The Swiss Air Force recently deployed once again to the UK for its annual night flying training exercise. Joe Campion reports on Yorknite 2020, which had some extra challenges due to the pandemic
The Swiss Air Force descended on RAF Leeming for a second year to undertake its annual night flying exercise. On Tuesday, November 24, ten McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 Hornets touched down at the North Yorkshire base for Exercise Yorknite 2020.
Pilots and support personnel from all three Swiss Hornet squadrons took part: 11 Squadron ‘Tigers’ from Meiringen and the Payerne-based 17 Squadron ‘Falcons’ and 18 Squadron ‘Panthers’. The remaining Northrop F-5E and ’F Tiger IIs in Swiss service are no longer assigned frontline duties and don’t undertake night flying.
