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Air Force and Civil Aircraft Markings (Switzerland)

Last modified: 2024-09-21 by martin karner
Keywords: switzerland | air force | air force roundel | roundel | aircraft marking |
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Swiss Air Force

Both the navy and air force are branches of the army (like the infantry and artillery).
T. F. Mills, 12 February 1996

3rd Flying Squadron (Fliegerstaffel 3)

[Fliegerstaffel 3] image located by Martin Karner
(source)

Pennant of the 3rd Flying Squadron (Fliegerstaffel 3) of the Swiss Air Force, ca. 1970s. It shows the round emblems of the location cantons Glarus, Nidwalden, Obwalden and Ticino, the number 3, and the shapes of the fighter planes of the squadron:
Hawker F Mk 58 "Hunter"; Mirage III; Northrop F-5 "Tiger" (The pennant is not from 1960s, as the seller on the auction platform supposes, since the "Tiger" planes were not part of the Swiss Air Force before 1978).
Martin Karner, 31 July 2024

Swiss Air Force roundel

[Roundel of Swiss Air Force] image by Željko Heimer
Source: [pay00]

The size of the cross with respect to the roundel is not specified, but the relative dimensions of the white cross (6:7) is retained as in the flag.
Željko Heimer, 30 January 2003

The Schweizerische Fliegertruppe was formed on 31 July 1914 and soon after adopted markings which consisted of broad red wing-tips stripe and rudder, both charged with the Swiss cross. It was renamed to Schweizerische Flugtruppe in 1936, Schweizerische Flugwaffe in 1946 and Schweizerische Luftwaffe on 1 January 1996.
During WWII, and in order that the Swiss cross would not be mistakenly identified as the Nazi swastika, identification stripes of white-red-white were added to the fuselage and wing marking.
In 1947 the current roundel was adopted, and used on the wings and fin.
Dov Gutterman, 25 June 2004

Air Force Roundel & Fin Flash 1914–1940

[1914–1940] image by Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 September 2024

image located by Martin Karner
Blériot [1]

image located by Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 September 2024
Fieseler Storch [2]

Air Force Roundel & Fin Flash 1940–1945
(With white-red neutrality markings)

[1940–1945] image by Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 September 2024

image located by Martin Karner
Messerschmitt [3]

image located by Martin Karner
Morane MS 506 [4]

Air Force Roundel & Fin Flash 1945–

[1945–] image by Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 September 2024

fin flash
image located by Martin Karner
Mustang [5]

fin flash
image located by Nozomi Kariyasu, 17 September 2024
Pilatus-Porter [6]

roundel & fin flash
image located by Martin Karner
F/A-18 Hornet [7]

Images/sources:
[1] Blériot XI-b; in service in CH: 1914–19; country of production: France
     (source: The Aircraft of the Swiss Air Force since 1914, by Jakob Urech, 1975)
[2] Fieseler Storch Fi-156; in service in CH: 1940–63; country of production: Germany (source: Roundels of the World Air Forces [Facebook])
[3] Messerschmitt Me 108 and Me 109 (different types); in service in CH: 1938/1939/1944 – 1947/1948/1949/1959; country of production: Germany (image source)
[4] Morane-Saulnier (different types); in service in CH: 1931–59; country of production: France, Switzerland (French licence); video
     (source: The Aircraft of the Swiss Air Force since 1914, by Jakob Urech, 1975)
[5] Mustang P-51 D; in service in CH: 1948–57; country of production: USA (photo made in Samedan GR, ca. 1950)
     (source: Flugarchiv Graubünden)
[6] Pilatus-Porter PC-6; in service in CH: since 1975; country of production: Switzerland (source: Roundels of the World Air Forces [Facebook])
[7] McDonnell Douglas F/A-18; in service in CH: since 1997; country of production: USA (image source)

Markings of Civil Airplanes

I've noticed that Swissair, and other commercial aircraft from Switzerland bear the Swiss flag on their tails in some form; is this required of all civilian aircraft in Switzerland?
Dean McGee, 20 September 2004

I came across a page of Swiss law index which deals with civil aircraft markings: http://www.gesetze.ch/sr/748.216.1/748.216.1_000.htm. Article 6 determines the emblem's specifications of design and locations on the plane. Art. 1 states that the Federal Authority for Aviation assigns an emblem and a register marking to every airplane which is being registered in the airplane register. Art. 2 states that the Federal Authority may allow to the holder of the airplane to omit the emblem, but only after a well-founded motion. It further states that the Federal Authority may allow to put up the Swiss emblem on airplanes which are not registered in the Swiss airplane register, if:
a. it's in the interest of the country (CH) or
b. the airplane is used from a Swiss company for commercial aviation.
Martin Karner, 20 September 2004



Condor

Condor plane of the newly founded Ad Astra Aero (forerunner of Swissair) on the lake of St. Moritz on 4.3.1920, before the start of the first direct flight from Switzerland to London. With ancient "CH" aircraft markings.
(Info and image: Flugarchiv Graubünden)



Fokker

During the Olympic Winter Games of 1928 in St. Moritz the Balair airline company offered sightseeing flights with a Fokker F VIIa plane. With "CH" aircraft markings in a changed style (Badrutt's Palace Hotel in the background).
During wintertime planes started and landed on the lake of St. Moritz, until the airfield of Samedan was opened in January 1938. (Info and image: Flugarchiv Graubünden)



DC-2

A Douglas DC-2 over the Engadine on the first direct flight from London to St. Moritz, 19.2.1938. With Swiss emblem on the fin flash. (Info and image: Flugarchiv Graubünden)



Airbus

Three Airbus planes of the SWISS airline company at Zürich airport (foreground: A320; background: A330; taking off: A319). With Swiss emblem on the fin flash (photo from 10.2.2004, source).