"Meiringen airbase (Unterbach)" Unterbach by AC_spotter

--MY LATEST NEWS FROM THE UNTERBACH AREA--

FIRST OPEN DAY SINCE 25 YEARS
On the occasion of finisching the LUCE, the new infrastructure at the airbase, the Swiss airforce decided to organise an airshow. During this airshow on the 23rd and 24th of march of 2007 people were invited to take a look at what happens at this military airfield. An open tour through many buildings and platforms, a static show witch included the newly painted F/A-18C Hornet of the Flst. 11 with an airbrushed tiger on it and two Belgian F-16's, resulted in a good responce. For the air display the Super Puma displayed aswell as a PC-9. Also the F-5E Tigers and F/A-18 Hornets flew missions and made a few fly by's over the small base in the snow.
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HEAVY WEATHER COSTS LIVES AND CAUSES MAJOR PROPERTY LOSS
Heavy rains have caused floodings and landslides, the Brienzersee (Lake Brienz) had gone out of her banks and lives, houses and personal belongings were destroid or damaged. A landslide in Brienz had costs 2 to 4 people thair lives and several houses were destroid or damages, aswell as complete interiors and vehicles.

Parts of the airbase were flooded or soaked by the river Aare and the waterfall, west of the kavernen entrance, that flooded. The airbase now is in full operation yet rebuilding in plases like Brienz rebuilding is still underway.
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Road traffic must wait for jets to pass

Meiringen airbase is used by the Swiss air force (SAF) mainly with jet fighters. It is located just to the east of the Brienzersee (lake Brienz) and the city of Brienz. Although it is called "Meiringen" it lies a lot further west from Meiringen the city. The taxiways and runways are intergrated into the landscape, and even into the village of Unterbach. Infact, the only means of barriers are fences around the flightline and main buildings. Also there are public roads crossing taxiways and also the runway, if planes will cross the road, barriers will close it like at a rail road crossing. When the aircraft are not operating they are cept in the mountains in man made caverns. The area where the caverns begin are strictly off limits, in sheer contrast to the attitude of the rest of the airbase. It is a fantastic place to photograph aircraft because of the high mountains in the background, and because of the fact that you are able to get quite close to taxiways, the runway and aprons.

• Pros:Beautiful scenery and unique situation, loads of viewing and photography spots
• Cons:Aviation photographers will get spoiled here
• In a nutshell:A really unique place in the world, the base is intergrated in it's surroundings