Nicolas Rossier

Warbirds & former Swiss F/A-18 display pilot

Story

From the Swiss F/A-18 Hornet Solo Display to the cockpit of the Flying Bulls T-28B

When Nicolas Rossier sat solo in the cockpit of a glider for the first time, he knew that was exactly what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. As a child, he was always fascinated with flying. It was a part of his family life, and flying model airplanes was a hobby he shared with his brother. When he turned 15 years old, the flying bug bit him full force and he set his sights on something bigger than model airplanes. What followed was an unparalleled flying career that is still soaring ever higher. The PPL, selection for the Swiss Air Force flying the PC-7, training as an airline pilot at SWISS, the F-5 Tiger and the F/A-18 Hornet were just some of the highlights that finally led him to the cockpit of the T-28B and to the ranks of the Flying Bulls. As a (solo) display pilot in the Hornet, he is no stranger to European air shows, and as a pilot with the Flying Bulls he will now also inspire people with his passion and precision flying skills.

Interview

Nico, have you always wanted to be a pilot? Are you living your dream?

NR: My father was a professional pilot and my older brother is an avid glider pilot. We spent a lot of time at the airfield when I was a child. Aviation has always been a part of my family life. When I was around 12, I started flying model airplanes and later went on to flying gliders. I would say that the dream of becoming a professional pilot only came after my first solo flight. It was with a winch launched glider and I remember singing with joy.

As a display pilot for the Swiss Air Force in the F/A-18 Hornet, you have awed the crowds at many air shows. What were your highlights along the way to landing here today?

NR: After my preliminary flight training with the Air Cadets, came the PPL and being selected as a pilot in the Air Force flying the PC-7. Before I actually started flying with the Air Force, I completed my training as an airline pilot at SWISS Aviation Training. Then came the PC-7 again, followed by the F-5 Tiger and finally the F/A-18 Hornet. After that, I was an exchange pilot with the French Air Force for three years in the cockpit of a Mirage 2000-5. Back in Switzerland, I was given the opportunity to become a display pilot on the mighty F/A-18 Hornet, which, among other things, took me to the AirPower airshow in 2019. In December 2023, I enjoyed my last flight in the F/A-18 Hornet. During all those years, I kept on flying privately as well, was a flight instructor and flew vintage aircraft such as the Bücker Jungmann, the Pilatus P-2, the T-6, the Beech 18 and the P-51 Mustang. Since last autumn, I have the honor of flying for the Flying Bulls. Unbelievable!

What qualities must a good pilot possess?

NR: A good pilot possesses a mixture of different qualities. Experience, foresight and the ability to always weigh up risks. There is an old saying: “There are no good pilots, there are only old pilots.” A good pilot is one who can fly again the next day. Someone who can anticipate and assess situations well and who sees the problems early enough to be able to defuse them in time. Someone who completes the mission without taking unnecessary risks. Of course, they also have to have strong technical knowledge and a thorough understanding of aerodynamics.

Do you have a specific routine that you go through before every flight? No matter which plane you get in?

NR: I mentally go through the different phases of the flight in my head, so I am already mentally flying. This allows me to identify many possible challenges and come up with a plan. Maybe not for everything, but you can already play through a wide range of situations in your head. It is like an athlete just before a competition. Then, if any of those situations actually comes true, you are not surprised by it and can react much faster.

How does it feel to fly the T-28 compared to the F/A-18?

NR: Both are completely different and yet very similar. Both were built for military pilots in the US Navy, which results in a certain philosophy in the cockpit and in the design of the aircraft, even if they were designed a few decades apart. The F/A-18 is a high-powered aircraft. It has over 60,000 horsepower and a complex on-board computer that relieves the pilot of many tasks. The pilot gives the flight commands, but the computer moves the control surfaces. In the T-28, you have to do everything by hand. No computer, no screen. You have to be very careful not to overload the aircraft and always keep an eye on the engine instruments because you can break the engine without even noticing. The power of the F/A-18 allows you to do incredible things in the third dimension. You can climb vertically straight up into the heavens. In the T-28, the energy in the third dimension is limited, but you feel the aircraft much more intensely.

What makes the Flying Bulls special for you?

NR: I think it is the combination of so many specialists who all have the same passion for aircraft from days gone by. Mechanics, technicians, pilots, simply everyone shares the desire to keep these planes in perfect condition and to show them to the public. In addition, the collection is incredibly large and the skill level of the pilots is incredibly high. The technicians are highly specialized and are even allowed to produce and certify spare parts.

What else is on your aviation bucket list?

NR: As of today (September 2024) I have flown 38 different airplane types and models. That is a lot, but still not enough. So, my list certainly includes all the models that I have not yet flown. I would love to fly every aircraft of the Flying Bulls. When I was a child, around ten or eleven years old, I had a poster on my bedroom wall of a Corsair with a large Red Bull logo on the side. That very Corsair is right here in the hangar. I think the Mustang is an incredibly beautiful airplane. The Lightning is unique, but also very challenging. So, the fighters from World War II would be at the top of my list.