Exercise YorkNite 2025
Swiss Air Force Night-Flying Operations at RAF Leeming
Introduction
Every November, as the days shorten and the Yorkshire air turns sharper and colder, RAF Leeming transforms into something altogether different. The familiar rhythm of Hawk T2 circuits gives way to the deeper, throatier growl of General Electric F404s as the Swiss Air Force arrives for its annual night‑flying deployment: Exercise Yorknite.
For 2025, the detachment began on 10 November, with residents across North Yorkshire and the North East advised to expect fast‑jet activity until around 22:00 each night. For aviation enthusiasts, that advisory reads more like an invitation.
Conducted over four weeks, YorkNite provides Swiss aircrew with access to airspace, terrain and operating conditions that are not readily available within Switzerland. The exercise is designed to enhance pilot proficiency in night operations, low-level navigation, and tactical mission execution, while also reinforcing established cooperation between the Swiss Air Force and the Royal Air Force.
Purpose and Strategic Context
Switzerland’s geography and airspace constraints significantly limit opportunities for sustained night and low-altitude fast-jet training. Mountainous terrain, dense population centres, and civilian air traffic restrictions make such activity difficult to conduct domestically without disproportionate impact. The United Kingdom offers a mature and well-regulated training environment, with extensive low-flying areas, controlled corridors, and access to coastal and maritime airspace. RAF Leeming, in particular, provides a suitable operating base, enabling Swiss crews to conduct realistic night operations while integrating with UK air traffic management and military control agencies.
YorkNite is therefore not a conventional exercise involving opposing forces, but a focused flying deployment aimed at maintaining core combat aviation skills essential to Swiss national air defence.
Participating Aircraft
The 2025 deployment consisted of Swiss Air Force McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets, drawn from the service’s three operational fighter squadrons.
- Fliegerstaffel 11 “Tigers” – based at Meiringen Air Base.
- Fliegerstaffel 17 “Falcons” – based at Payerne Air Base (disbanded shortly after Yorknite 2025 as they move to the F-35’s).
- Fliegerstaffel 18 “Panthers” – also based at Payerne Air Base.
Aircraft Types
- F/A-18C Hornet (single-seat)
- F/A-18D Hornet (two-seat)
A total of ten aircraft formed the deployed detachment, reflecting the standard composition used in recent YorkNite iterations. This mix of single- and two-seat aircraft supports both operational training and instructional requirements, particularly for night and low-level navigation sorties.
J‑5002: The “Eye of the Tiger” Hornet
Among the Swiss Hornets rotating through RAF Leeming this year, J‑5002 is the one that stops people in their tracks. Freshly unveiled in late 2025, its special‑tail artwork is a clever two‑sided design that reveals something different depending on where you stand. On one side, the vertical stabiliser carries the unmistakable “Eye of the Tiger” motif — a bold, predatory stare that pays tribute to Fliegerstaffel 11, one of the Swiss Air Force’s most recognisable units. Move around to the opposite side and the artwork shifts entirely, replaced by a large, stylised “11” in full squadron colours.
As a proud member of the NATO Tiger Association, FlSt 11 has a long tradition of fielding tiger‑themed liveries for major events and Tiger Meet exercises, but J‑5002’s scheme feels particularly refined — a blend of heritage, identity, and modern graphic design.
Yorkshire Airspace as a Tactical Classroom
RAF Leeming’s long, unobstructed approaches and relatively uncluttered airspace make it an ideal venue for this kind of work. The Swiss crews use the exercise to train in:
- Night circuit work
- Low‑level navigation
- Tactical recoveries
- Multi‑ship departures and recoveries
- Interoperability with RAF assets
Personnel Deployment
A Yorknite detachment typically involves approximately 120 to 150 Swiss personnel. This includes pilots, aircraft technicians, avionics specialists, logistics staff, and command and planning elements necessary to sustain daily fast-jet operations over a four-week period. In addition to airlifted personnel, the majority of ground support equipment and maintenance stores arrive by road from Switzerland, transported in military and contracted vehicles in a large convoy of lorries.
Sortie Types and Flying Patterns
- Afternoon sorties start around 14:00-14:30 with recoveries usually around 15:30 to 16:00 so catching them land before the sun disappears can be a bit hit and miss but I was lucky during my visit as they were back very early is some stunning late November sun.
- Evening flying activity usually takes place between 17:30 to 19:00 and 20:00 to 21:30 each evening weather permitting
- Individual sorties typically lasted 60–90 minutes.
- Night flying was normally concluded by 22:00 local time, in accordance with agreed operating limits and community considerations.
- Aircraft generally launched in pairs, reflecting Swiss Air Force formation doctrine and mission design.
Cooperation with the Royal Air Force
Although YorkNite is a Swiss Air Force training deployment, close coordination with RAF Leeming personnel was essential. This included cooperation in air traffic control, ground operations, and station support services. The exercise reinforced long-standing professional links between the two air forces and highlighted RAF Leeming’s role as a key hub for international fast-jet training.
Conclusion
Exercise YorkNite 2025 once again demonstrated the value of international cooperation in sustaining modern air combat capabilities. For the Swiss Air Force, the deployment provided essential night-flying and low-level training that cannot be replicated within national airspace. For the Royal Air Force, it reinforced RAF Leeming’s position as a trusted partner base for allied air forces.
Aircraft Registrations
The following aircraft operated from RAF Leeming during YorkNite 2025:
F/A-18C
- J-5002
- J-5003
- J-5009
- J-5012
- J-5013
- J-5019
- J-5024
- J-5026
F/A-18D
- J-5233
- J-5238