Fliegerstaffel 16

The Fliegerstaffel 16 (Fightersquadron 16) of the Swiss Air Force was last equipped with Northrop F-5 F aircraft. Their home base was Sion Airport. The Fliegerstaffel 16 had a shield-shaped coat of arms showing the side view of a black dragon with a red eye, red claws, and a red firebeam in front of the white digit 16 and a dark blue background. The old badge was the same, but in round design.

Fliegerstaffel 16
16ème Escadrille
Squadriglia d'aviazione 16
Mirage IIIS with the old insignia of Fliegerstaffel 16
Active1927-2002
CountrySwitzerland
BranchSwiss Air Force
RoleFighter squadron
conversion training squadron
Garrison/HQSion Airport

History
Golden Mirage IIIS J-2311 with the insignia of the Fliegerstaffel 16

The squadron was founded on January 1, 1927 as a Pilot Squadron 16 with Fokker D-Vll aircraft. From 1929 on, the Dewoitine D-9 C-1, the Dewoitine D-19 C-1, the Dewoitine D-27 and the Häfeli DH-5 were used. These aircraft were replaced by the Fokker CV in 1938, and from the year 1940 on there were only C-35 aircraft in the fliegerstaffel 16. In 1942 the conversion to the C-3603 was carried out and 1945 changed the designation into Fliegerstaffel 16. 1951 was the retraining to the P-51 Mustang. The P-51 was replaced 1952 by the first jet aircraft De Havilland DH-100 Vampire. But as early as 1953 the change to the De Havilland DH-112 Venom took place. Reconnaissance tasks was done from the Fliegerstaffel 16 from 1961 on with the De Havilland DH-112 MK 1 R Venom.

From 1968 to 1999, the Fliegerstaffel 16 used the Dassault Mirage III S from Military Airfield Buochs. The J-2311 received in 1999, do the passing out of this aircraft type from service in the Swiss air force, a golden painting . This machine was scrapped before 2003 in Buochs.

From the year 2000 until the year 2002, the Fliegerstaffel 16 used the F-5E Tiger and was stationed on the Payerne Air Base . After the BAE Hawk were taken out of service and the Pilatus PC-21 not yet in service the Fliegerstaffel 16 filled the gap for the training of future F/A-18 pilots with F-5F at Sion Airport. With the introduction of the PC-21 at the Pilotenschule in Emmen, the Fliegerstaffel 16 was disbanded in 2007.

Airplanes
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References
    • Christophe Donnet: Hunter fascination. Schück, Adliswil 1995, ISBN 3-9520906-0-3
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