Swiss F-5s fly during the 2018 Fliegerschiessen Axalp live fire demonstration.

This story is written by Jerry T. Lai. Jerry is a Chicago-based photojournalist who read our coverage of 2017’s Axalp show in Switzerland, and decided he had to make the trip to see it for himself. This is his story about the 2018 show – hope you enjoy it, and be sure to let us know if you decide to attend at some point, too!

We’re all AvGeeks here, but what really gets my heart pumping is fast jets at air shows and demonstrations.  As someone based in Chicago, I’m spoiled with having the wonderful Chicago Air and Water Show in my backyard, as well as EAA AirVenture in nearby Oshkosh, and am a short flight away from many other fabulous official demonstrations like Fleet Week in SFO.

But there was one show I had somehow not ever heard of, until I read about right here on AirlineReporter: Fliegerschiessen Axalp.  An air show that combines liberal use of flares, cannon fire, vapor, and set with a backdrop in the Swiss Alps?  SIGN ME UP!

Parachuting, Swiss Army style.