2. AIR SHOW IN THE SWISS ALPS

4. The Boeing (formerly McDonnell Douglas) F/A-18 Hornet is a modern all-weather carrier-capable strike fighter jet, designed to attack both ground and aerial targets

5. The Swiss Air Forces Axalp Air Power Demonstration held annually, is not just an air show; it is an experience at 7614 feet (2321m).

6. The Ebenfluh firing range is found at the top of Axalphorn Mountain in Switzerlands Bernese Oberland region.

7. The Ebenfluh Firing Range is at 7614 feet (2321m) and requires quite a climb to get there.

8. Axalp offers some extraordinary opportunities for truly stunning photography

14. Some aircraft in the Swiss Air Force have the inside of the engine exhaust ports painted yellow making it appear that the after-burners are on.

16. A so-called dirty pass flying low and slow with landing gear down

17. The extra heavy landing gear of the F/A-18 Hornet allows for aircraft carrier landings

20. Inverted !

24. Flying down the range corridor with guns armed !

25. Guns Blazing! If the audio timing is right youll hear the gun sound

26. The beauty of watching the Axalp airshow is that it takes place at the Ebenfluh firing range which allows you to see and hear live firing. Mounted in the nose of each F/A-18, is General Electric's 20 mm M61A1 Vulcan six-barrel rotary cannon.

27. Two of the four targets (#1 and 4) are situated only about 250 meters below the spectators. Seeing and hearing those attack flights of each individual fighter hitting their targets close-up is an awesome experience.

28. Aircraft fly through the gap between the control tower and the Tshingle, firing 20mm rounds at a pair of targets.During this time the path between the two locations is closed for safety reasons.

29. In the nose of the F/A-18 Hornet is an M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannon,a six-barreled, air-cooled, electrically fired Gatling-style gun with an extremely high rate of fire.

30. M61A1 Vulcan 20mm cannon is capable of shooting 6000rds/min

33. For those who make the assent, they are rewarded with some of the best aviation photography available, second only to the back seat of another jet.

38. Yes,there are trees down there…….. and a lake !

41. Conditions were perfect to see many subsonic condensation clouds forming around the aircraft

44. Subsonic condensation cloud formation demonstrating the Prandtl-Glauert Singularity

45. Swiss Air Force F/A-18C Hornet provided the Shot Of The Day! END Click to eject