The military base where you drive over the runway

[@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.

[@me-wo9rk]

10 days ago lmao

[@Mikeymouse1]

What how?

[@Mikeymouse1]

🎶 I gave a second chance to cupit🎶

[@Kat21]

Ok

[@ascra1693]

​@@me-wo9rk you can't be me. I'm me

[@16jms]

It is very satisfying how there's a car coming through perfectly timed to Tom's gesture at 0:30

[@travcollier]

Yep. I very much suspect that was planned out. Tom seems to like doing somewhat challenging shots like that.

[@iwasborn8470]

That was smooth haha!

[@romainsavioz5466]

@@iwasborn8470 too smooth

[@safe-keeper1042]

He's good at timing stuff.

[@yousorooo]

Breathinginformation

[@DomenBremecXCVI]

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

[@JohnR31415]

Not all journeys are circular

[@hungrymusicwolf]

@@JohnR31415 Some prefer to go with the flow of gravity. Though luckily today not so many anymore.

[@hanster.gun.3438]

​​​@@hungrymusicwolf what circular means they land back at where they took off

[@goldenredstone04]

The US's Air Force One has had more take offs than landings, remember!

[@ivarioni]

​@@hanster.gun.3438 u crash

[@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.

[@cheekychappy1234]

Yup I stayed at a cottage in Wales and two fighter jets flew very low overhead. I could feel those planes in my guts.

[@joost444]

The best part is the feeling though. That pressure coming at you for just a brief moment

[@vincentxie3090]

Yes because the turbine engine could make the sound and noise so we could eventually hear it.

[@shanesaesseli3279]

A common occurence (seen it 2-3 in the last 6 months) in online communities around living in Zürich and Bern is people asking what that loud bang was, if there was a gunfight or something, when, in 99% of cases it was a jet going supersonic

[@20thcenturygamer22]

When I was younger I used to work in the food court at Manchester airport. There was soundproof glass in the full height windows looking onto the runway. However fighter jets and concord were so loud I thought someone broke the glass

[@a.m.1409]

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

[@lwlx]

I've known him for most of my life, how surprised I was seeing him in a youtube video. And he is doing great actually. :)

[@a.m.1409]

​@@lwlx Das isch sehr schön zwüsse :)

[@oldmanc2]

​@@lwlx Supi reply!

[@abderazzakishere]

This is wholesome

[@ishopops5856]

Me when I lie

[@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

[@andrina118]

I'm sure he works hard at it

[@mofo78536]

Next Episode: Umbrella's bio research factory. The place where the world might end one day -- Tom Scott

[@koenven7012]

@@mofo78536 Or a nice visit to Stargate Command in Cheyenne Mountain (they apparently have a door there with 'Stargate Command' on it. It leads to a broom closet or something like that).

[@victoriaeads6126]

He does have a fairly well proven track record of not being reckless or offensive at this point, I would imagine a lot of these folks consider it good publicity. I certainly would!

[@talkingdot]

@@victoriaeads6126 he just gets emails from companies saying "hey we do this thing want to come check it out?" that is how good his track record is

[@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.

[@Snapdragnn]

Incredible shot.

[@giggleigloos]

The quality of his videos are absurd, probably why he’s done so well for himself on the platform. Such attention to detail makes every single video so good. It’s honestly incredible.

[@JorisRobijn]

Always excellent video work. I love the end shots too, such as the barrier opening in this video.

[@DeFlekkie]

Thank you for pointing that out. That was indeed a great shot!

[@falconerd343]

I noticed that too! Fantastic videography!

[@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.

[@skaldlouiscyphre2453]

Ever been to a NASCAR race?

[@walneyranger399]

@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 Trust me fighter jets up close with burners on are something else

[@SK83RJOSH]

​@@skaldlouiscyphre2453 the percentage of the world that could, or even would care to go to one is exceptionally small. Now if you said F1 I might be on your side here, but turning left and left again at a few hundred miles an hour is just about the most boring motorsport in the world. 😅

[@calivalley9056]

An F-14 at full burner being launched off a carrier is/was insanely loud.

[@myfairlady343]

​@@SK83RJOSH as raming is allowed i'd be to differ.

[@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

[@petertaylor4980]

You're probably considered to be trespassing in the secured side of the airport if you stop.

[@DanielLopez-up6os]

Lovely seeing you here edin! Would love a crossover again.

