Formation aerobatics from inside the cockpit: fly on the F-5E Tiger II of the leader of the Patrouille Suisse

Uploaded on Youtube just few days ago, the following footage was recorded by an onboard camera installed on the lead plane of Patrouille Suisse, flown by Capt. Marc ” Zimi” Zimmerli. The interesting video shows the rehearsal flight for the Fiesta en el Cielo Barcelona Airshow 2011 (Oct. 2, 2011) and provides a privileged view of the display flown by the Swiss display team with an insight into  the pre and post airshow operations. Thanks to the on board cam you will be able to see the pilot as he taxies the formation to take off along with commercial traffic; when he gives the formation the signal to begin the take off roll; checks the maps to reach the display area; guides the formation through all the maneuvers of the team’s display program; and returns to Barcelona performing a visual approach with an overhead break. Something you don’t see very often.

About David Cenciotti

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David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.