The Sola Airshow has officially announced the participation of the Swiss Air Force hornet solo display team in the upcoming event, which is scheduled to take place on June 15th and 16th, 2024.

This year's event is expected to feature some of the most impressive aerial displays ever witnessed, and attendees will have the opportunity to witness the fantastic manoeuvres of the Swiss Air Force hornet solo display team.

The Swiss Air Force hornet solo display team will be led by the new demo pilot, Captain Marcel "Frodo" Rust from Fighter Squadron 17, who has recently taken over the role from Captain Yannick "Fönsi" Zanata. Cpt. Rust will be at the controls, showcasing his impressive skills and the fantastic manoeuvrability of the Hornet. Captain Yannick "Fönsi" Zanata, who is now serving as Cpt. Rust's coach has set a high bar for his protégé, and attendees can expect nothing short of an awe-inspiring performance.

The Swiss Air Force hornet solo display team will be performing a range of daring manoeuvres, including loops, rolls, and high-speed passes. The team's display is sure to leave spectators mesmerized and amazed, and it promises to be one of the highlights of the entire event.

McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet

The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a multirole combat aircraft designed in the 1970s by McDonnell Douglas and Northrop for the United States Navy and Marine Corps. This all-weather supersonic, twin-engine carrier-capable aircraft is designed to function as both a fighter and an attack aircraft. The Hornet is known for its versatility, thanks to its avionics, cockpit displays, and excellent aerodynamic characteristics. It also has the ability to carry various weapons, making it a highly valuable asset in carrier operations.

The Hornet's versatility is evident in its ability to perform a wide range of tasks. It can function as a fighter escort, fleet air defence, suppression of enemy air defences, air interdiction, close air support, and aerial reconnaissance aircraft. Its cockpit displays and avionics allow pilots to operate in any weather condition and fly both day and night missions.

The Hornet has also been adopted by several other nations' air forces, including Australia, Canada, Spain, Finland, Kuwait, Malaysia, Switzerland, and Thailand. Additionally, it has been used by the U.S. Navy's Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, since 1986, showcasing its capabilities to the public.

The Hornet first saw combat action during the 1986 United States bombing of Libya, where it demonstrated its effectiveness as a carrier-based strike fighter. It went on to participate in the 1991 Gulf War and the 2003 Iraq War, where it was used in several roles, including close air support, air interdiction, and suppression of enemy air defences.

Despite its versatility and reliability, the Hornet has been criticized by many Naval aviation experts for its limited range and payload compared to its earlier contemporaries, such as the Grumman F-14 Tomcat in the fighter and strike fighter role and the Grumman A-6 Intruder and LTV A-7 Corsair II in the attack role. Nevertheless, the Hornet served as the basis for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which is a larger and more advanced redesign that replaced both the older Hornet and the F-14 Tomcat in the U.S. Navy.

Swiss Hornets

The Swiss Air Force acquired a total of 34 F/A-18 Hornets, including 26 C models and eight D models, from January 1996 to December 1999. Since then, four of these aircraft have been lost in crashes, including three D models and one C model, as of 2016.

In late 2007, Switzerland requested to be included in the F/A-18C/D Upgrade 25 Program, which aims to extend the useful life of its F/A-18C/Ds. As part of the program, the Swiss Air Force has received significant upgrades to the avionics and mission computer, 12 ATFLIR surveillance and targeting pods, and 44 sets of AN/ALR-67v3 ECM equipment.

In October 2008, the Swiss Hornet fleet reached an impressive milestone of 50,000 flight hours, reflecting the reliability and durability of these aircraft.

The Hornet has proved to be an excellent fit for operations in Switzerland's mountainous regions and narrow valleys, demonstrating its versatility in the diverse terrain. Moreover, Swiss Hornets benefit from an upgraded flight control system, which enables display pilots to perform extreme high alpha manoeuvres during their performances. As a result, the solo fast jet display has gained a reputation as one of the best on the European circuit, earning high praise from aviation enthusiasts around the world.