[@mzp75]

Did you notice any "new tunnel" that Tom referenced? I've been there (by car) in March, and I did not notice anything like that. Just drove right over the airfield, like everybody else did.

[@dnddetective]

Apparently it opened March 31

[@OptimusToaster]

I imagine it's because if they tell nobody to stop and someone does stop, then they know there is an issue they need to deal with rather than someone just having a wee rest.

[@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. What's even more fascinating than this public road crossing the runway is the massive hangar that is dug into the mountain (on the other side of the runway) where all the jets are stored and protected from bombardment. The size of it is really unbelievable, there are literal kilometers of tunnels. I think some parts of it have been declassified recently and it would probably make for an awesome video if Tom ever gets a chance to visit it.

[@tbotalpha8133]

You mean the Swiss have a literal Bond villain mountain bunker fortress?

[@moradelkaoukabi2971]

@@tbotalpha8133 yes, there are many. :)

[@HighFlyer96]

At what time were you stationed there?

[@kinfudo4274]

Not even the guys in the tower have access, i doubt Tom has a shot of getting in..

[@simplerocketscience6222]

@@HighFlyer96 3 years ago

[@DerSolinski]

Tom is a historian. He records curiosities, listens to all the unsung heroes of modern times and shares it with the world. He may not realizes it, but he writes the history for generations to come. This has unbelievable value. It is those seemingly small tidbits that complete the picture. Thank you.

[@Matt-sv]

More a Chronicler than Historian, I feel.

[@sarowie]

@@Matt-sv fair enough distinction. He lives right here right now and just keep records of what he observers and what people tell him.

[@TestTestGo]

The term for a historian of current affairs is "Journalist"

[@titan5064]

​@@TestTestGo I'd much rather spur an outdated word back to life than to associate tom with those things

[@laurencefraser]

@@TestTestGo Journalists have, unfortunately, rather eliminated the value of their lable by way of repeatedly producing or regurgitating dishonest propaganda rather than actually reporting on reality... when they're not just flat out lieing or repeating random things they read on the internet with no further research to confirm anything because they need to meet a deadline. And they generally have little or no interest in the historical record, but rather their deadlines, paychecks (and thus presumably the selling of issues/subscriptions/advertising space) and maybe awards if they're feeling ambitious. Or sometimes the propaganda is the goal, if they're of a particuarly ideological bent. Chroniclers, in comparison, will often tend to be somewhat bias (at least in their wording) in favour of their boss, often enough, but otherwise tend to be more concerned with the strict recording of facts as they happened for future reference. In a large part because making sure those facts were available as reference data for future analysis and use by their bosses (or, perhaps more importantly, their bosses's successors) was their primary job.

[@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

[@MrSaemichlaus]

I'm surprised they wouldn't have shuttled pedestrians over with a pair of buses or forced pedestrians to take taxis. The airstrip looks to be 270 meters wide barrier to barrier.

[@crovear1]

I was in Gibralatar three weeks ago and we used the pedestrain border crossing. We walked through the airfield. I did not know about the tunnel but when Tom mentioned it I remembered that there were no vehicles passing when we were crossing the runway.

[@mralistair737]

@@MrSaemichlaus the planes are like every30-40minutes so no big deal, since they had to have the infrastructure for the road anyway. and plenty of people walk because it's the border with spain and bringing your car in is a pain. The place is bonkers.

[@3davidc780]

In Gibraltar they have kept the crossing open to pedestrians, cyclists and e-scooters. The tunnel is an extra 1.7km in walking distance compared to the runway

[@cantbother]

I could've sworn there were vehicles in Gibraltar cross 2 years ago, but my memory probably fails. Agreed that the place is bonkers

[@aionbrti]

As a swiss person I love that tom keeps finding cool things here

[@GregRobsonUK]

Switzerland is very cool - I watched someone else's video about all of your bunkers and fortified "farm buildings" on every approach through a valley at the edge of the country ... I can see why nobody would dare attack Switzerland!

[@waveril5167]

gäu, findi ou :D

[@springbok4015]

@@GregRobsonUK Terrain is certainly a disincentive, but it’s probably more due to Germany. Although Switzerlands both sider (neutral when it suits) stance must be rather frustrating to their allies.

[@waveril5167]

@@springbok4015 No, it's not because Germany, it's the terrain and a large army

[@springbok4015]

@@waveril5167 I thought the German airforce covered the Swiss airspace outside their operating hours. I think you’re right.

