'' This  is the best job I could ever dream of so go for it, fight, keep fighting and never give up with energy!!! ''

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Who is Captain Yannick ‘Fönsi’ Zanata. A short biography.

This is the first season for Cap Yannick ZANATA as a Swiss F/A-18 display pilot.  Cap Yannick Zanata was born and grew up in Geneva., he is 34 years old and in 2007 he started his military service. 

He is incorporated in Fighter squadron 17 in Payerne and currently flies the F/A-18. Le Genevois has about 2000 flying hours in total and about 700 on the F/A-18.

Yannick has a family with two kids and during his free time, he enjoys skiing and other sports.

photo credit Yannick Zanata

You fly also as a pilot for the Swiss Air Force. What is your role within the Swiss Air Force?

As a Swiss Air Force pilot, my primary task is to protect the country. This is why you will find me 6-7 times a year in the QRA. Other than that,  I fly air defence training missions in Switzerland and abroad as a 4-ship lead.    I am also an instructor on the F/A 18 and in the simulator for the rookie pilots. Last but not least, I am a sea survival instructor and part of the combat evaluation unit.

Last year you took the place of Nicolas "Vincent" Rossier but for a known reason, there was no demonstration in 2020 and you will debut this year. How do you feel about your debut?

This is a strange time. A lot of displays have been cancelled. So at the moment, I am training at least once per month. This is not the perfect situation but I am still able to maintain good training and I feel comfortable flying the demo, which is actually the most important.

What is your personal signature while flying the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet that distinguishes you from your predecessors? 

I guess I do not really have one… for the first season, I cannot really invent new figures because I first need to learn from my coach. Flying the demo is a new approach of the aircraft and I cannot improvise new tricks. It would be too dangerous.

photo credit  swisshornetdisplayteam 

The most demanding acrobatic figure for you as a pilot

The beginning of the slow flight! Even if it is not the most impressive figure, it is a phase where you have to get a lot of parameters together such as airspeed, AOA, altitude and axis. It is really challenging. Moreover, you have to be ready if you have a malfunction like an engine failure. You are in a flight envelope where you do not have a lot of margins.

photo credit  swisshornetdisplayteam 

What are the biggest challenges to create the spectacular solo flights on Boeing F/A-18C Hornet interceptor?

With the F/A-18 we do not have any AOA (angle of attack) restrictions. This allows us to perform incredible manoeuvres at slow speed like high AOA barrel roll or pirouette (this is a kind of controlled spin) but it also brings many problems. Above 15° AOA, the displayed altitude may be up to 1000ft wrong (and I am flying down to 200ft). To counter that, I have several altitude and airspeed gates that I have to respect. For the same reason, in case of an engine failure, I have to be ready to react very quickly reduce the AOA, regain speed and avoid the VMCA (minimum controllable airspeed) produced by the dissimilar thrust resulting.

photo credit  swisshornetdisplayteam 

The calendar 2021 with your shows has been released. Can you tell us a bit more about this new season and what we can expect to see in the skies this year?

My calendar is online and updated regularly on Instagram and Facebook. You will find me in Sanicole, Duxford, Luxeuil, Malta, at airshows in Switzerland and of course at the Axalp at the end of the year.

We know how hard your training must be, can you describe a normal training day for you and your team in preparation for your first event?

We had two weeks of training at the beginning of the year. We began in the simulator to train the program and all the possible malfunctions that I could encounter. Then we continued with two sessions of training per day. Starting at a high altitude and slowly descending when I felt comfortable. Next to the flying, I had to study every place where I have a display, looking for obstacles and anything that could impair the safe conduct of the flight.

What is the message you would like to pass to those new generations who dream to fly the Boeing F/A-18C Hornet?

I would say this is the best job I could ever dream of so go for it, fight, keep fighting and never give up with energy!!!

photo credit Yannick Zanata 

Your dream airframe

Hard to say… I think every aircraft is unique and brings its own challenges. Maybe if I really had to pick one (other than the F/A-18) I would say the F-14.

photo credit Guido Aviation Photography

photo credit Yannick Zanata 

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-Article by Enzina Calascione

-We thank you Cap Yannick "Fönsi" Zanata for his cooperation and support.

- Follow 'Fönsi' on his official accounts https://www.facebook.com/SwissHornetDisplayTeam and https://www.instagram.com/swisshornetdisplayteam/