The military base where you drive over the runway

Meiringen Air Base, in Switzerland, has an unusual feature: two public roads that go straight over the runway. How do they keep it safe? And, as a side note, just how loud is it when you're standing next to a fighter jet?
(Bonus things that didn't fit into the video: the aircraft aren't stored in hangars, but in caverns tunneled into the hillside! And if you want to get really close to the jets, there's a second, much narrower crossing over a taxiway to the caverns. They're not taking off at high speed there, though.)
Camera: Tobias Buchmann
Editor: Julian Domanski
Local production by Viven viven.ch
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[@TomScottGo]

Bonus things that didn't fit into the video: the aircraft aren't stored in hangars, but in caverns tunneled into the hillside! And if you want to get really close to the jets, there's a second, much narrower crossing over a taxiway to the caverns. They're not taking off at high speed there, though.

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

I love that the pilot felt the need to point out that 100 take offs equals 100 landings.

[@Tustin2121]

Props to the camera guy for that amazing tracking shot keeping the fighter jet on one side of Tom as he watched it take off. The focus being on the aircraft with Tom in the unfocused foreground was also so cool looking.

[@votekyle3000]

The only time the Swiss decided a tunnel wasn’t necessary

[@ElizabethSwims]

No cameras, microphone or sound system will ever do justice to the amount of noise generated by explosive, jets, rockets etc. those that have experienced it know what I mean.

[@stuartrockin]

I'm always in awe how loud fighter jets can be. Standing that close you feel your insides vibrate like your heart is beating 300BPM across your whole body.

[@a.m.1409]

So surprised and happy to see that pilot, I was in the military with him :) Hope he's doing well :)

[@mralistair737]

I walked over the gibraltar one.. the "pedestrians, do not stop walking" message when a plane comes in and the barriers ahead of you start to close.. certainly encourages people to keep walking... it's nuts. I would be surprised if they stopped people walking over it though even if they've finished the tunnel

[@noahandthejets]

For anyone who saw on the second aircraft "STBY 121.50," "STBY" means "standby" and 121.50MHz is the international radio frequency known as "Guard." If an aircraft is in distress, the pilot(s) will usually tune to that frequency. Most aircraft and air traffic control facilities are tuned to 121.5 to listen for any aircraft in distress.

[@evan]

I just cycled over the Gibraltar one this week and it was so cool! I was warned to absolutely not stop cycling for any reason on the runway which I found a bit odd considering people were literally walking across just fine, but either way, it was super cool to do it at least once

[@16jms]

It is very satisfying how there's a car coming through perfectly timed to Tom's gesture at

[@ZCid47]

The best part for Tom is surely the fact that apparently a lot of people trust him enough to get close or participate in cool things

[@simplerocketscience6222]

As part of my mandatory military service i was stationed at this airfield. I crossed this runway at least twice per day to transport troops and it was always nice to watch the jets start while waiting at the barrier.

[@christiansprojects-cgmanuf1426]

Ah, Meiringen Airbase. I used to work there as an F/A-18 Avionics technician. My flat was in one of the houses near the diagonal taxiway, right in front of the waterfall you see at

[@buttsmcgee]

I don't usually notice how good the camera work in Tom's videos are but the camera work in this one was absolutely amazing

[@DerSolinski]

Tom is a historian. He records curiosities, listens to all the unsung heroes of modern times and shares it with the world.

[@rickj6348]

I accidently crossed this runway in 2008 when playing tourist with my brother. We were trying to get closer to the waterfall in the background of one of the shots, and when driving towards it, I suddenly realized that I was on a runway!

[@ITPMMentor]

Always double hearing protection around afterburners. Plugs + muffs. Awesome video!

[@romann885]

If you are a fan of fighter jets on small alpine air bases, I can recommend the Zigairmeet in the canton of Glarus. Its only every three years or so, but 2023 is one. The sight and noise of fighter jets showing off their maneuvers in a narrow valley is just so incredible!

[@RemyBustani]

Props to you and your team for the audio. This video and the recent train video do phenomenal jobs at conveying the sound of being near these amazing vehicles