[@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 0:12. What a lovely time that was. I'm not allow to tell you details but you would not believe the size of the mountain caverns they store the airplanes in.

[@HachiMatt]

That's really cool! So the pictures jets are F/A-18s?

[@martijn9568]

​@@HachiMatt Yes, they are.

[@88Marc10]

I used to be a DD plane captain. Maybe we know each other 😁

[@christiansprojects-cgmanuf1426]

@@88Marc10 When did you work there? I was there in 2008/2009. I was an AT-DD, the only one they have ever had. After the DD-time, they hired me for one additional year.

[@BikerBearMTB]

What’s the pay like on a job like that?

[@PopeyeTheVRMan]

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

[@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.

[@kuebbisch]

In this case they show it to planes they intercept (if they have to intercept a non responsive/stray airplane) to facilitate communication.

[@JJRicks]

Meow! You're on guard

[@nonchip]

@@kuebbisch and if you don't call in, they shoot it at you? that looked suspiciously missile shaped :P

[@letme8861]

@nonchip no those are just extra fuel tanks the missiles are on the end of the wing and at the side of the belly of the f/a-18

[@kuebbisch]

@@nonchip I hope that dropping their aerodynamic shape external fuel tank will not hurt the intercepted plane 🙂

[@chocographix]

And funny enough, in the german „Emsland“, close to the city of Jever, there is the „Jever Fliegerhorst“, a military air base where a train track crosses the runway. The railway itself is decommissioned but you still can see the full track on google earth!

[@andrina118]

🤗

[@joshuahadams]

I suppose it’d be convenient for rolling up a tanker car to top off bigger planes.

[@boRegah]

It's called "Jever"

[@Aligartornator13]

@@boRegah But is it friesisch herb?

[@notahotshot]

​@@isumburas you made all of that up, didn't you?

[@RooslanKhayrov]

I assume that the airshow Tom mentions at 2:29 is "Fliegerschiessen Axalp" - a yearly live fire exercise of Swiss Air Force open to the public. It's held in an alpine valley about 6 km to the southwest of the airbase itself. Quite a hike to get up there! The "live fire" part is F/A-18 firing their 20mm guns at a target that's less than 1 km away from the spectators.

[@lupo_aim]

Exactly! Its a very unique "Airshow", some say, even if it is small, its one of the best. Rarely you see the F/A18 firing their guns at a public event. :) Was up there a few times already, always worth the hike.

[@ekksoku]

@@lupo_aim "Rarely you see the F/A18 firing their guns at a public event" those poor event goers

[@economicprisoner]

@@ekksoku Yes, technically 0m is "less than 1km away".

[@ekksoku]

@@economicprisoner my joke was, they were shooting at the event and not, shooting, at the event

[@goaty_the_goat]

Yes I’ve heard of this before. I’m an automation operator and this was one of the exercises we have to automate on a Siemens touch panel.

[@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!

[@stopmotionharry8989]

My dad (when he was working in Alaska) once accidentally drove onto an A-10 Air Force base. This was before 9/11 so there was no fences warnings, all that so he just drove down a track onto the base Edit: I think it was Eielson AFB because it’s one of two USAF bases in Alaska I could find, they had A-10s stationed there until 2007, and there’s multiple dirt tracks leading to the base

[@greatgodly9598]

What happened to your dad, if you don't mind me asking? Hopefully, he was just let off with a warning or something!

[@dalemissall9748]

@@greatgodly9598 a-10 strafed :(

[@manfail7469]

@@dalemissall9748 no witnesses, not even the people on base, brutal

[@empath69]

as a cabbie, I've had to drive up to the small 'puddle-hopper' charter planes that bring people to and from more remote parts - and with small operation they don't use the terminals and jetways for their passengers, so I'd enter the civil aviation side; show my ID at the gate to a dude in hi-vis and follow his little scooter around some hangars to wherever the beechcraft had been parked, and load my fares' luggage and take them on to their destination. One day we started in, but the dude stuck his hand out to signa for me to stop; we waited as a group of four OV-8B Ospreys left where they were refuelling and taxing for their takeoff after a short layover (island on the atlantic coast). Something new every day.

[@bertjesklotepino]

@@greatgodly9598 whose dad? Who are you talking about? NO records of any of it. And Alaska is huge.

[@Mister0Eel]

Hey Tom, props to your camera crew. I've noticed how incredibly sharp the videos are a couple of times now and figured I should mention it!

