12 days left until the big aviation festival!
More than 100 airplanes can be admired, the possibility of experiencing sightseeing flights with a helicopter or a propeller machine, music entertainment and a program for the whole family: The small airfield of Thun, Switzerland, is getting ready for the major aeronautical event from 31st August till the 2nd September. “In the end, it depends a lot on the weather, how many of the airplanes finally will arrive in Thun”, says the boss of the organizing committee, Andy Wegier. And not only in Switzerland: The airplanes with the longest distance to Thun will start in the south of London or far up north of Germany.
The happening will start on Friday, 31st August: From 10 o’clock, the airplanes will land in Thun. At 3 p.m., a historical airplane will be baptised on the airfield: One of the last airplanes, which was built in Thun, a Dewoitine D26, will be baptized in the name of the City of Thun – and many of the celebrities of politics and business will be present. In this way, Switzerland’s eleventh-largest city comes late to its merits, which it should have merited already long ago considering its historical role in the Swiss aviation history. After all, Thun is the cradle of the Swiss air force and it is the site of the first aircraft constructions in series in the Swiss Confederation.
On Saturday, the airplanes will land from 9 a.m. During the whole day the pilots will start and land with their historical machines for the alpine instruction. This is the second part of the advanced training named “Safe flying in the Alps”. The first part of this public seminar takes place in the restaurant Schützen in Steffisburg on Friday evening. During the lunch break on Saturday and Sunday, the model aircrafts of the model flight group Thun will present their flying skills.
The Sunday will start at 10 a.m. with an ecumenical worship service. After 11 a.m. the engine noise of the machines will fill the air again.
The area of the airfield Thun is freely accessible for all interested people from 31 st August till 2 nd September. This includes an area of more than one kilometre where airplanes can be admired from very close. There are many information stands and market stalls, great beverages and food offers and a jumping castle for children. In addition, you may book sightseeing flights on the spot.
The organizers recommend travelling by public services. The STI-Bus Nr. 4 will bring the visitors from the station Thun directly to the festival site. There are parking areas for bicycles directly on the festival area.
For cars, the approach to the car park is signposted from the Thun-Süd motorway exit. There will be a shuttle bus available for SFR 5.- a person from the parking to the festival area.
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Information, program, site plan
Pictures and captions
www.bueckertreffen.ch
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