Ex-pilot remembers highway exercise: ‘It was like landing on a carpet’

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Even though it was a long time ago. But Hans Lässer (68) can still remember what it felt like to land the fighter jet on a highway. “It was like landing on a carpet,” says the former military pilot. Unlike a military airfield, the road is very nice, there are no bumps – “nothing was messy,” says Lässer.

More than 40 years after Lässer’s one-off landing on the A9 between Aigle and Bex VD – and 33 years after the last such exercise – the army is currently planning takeoffs and landings on the highway again. According to the plan of the Ministry of Defense led by Federal Councilor Viola Amherd (61), part of the A1 directly next to the military airport in Payerne VD must be closed in the summer for training purposes. Blick reported on this.

Multiple sections are possible

The army wants to rehearse for an emergency: during a war, the airports will probably be one of the first targets to be bombed. When constructing the highways, the federal government specifically designed some sections so that they could be used as emergency runways for the Air Force.

Not all of these sections are still suitable as airports today. The army is looking for new locations. What would be questioned remains secret. However, research by Blick shows that in addition to the route in Payerne, several routes will probably currently meet the requirements for take-offs or landings. For example on the A1 between Kirchberg BE and Kriegstetten SO, between Egerkingen and Oensingen SO or on the A6 near Münsingen BE.

These routes are sufficiently long, straight and without deep bridges, central reservations or other obstacles above or next to the road. Ten further sections could be structurally modified.

The street became a small airport

Landing on a highway is not spectacular for the pilots, says Lässer. The only special thing is that there is no real beginning or end to the slopes. After his time in the Air Force, he worked as a civilian pilot for a long time and has now been retired for several years. He remembers the enormous preparation work of the accompanying teams. “A small airport has been built on the highway,” says Lässer. Ribbons or paint were used to indicate where the track starts on the road.

When he stepped out of the Hunter after landing, everyone involved was very happy. “Then the plane was refueled and I flew back.”

580 soldiers and 25 tons of material

Since 1970, the Air Force has conducted 10 exercises involving fighter jets taking off and landing on highways. In 1982, for example, in Münsingen BE, where spectacular photos were taken. During the last highway exercise on November 14, 1991, 580 soldiers were deployed. In addition, there are 24 fighter jets and about 140 vehicles, as evidenced by a report in the “Allgemeine Schweizerische Militarymagazin” (ASMZ) from 1992. 25 tons of ammunition and equipment were transported to Lodrino TI, where the exercise “Strada” took place.

At that time, the snow had to be cleared from the streets. It suddenly snowed at night, endangering the execution of the exercise. A problem that the army will certainly not have to deal with this summer.

Source:Blick