[@jannepeltonen2036]

There was an air show in Helsinki and the local aviation organization had given all the possible noise warnings for the show. However, they neglected to mention that the French military jets would be practicing their show over the sea right to the east of city center they day before the actual event. Local businesses were not happy, the noise was unbelievable.

[@De_cool_dude]

Why werent they? Good PR, tell everyone "hey! Theres some cool jets over the water! Get down here and you might see them!"

[@thesteelrodent1796]

@@De_cool_dude the French don't think like that

[@De_cool_dude]

@@thesteelrodent1796 Helsinki is the capital city of Finland

[@dielaughing73]

​@@De_cool_dude they probably didn't want their peace disturbed with no warning. Seems fair enough to me

[@xmlthegreat]

​@@De_cool_dude it's cool for 5 mins. It becomes unbearable after 10 mins. It's so much louder than anything could possibly be in your surroundings. Since they are rehearsing for exhibition they might even be running in full afterburner, and making low passes. It's completely justified to be pissed off at that. Aircraft over cities literally try to reach altitude as quickly as possible. Try living under a flight path or near an airbase.

[@uhhhhhhhhh]

I'd like to take a moment to note how beautifully filmed the team filmed this video! Even by your - already high - standards, there was just something about the d.o.f. and colours that just made this a joy to watch :)

[@untamedbacon]

Whoever was on camera for the shot at 3:25 should be proud, it's perfectly composed and focused through the whole move.

[@BarracudaYT]

I'm not the only one that noticed it!

[@garybarnes4169]

Yes, this reminded me of Gibraltar too. I've been there. It's really something that a level crossing can stop you from entering or leaving the country. (Oh. I didn't know that there's now a tunnel. Every day's a school day.) EDIT: I don't feel so bad having looked it up and found that the tunnel opened less than a month ago.

[@iowa_don]

I went across the runway at Gibraltar last summer and they had not started the tunnel yet.

[@osamarism]

​@@iowa_don as Tom says it was held up for years, I went there in 2012 and the runway had been shortened because of the cut & cover construction of the tunnel.

[@gumbledalf8284]

I was there on 30 March, the day before the tunnel opened, and there was a lot of pedestrian and motor vehicle traffic across the western runway crossing. I doubt the pedestrians are being forced through the tunnel at the eastern end of the peninsula, that's a huge detour if you want to go to the city.

[@MichaelSteeves]

When he started talking about how unique this was, I was screaming "What about Gibraltar!". I too have learned something new.

[@kennnva551]

My mother was born and raised on The Rock. The last time I visited was summer of 1970 and the border with Spain was closed. My uncle's house (now gone) was across the street from the border and adjacent to the runway.

[@Chrissav2002]

Payerne Air Base, the main air base in Switzerland, also have two road that cross the main runway, but since around 10 years ago, the roads are closed during the day (you have to go around the airbase), and open when the base is not in use (usually during the nights and sometimes on week-end). But that's still a really great place to look at the jets, like in Meiringen, and there is also a air force museum you can visit.

[@sarowie]

Pilatus also extended their runway over a road (Flugplatz Buochs, Runway Delta). It sounded like a very swiss solution to a very specific problem, I did not expect the military to use the same approach for the same problem.

[@Bahzellbahnakson]

Emmen also has a road crossing the runway. It is still open to use to the public and gets closed when necessery

[@dedertitick]

@@Bahzellbahnakson Same for Alpnach. Although the road doesn't really lead anywhere

[@77Beneboy]

emmen aswell

[@Aanthanur]

@@dedertitick "Although the road doesn't really lead anywhere" it still leads to Rome

[@damaan1243]

Honestly all of the airfields that the Swiss and Swedish make, from the purposefully made ones to the highway runways are some of the coolest things ever Also RIP to Scott's ears

[@AdrianSenn]

if you are in holiday over in the Hills of Hasliberg (above Meiringen) you can hear how loud the engines are.

[@cambridgemart2075]

Finland also has a lot of highway runways as well.

[@guillaumelalonde7945]

Sweden has a ton of highway runways from the cold war. In fact most of their airbases have a system of backup runways and direct connections to the highways. They even have a base that has a hangar built into a mountain.

[@clemenswalter1984]

switzerland currently doesn't have any highway runways. (they where dismanteled in the 90s) but there is plan to get them back into action.

[@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! It was actually the road that crosses the approach at the western end, but it was still a bit of a trip to suddenly realize that we were on a military runway, so we left quickly!

