed our first
coffee under the birch trees in front
of the small club house of the glider
club. The pilots were all busy preparing
their gliders and we took off again
before their activity began. Crossing
the Chasseral at 5000 ft we set course
for Ecuvillens were we enjoyed the friendly
welcome of our French speaking
hosts. Close to thirty old timers had
already arrived and we were pushed
into our parking spot by an efficient

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Page 10
ground crew. Queen of the arrivals was
a De Havilland Dove from Germany.
The car park also filled up with vintage
MG’s, Triumphs, Fiats and Alfa
Romeos cars and motor cycles.
In the early afternoon we enjoyed the
Patrouille Suisse aerobatic demonstration
which was training for their next
show at the Euro 08 soccer championship.
Soon the time came for the return flight
and with a brief stop at Biel-Kappelen
we headed for our home base Birrfeld.
Oldie cars and motorbikes at Ecuvillens
Col Jost Schneeberger
Duxford 2008

CAF Swiss Wing August 2008 Seite 11
news
Grosse Ereignisse werfen ihre Schatten
voraus. Dass sich der Vorstand, wie aus
dem nebenstehenden Veranstaltungskalender
ersichlich ist, bereits mit dem
Programm für 2009 befasst entspringt
dem Umstand, dass sich die angekündigte
Reise vom 5.-8.Juni 2009 zum
Besuch der D-Day-Feierlichkeiten
(mit Stinsy) bereits in Planung befindet.
Ganz grob sieht das Programm
etwa wie folgt aus: Freitag, 5.Juni:
Fahrt mit Bus nach Cherbourg mit
Lunchhalt an einem gediegenen
Ort. Samstag, 6. Juni D-Day-Feierlichkeiten
Sonntag, 7. Juni: Diverse Besichtigungen
im Invasionsgebiet und schliesslich
Montag, 8.Juni: Rückfahrt in die
Schweiz.
Reserviert das Datum, - es wäre schön,
eine stattliche Reisegruppe aus dem
CAF Swiss Wing rekrutieren zu können.
Sobald Genaueres zum Programm
und über die Kosten bekannt
ist, werden wir Euch selbstverständlich
informieren.
Mitfliegen in unserem Warbird «Stinsy»
Koordinator:
Henry Saladin 044 853 0533
Piloten:
Roger Burri 056 667 3843
Werner Meier 056 633 6181
Jost Schneeberger 031 911 8177
Max Schönenberger 044 858 2051
Präsident:
Editor:
Druck:
CAF Swiss Wing
www.caf-swisswing.ch
CAF Col Thomas Lutz
Brunnenwies 53, 8132 Egg
CAF Col Werner Meier
Itenhard 47, 5620 Bremgarten
«Contact» ist das Publikationsorgan
des Swiss Wing der CAF
in Midland TX, USA
Knapp AG, 8918 Unterlunkhofen
2008
Veranstaltungen / Reisen
9. August 50 Jahre Hunter / St. Stephan CAF SW / FO
23.-24. August Flugplatzfest Biel CAF SW / FO
6.-7. September Fly-In in Hittnau Flight OPS
20.-21. September CAF Airshow Midland CAF SW
22. Oktober Besuch der Pilatuswerke in Stans CAF SW
22. November Jahresend-Anlass CAF SW
14. März 2009 Generalversammlung CAF SW
5.-8. Juni 2009 D-Day Normandie CAF SW / FO
CAF Swiss Wing - Shop
Stinsy-Wein Rotwein , Cabernet Sauvignon, California
Weisswein, Chardonnay , France
Geniessen Sie diesen Stinsy-Wein an einem lauen Sommerabend
und denken Sie daran: Mit jedem Schluck unterstützen sie den
CAF Swiss Wing. Info über den Wein und Bestellformulare finden
sie auf unserer Homepage oder rufen Sie mich einfach an.
Diese 0.5 Liter Flasche eignet sich auch sehr gut als Geschenk für
Flieger-Fans. Minimum-Bestellung 6 Flaschen.
Werner Meier, Itenhard 47, 5620 Bremgarten
werner.meier@caf-swisswing.ch
Viele weitere Artikel finden Sie auf unserer Homepage: www.caf-swisswing.ch
www.fliegerbuecher.ch
Riesige Auswahl, auch für den Modellbauer. Schnell bestellt, schnell geliefert,
mit Rechnung. 21‘000 Fliegerbücher – umfangsreichste Datenbank!
Cumulus AG
Aviationbooks
Postfach 95
CH–5042 Hirschthal
Büro/Shop:
Hügelistrasse 3
CH–5040 Schöftland
Ladenöffnungszeiten:
Mo bis Fr 8.00 – 12.00 /
13.15 – 17.00 Uhr
Telefon 062 721 35 62
Fax 062 721 02 68
info@cumulus.ch