Status
Completed
Dates
26 to 28 August 2005
Location
Lausanne (SUI)
Full report and photos (Compte-rendu en français) :
FAI Takes To The Air Over Lausanne
The skies above Lausanne were transformed into a showcase for sporting aviation throughout the weekend of 26 to 28 August. Tens of thousands of people turned out to witness the FAI Centenary Air Show, a popular festival of aviation, entirely free of charge, the likes of which had not been seen in the area for many years.
Families and plane spotters, the simply curious as well as confirmed aviation enthusiasts, all turned out to enjoy the magnificent spectacle, which was blessed with fine weather throughout. Jean-Louis Monnet's World Grand Prix of Aviation was the centre-piece of a show that included hot-air balloons and model aircraft, war-birds and other vintage aircraft, as well as displays by the outstanding Swiss Air Force F5 Tiger and Pilatus PC7 formation teams.
The regional press and media gave blanket coverage to the event, and to the FAI's centenary, in the lead-up to the event and in the days following. This was a great popular success which has made FAI a household name throughout western Switzerland and raised interest in aviation throughout the population.
The party began on the lake-side at Ouchy on the evening of Friday 26 August. According to police estimates, over 20 000 spectators gathered to watch top aerobatic aces Jurgis Kairys (LTU), Klaus Schrodt (GER) and Peter Besenyei (HUN) compete for supremacy in the opening round of the FAI World Grand Prix event, together with the pair from Britain who went on to win the formation competition - the Matadors. Live accompanying music was piped to the pilots and to the crowd from the Swiss female saxophone quartet "Lily Horn is Born".
Jet aficionados were not disappointed either: the Breitling Jet Team performed gracefully on their Czech L39 jets, and the Swiss national aerobatic team "Patrouille Suisse", resplendent in their red Tigers with white crosses, thrilled the crowd with an original show, paying a unique birthday tribute to the FAI with a horizontal bomb-burst, trailing festive sparklers.
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FAI President Pierre Portmann hosted a reception for official guests on the terrace of the Olympic Museum, attended by the Mayor of Lausanne, Daniel Brélaz, the Councillor of State from the Canton of Vaud, Madame Jacqueline Maurer-Mayor, and the Deputy Director of the Swiss Civil Aviation Authority, Mr Marcel Zuckschwerdt. The FAI President addressed a message of thanks by radio to the leader of the Swiss National Team, broadcast also to the crowd, paying tribute to their great professionalism. The display was dedicated also to the victims of the terrible flooding in central Switzerland, whom the Swiss Armed Forces were heavily involved in helping.
After this spectacular first act, the scene shifted on Saturday and Sunday to the Airport at La Blécherette, in the upper suburbs of Lausanne. Here the Organisation Committee of the « Fête de l’Aviation », composed entirely of volunteers, had put together a programme to satisfy all tastes. FAI owes a debt of thanks to the Committee and to the 300 or more volunteers who gave their time and energy to make the show possible. They were well rewarded for their efforts, because between 50 000 and 60 000 spectators turned out to watch the free show, according to official estimates.
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Two more rounds of the 22nd FAI World Grand Prix were held during the weekend, one on each day, resulting in a win in the solo category for Peter Besenyei (HUN) and in the Formation Category for The Matadors (GBR) on Extra 300s, who saw off tough opposition from the Czech "Flying Bulls" (Zlin 50), the Romanian Hawks (Extra 300L) and the French Space Knights (VariEze). Two new individual challengers competed for the first time in a FAI World Grand Prix: Nicolas Ivanoff (FRA) and Pierre Marmy (SUI).
Full results are at Haute Voltige Webpages.
A Cup was also presented to the Royal Jordanian Falcons, best national piston team, by Madame Doris Cohen-Dumani, Municipal Councillor of Lausanne, who joined the team afterwards to mix with the crowd and sign autographs in an atmosphere of popular jubilation. Jurgis Kairys and Peter Besenyei were jointly designated "Ace of the Aces" for their amazing series of results over the last 10 years. This was the first time the Grand Prix had been in Switzerland since the event at Neuchâtel in 1998.
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Outside the competition, the crowd - many in family groups picnicking on the grass - were offered a non-stop sequence of spectacular demonstrations by aircraft large and small, ranging from the B17 bomber to the Dewoitine old-timer. Air sports were present both in the air - an aerobatic display, complete with wingtip smoke, by a very large scale model of a Swift glider was particularly memorable - and in a hangar dedicated to static and interactive displays, where the FAI also had its stand.
The Aero Club of Switzerland and its constituent federations did a splendid job to show the public - and especially the youngsters - what air sports were all about, using the occasion to present the new "Ecolights" to the public, to honour famous Swiss balloonists, and to present prizes (diplomas and flights in a Pilatus PC6) to winners of the FAI Young Artists Contest.
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An unexpected and unusual spin-off from the FAI Centenary Air Show has been our cooperation with the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), rated as one of the top 4 science and technology research establishments in Europe. A team there is developing a solar-powered drone ("Sky-Sailor"), designed to explore the Martian atmosphere. FAI put the research team in touch with a World Record holding Swiss aeromodeller, Mr Walter Engel, who has played a key role in helping the research team build their first prototype. For further information : Sky-Sailor / Project Presentation (In French / 450Ko).
The Blécherette FAI Centenary Air Show rounded off a very successful series of FAI centenary events in Switzerland. It is vital for the future of our air sports that we bring them to the public eye, and particularly to families, in a relaxed and informal manner. We have done this not only at aerodromes, but also in more unusual places such as in supermarkets and at cultural events. We have shown that it is perfectly possible for a high-level international air sport competition to be incorporated within an air show.
In addition to thanking the air show organisers, FAI wishes to express its special gratitude to the Canton de Vaud and the Municipality of Lausanne, without whose great help and support this highly successful weekend of aviation would not have been possible.
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