[@alex0589]

an F-18 passed 300 feet above my apartment once and i though krakatoa, yellowstone, and iceland had exploded and the world was coming to an end. The fcking foundations shook and a door opened by itself, i can't imagine what it's like standing right behind one on takeoff. Just another reason to dream about Switzerland, as if i needed one more...

[@stanshih8925]

3:22 Rare footage of One Take Tom Scott being forced to stop his take.

[@vogel6554]

Amazing that they fixed the problem in Gibraltar. I was waiting for you to mention that. When I visited Gibraltar 6 years ago, I was astounded with the fact that you would cross the runway to enter the city.

[@nellupa]

I mean, if you’re on foot (which is a very strong percentage of Gibraltar’s working population) you still cross the runway

[@timothymclean]

There's only so much land on Gibraltar, they have to get creative.

[@_VMaks_]

As a kid i visited this airfield a few times. It was absolutely amazing to feel the power in my entire body while these incredible machines where taking of.

[@peanuts2105]

Nothing on earth prepares you for sheer aural shockwave of reheat from a fighter jet. Not only is it so loud that it literally hurts and makes your ears ring to the point of white noise; you also get the incredible sensation concrete shaking, chest thumping shockwaves. Lucky Tom

[@Wynner3]

That's amazing, Tom. I plan on visiting Switzerland some time in the next few years, and now I'm adding this to my itinerary. Thank you.

[@davidrle23]

I’m from Shetland. Sumburgh isn’t that remote Tom, you should visit, there’s loads of videos you could make up here. Sumburgh airport used to just have lights to stop drivers, but overly confident islanders started going through the red lights if they couldn’t see any planes. This caused a number of go arounds and they installed gates, which humans have to close and then open every time a flight lands or takes off.

[@petertaylor4980]

Everyone's favourite Gary Brannan beat him to it.

[@davidrle23]

@@petertaylor4980 wow, missed that at the time!

[@ethribin4188]

In addition, the PR of this place also just shows confidence. If youre this unafraid to let everyone see your airforce, that just means youre confident enough to be able to deal with anything. Which in itsself, is intimidating.

[@idkusername2795]

We Swiss got to vote if we wanted to buy new military jets to replace the old ones, it’s a very open thing I think, but maybe they also buy some in secret, who knows.

[@YoanGraf]

@@idkusername2795 They don't. Not only would this cause a massive scandal, but also you would see them flying ! There's nowhere to train secretly in Switzerland :p

[@etherealicer]

You know, we have the French Air Force on speed dial. They do quite a bit of Swiss Air Space policing. Its a Militia thing. There is simply less secrecy that way.

[@YoanGraf]

@@etherealicer Air Police is 24/7 now, and no, there are almost no militia pilots left. All of them are professionals now

[@etherealicer]

@@YoanGraf Yes, the pilots are pros (and I presume the air traffic controlers too), but there is loads of other personell. I know it is 24/7 now, still we have renewed the contracts with France just last year.

[@votekyle3000]

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

[@ryguy2006]

This is the perfect roast, how does this comment not have more lies?

[@Adz.23]

Learned more from your videos than I ever did in school. Shows you there’s so much of the world you just don’t learn about as a child. This world is amazing, regardless of the types of humans on it.

[@pjstackz58]

This video has some serious production quality, looks amazing

[@marzoval9551]

In Norfolk, VA, USA there is a naval airbase where you drive under the runway. A C-5 Galaxy was stuck on the runway once and made for a memorable sight driving right under it.

[@jdotoz]

The other end of one of the runways has a road going around it. They have stoplights meant to stop traffic when a plane is landing; according to the signs the jet wash could pose a risk to cars. It's all inside the base boundaries, though. Edit: There's only one runway, it turns out. Tunnel at the west end, road around the east end. The road gets about ten meters from one corner of it.

[@Dukenukem]

The same is in Nederlands, Schipol Airport has highway A4 running throug the entire airport and it leads into tunnel under one of the main runways.

[@LockheedMartinF22Raptor7]

Yes. Naval Air Station Norfolk. Home of the E-2 Hawkeyes and C-2 Greyhounds. Always wanted to do some good spotting there.

[@peter_smyth]

Geneva Airport also has a public road under the runway.

[@BradSeiler]

I like that the jets have "STBY 121.50" on the side. Aviation equivalent of a bumper sticker that says "If you can read this, you are in deep doo doo".

