Magnificent men with a flying machine - two Swiss pilots in front of a MS-35 Helene, built in 1913 by the French Morane-Saulnier aircraft manufacturing company.
Keystone
The Haefeli DH-1 served as reconnaissance aircraft for the army between 1916 to 1919.
Keystone
A Haefeli DH-2, in use as trainer and reconnaissacnce aircraft between 1916 and 1922. Six such planes were built by the state-owned construction company in Thun.
Keystone
The armed forces bought a total of 24 Haefeli DH-3 aircraft. They were used as trainer and reconnaissance aircraft between 1917 and 1923.
Keystone
The nearly 60 Haefeli DH-5 used by the Swiss armed forces from 1920 onwards were considered powerful reconnaissance aircraft.
Keystone
The Dewoitine D-26 was built under French licence. Switzerland bought 29 machines which were used as trainer aircraft.
Keystone
The Wild WTS trainer aircraft was in use between 1924 and 1934.
Keystone
The Dewoitine D-27 was Switzerland's most important fighter aircraft in the 1930s. The more than 60 machines were in use until 1944.
Keystone
Switzerland bought the Messerschmitt Me-109 from Germany to defend its airspace during the Second World War.
Keystone
The C-35, a 1930s Swiss two-seat reconnaissance biplane aircraft, developed by the state-owned company in Thun.
Keystone
The C-36, a multi-purpose combat aircraft, entered service in 1942. The Air Force flew a total of 144 machines of this type.
Keystone
De Havilland Vampire DH-100: The Air Force flew 175 machines of this type from 1952 to 1990.
Keystone
The De Havilland Venom DH-112, a British production, was a combat aircraft in use until 1983.
Keystone
The PC-6 Turbo Porter transport plane was built by the private Swiss company, Pilatus Aircraft, in the 1960s and 1970s. (Picture: admin.ch)
admin.ch
Hawker Hunter Mk-58/58A aircraft were used by the Swiss Air Force between 1975 and 1991. Of the 160 machines, 28 were lost due to accidents.
Keystone
Switzerland acquired 61 Mirage lll from the French Dassault company from 1964. The supersonic all-weather interceptor was capable of flying up to 15,000 m.
Keystone
Northrop F-5E Tiger II: Switzerland bought nearly 100 jets from the leading US company, Northrop Corporation. Used primarily for control flights since the late 1970s.
Keystone
Boeing F/A-18 Hornet: Switzerland bought 34 aircraft to be used as interceptors. Built under US licence in Emmen from 1996 on.
Keystone
The eight Pilatus PC-21 are primarily used by the Swiss Air Force as trainer aircraft. (Picture: admin.ch)
admin.ch
The Beech Model 350C Super King Air seats eight passengers, two pilots and one cameraman.
Keystone
The French Dassault Falcon 50 seats up to ten passengers, in use since 1996.
Keystone
Switzerland had 84 SE-3160 Alouette III helicopters in service for transport and rescue purposes. (Picture: admin.ch)
admin.ch
Super Puma by a French manufacturer. The Swiss Air Force has 15 AS332M1 for transport and rescue missions. (Picture: RDB)
RDB
Eurocopter Cougar by French manufacturer Marignane. The Swiss bought 12 helicopters for transport, rescue and disaster relief missions.
Keystone
The Eurocopter EC635 is a light transport and trainer helicopter, manufactured by the EADS European consortium. The Swiss acquired 20 machines.
Keystone
The first attempts to set up a Swiss air force were launched 100 years ago. It is a story of high-flying dreams and dramatic setbacks. The planned purchase of the Swedish Gripen fighter jet is just the latest chapter in the story.
It all began with a public fundraising campaign on the eve of the First World War. The first fighter aircraft were bought from neighbouring France and Germany in the 1930s. At the height of the Cold War era Switzerland built its own P-16 fighter jet, but plans for serial production were abandoned.
The Swiss Air Force includes American F-5 Tigers, F/A18 Hornet jets, helicopters, as well as trainer and transport aircraft and drones. (All pictures Keystone, unless otherwise stated)
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
How the Swiss Air Force struggled to grow wings
This content was published on
As the cabinet is about to present the latest next draft armament programme – including a SFr3.1 billion ($3.3 billion) for the purchase of 22 Swedish Gripen fighters to be discussed by parliament over the next year – the defence ministry has come in for plenty of flak. Not only pacifist groups and leftwing political…
This content was published on
Experts agree on one thing: It would only be required in order for the Swiss Air Force to carry out its mission of protecting national air space in the event of a terrorist attack. Even the pacifist Switzerland without an Army group, which opposes the purchase of new planes, is not totally averse to the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here. Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.