[@Watterpolo]

@@BradSeiler not always. This frequency is also used at other situations. Maybe if a pilot forgot to change the frequency from one tower to another. So yes if you not react to it your right

[@LennardJaros]

All road infrastructure quirks aside, what a backdrop to a fighter jet takeoff though! Absolutely stunning with the sun hitting the alp peaks.

[@krrk6337]

Even the air force base looks so serene in Switzerland. Imagine Top Gun would have looked like with the sound of music vibe.

[@Thorsen31]

As a swiss dude remotely involved in the Air Force and who's been watching your vids for quite some time now, I'm very thankful for your work and I really hope you enjoyed your stay in Switzerland. I also wish you'd make a video about our dams like the "Nant de Drance" some day :) Take care!

[@jaspervv9985]

I have once had the privelege of seeing an F-100 engine with full afterburner being tested in front of me, whilst standing only a few meters away inside the actual testing chamber (with double hearing protection standing against the wall). The sound it creates is absolutely lethal and unlike anything I have ever experienced. I even felt the thyroid cartilage in my throat resonating and felt nauseous afterwards. Unfortunately due to the transition to F-35 (confidential), this is no longer allowed, but it was the best day of my life. Seeing your reaction to the take-off brought back that memory!

[@mdoerty13]

My father retired from the US Air Force. His last post was Langley AFB in Hampton, VA -- so that is where my family settled. One of the base's golf courses had a hole that paralleled the runway. They also had another runway where planes flew over a public road (at less than 50 feet) on final approach. This video brought back those memories since the base became a fighter installation in my high school years. So I got to see the jets close -- but not nearly as close as Tom was today.

[@joatmon101b]

Before 9/11 you could park just off base, on Tidewater Drive, and watch the planes landing. Now parking isn't allowed.

[@victoriaeads6126]

Tom, your team probably receives thousands of ideas every year, but you guys are amazing at distilling out the best. Keep it up, and thank you!

[@YouTube]

love the rapport that tom builds with everyone he meets ❤

[@ks69417]

Yo wtf youtube what are you doing here

[@ks69417]

The fact youtube misspelled "report"🗿💀

[@rahhmusic19]

@@ks69417 ...rapport. It means relationship or connection.

[@lf9108]

​@@ks69417LMAO think before you type😂

[@ks69417]

Thanks for the info ig🗿

[@ITPMMentor]

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

[@TruthNerds]

I can't be the only one remembering your video about the Swiss shooting range where you shoot over a busy road… a pattern emerges regarding Switzerland and the efficient use of space. 😀

[@Heffen89]

This reminds me of the situation we had in Hamburg, Germany many years ago. One public road was crossing the taxiway of two areas on the Airbus construction site in Finkenwerder (XFW, EDHI). The road had similar safety measures like a normal train crossing. Everytime an airplane needed to cross the road, cars and pedestrians had to stop. This caused many traffic jams on that main road. With the runway extension for the A380 and further expansion of buildings this situation was resolved by moving the public street to the outside of the factory site.

[@casey6556]

There’s actually a place in Maryland in the US where thanks to an aviation museum you can drive onto an airport that’s also an A-10 airbase, but given you’re on the opposite side of the runway you can’t get anywhere near as close as this! Definitely on my list to check out if I’m ever in Switzerland again

[@casey6556]

For anyone curious: the Glenn L Martin Aviation Museum at Martin State Airport just outside Baltimore

[@DoylePTB]

Can we appreciate the timing of him waving his hand and saying "Straight through" with the car passing?

[@psychopurple]

Tom speaking during the take off, the roar enveloping his words, was great.

[@garybarnes4169]

It makes me chuckle that the last line of defence to stop a random pedestrian walking in front of a fighter jet taking off is still a bloke in a hi-viz vest.

[@welshdefenceforces]

With a Sig Sauer

[@jack_sugg10]

Got to love the Swiss F/A-18C hornets got to see them at AXALP last year

[@daltonidaho]

Amazing! You really got across how loud those jets are with the yelling and clipping audio.

[@PepsiAddict6598]

As an aviation geek myself, that was awesome! I’m planning a trip to Snowdonia soon where I can hopefully see some fighter jets go through the Mach Loop but this looks like something else entirely!

[@Military872]

It really is an amazing experience, if you're into Military Fast Jets

[@Tintinfan]

I have been lucky to be on the summit of Tryfan and watched the jets fly beneath. It is something!

[@mikeissweet]

Being an aviation geek, can you identify those jets? F/A-18?

[@RacingTopsy]

My grandmother used to live close by and my dad took me to watch the jets take off at the barrier once a year or so. I always enjoyed them most when taking off in the opposite direction from in the video (& at night!), that way they're still on the runway where camera operator #2 stood. The ground shakes so much more, and that, together with the feeling that the jet engine is tearing a hole into the air you're trying to breathe, made an exhilarating mix of something awesome yet terrifying to me as a kid.

[@polasragge1844]

Hey! Im also from switzerland, emmen to be exact. We also have a local famous military base that you also need to drive across the airway! Well, at the end of it but it still counts!

[@guegeli]

There is a hiking trail based on old right of way laws further up. That way it was possible to enter the airfield by car. We once had to stop a car in the middle of the night coming this way towards the hangars with armed rapid-responce Jets. A lot of people got very nervous and we were lucky that we could detain the civilian unharmed.

[@phalentin]

There is also another military airbase in Switzerland with a road across the end of the runway in Emmen. I've been there a few times, it isn't even guarded by personell and the fence ends on one side of the barrier, so you could, theoretically, run straight on the runway even when the gates are closed.

[@TheSwiip1]

Thats true, but the MP would be there really fast if you try this. Also the planes dont cross this street in a normal scenario, it's only the safety nets on the other side of the road.

[@EuroAviators]

Great and well-made video! 😃 Meiringen is maybe the most famous example, but we have these kinds of road crossings at Alpnach, Ambri, Buochs, and St. Stephan as well. Especially those at Buochs close quite often, due to Pilatus factory flights and glider activities.

[@NeverlandSystemZor]

I would absolutely be a tourist here to watch this. That's such a unique and amazing experience. I grew up on US Air Force bases (Dad was active duty). It was so fun to watch the various aircraft fly around and take off and land.

[@schurch1569]

Oh my god!! I thought I saw Tom in a train like two months ago, but I just brushed it off as impossible..

[@laminatedsamurai]

"I hope I didn't flub my lines" It's okay, Tom....I don't think anyone would have been able to hear you if you did. Could have put anything in that caption and I probably would have bought it.😅

[@comet2085]

saw the thumbnail and i knew hes back in our small country. and its a great video as always

[@victoriaeads6126]

There is a spot near the end of the Philadelphia International Airport runway where you used to be able to park and the departing and arriving planes looked so close you felt like you could touch them. The highway still gets you fairly close, but I don't think that spot is open anymore. Ah, childhood memories!

[@PixelatedPenfold]

There used to be one at the end of one of the runways at Heathrow Airport as well. My dad used to pull in there and my brother and I sat on the roof of the car as the planes flew only a few feet above us. No wonder I am nearly deaf now!

[@computer_toucher]

I've never heard an F-18 take off. But living near an airport, a former RADAR station, and across a strait from one of the main Norwegian Air Force bases, being used to F-16's and passenger airlines, I have to say the F-35 I heard last summer was the weirdest, loudest thing I've ever heard - and the sound just "vanished" after a little while. Really strange experience.

[@lilusherwumbo4292]

All the fighter Jets are like cars, so with enough time you can tell what is taking off. Some give a lot more teeth rattle than others

[@jonathanpfeffer3716]

Wonder if that’s something related to “acoustic stealth”, it’s a term I’ve seen used in some scattered DOD PowerPoint slides.

[@fonesrphunny7242]

Seen a simulated attack on an airfield and you could only hear the jets for a few seconds, during their pop-up attack pattern. Simultaneously they had helicopters circling 1-2 km away. You could clearly see them but would hear nothing. Seen this in multiple places actually and every time the terrain was mostly flat, with some forests and villages around. In the end it's still sound waves, which will be reflected and absorbed by the environment.

[@MrBananun]

Funnily enough, the F-16 is considered one of the loudest fighter jets EVER! Even louder than the F-35. I grew up around 20km away from an F-16 airbase and the sound those take offs produced was mad! Love it and hate it simultaneously!

[@sheevone4359]

Just want to mention Alpnach, also a military base where there's a road crossing. However, there are no fighter jets taking off from there. The base solely has trainer propeller planes and helicopters.

[@TheLoxely]

Cheers Tom, these interesting to the point vids never get old

[@aida-beorn]

There's a road crossing the small airport at Notodden, Norway, but most of the time the entire runway isn't in use, the small aircraft that fly in and out of the airport don't require the extended runway.

[@TheLomsor]

The 'Airshow' mentioned here is more like a public training session. It's extremely unique as they fire their guns at targets and it's on top of the mountain! Called Axalp. Big deal but not really big airshow. Been twice. Nice hike and awesome to see jets fly past below you.

[@JerryB507]

Thanks to Tom Scott and his crew, I need a bigger bucket for my bucket list. Cheers from California, USA

[@joe2788]

that initial shot was fantastically timed with Toms finger pointing as the van went past. great videography.

[@Angarsk100]

He's bound to become: Tom "One Take" Scott

[@pattas2005]

I love your videos Tom, they're always so varied and interesting! We could be on a hill one day, or in a gigantic warehouse 'Hive' filled with hundreds of amazing robots, or on to this video now with you being on a runway in a military base! Thank you for being so entertaining and informative!

[@derPatte26]

Im always so fascinated by Toms videos and these small but so exciting places he visits. Thank you for all these adventures 😊

[@DocuLearnTM]

When I was a kid I was doing a road trip with my father through switzerland and I remember we stopped by... it was absolutely surreal!

[@woodyenfermo]

I have a few swiss friends but that pilot has the most quintessentially helvetic face I have ever seen

[@cr10001]

There's also Gisborne Airport in New Zealand that has a railway line across the runway. Currently the line is not used by main-line trains (sadly, the line was washed out 20 miles south a decade ago and despite the wishes of the locals, has not yet been rebuilt) but there is a preserved steam train that I believe occasionally uses it.

[@ItsPengWin]

Having done the drive across the Gibraltar runway I was almost as equally interested in the new tunnel you mentioned! Literally had no idea that was happening!

[@Luckmorne]

The Blue Angels came to the Rochester, NY air show a few summers in a row (and then the Thunderbirds once) when I was in college. They would form up over campus, low enough to read the tail numbers with the naked eye (and set off every car alarm), and then do their passes over the airfield across the river... So, can confirm. Fighter jets are possibly the most efficient machine ever at turning fuel into noise.

[@Jehty_]

I think rockets might disagree with your last statement 😜

[@etherealicer]

​@@Jehty_ Pistol shrimp laughs at rockets... as he brings more heat (4800K) and more noise (over 200dB)

[@justayoutuber1906]

Been there, seen that. The Friday before when they are whizzing past the downtown buildings is nuts! So loud!

[@Jehty_]

@@justayoutuber1906 shrimps whizzing past downtown buildings? What did you smoke?

[@nicebear8268]

Tom, you are one of those people who make the internet in this form a marvellous place.

[@pascalfuchs1673]

There is another similar military runway in Emmen, Switzerland. It also has public road across the runway and they don't even guard the barriers there. They have nets where they would "catch" the jets in case of an emergency. And it's only 15min away from the major Swiss city called Lucern.

[@foobar201]

Ah yes, I almost forgot about that one.

[@noldos]

"Strasse zügig passieren" (at 0:19) is one of the most Swiss sentence to have ever adorned an official sign 😂

[@sirpikapika1129]

The sound of the Jet in the Mic is insane

[@mdbizzarri]

Nothing like feeling the shockwave of a stage 5 afterburner hit the front of your spine. Hopefully you can tour an aircraft carrier one day during flight ops, it's more exciting than the X Games by far.

[@SolitaSDolmer]

Gorgeous shots of Switzerland!

[@unicyclechinese3125]

I used to work for Domino's next to a huge navy base, and there were a couple of roads that crossed major taxiways, with only a stop sign to prevent traffic while planes were on it. I remember yielding to a large transport plane one time.

[@EsquireNapalm]

did y'all ever deliver to the base? I work for dominos as a driver now and the closest thing ive got to that is delivering to a massive quarry and the worker let me look into the big hole

[@simon3185]

The feeling when you have cycled through this airport again and again. I didn't expect Tom to be standing there one day.

[@admin-cjbanonymous1211]

I've always loved this military bace! Thank you Tom for covering this topic with all of your expertise Also what a lovely ending

[@j4n1x19]

Immediately knew this must be in Switzerland, there just is no other place where such a thing would be considered...

[@mindexplorer6929]

3:28 There is even a yellow sign of a public bus stop directly in front of the barrier!

[@tayne5009]

This is air base is about an hour away from the location of Goldfinger’s factory (actually Pilatus Aircraft).

[@onenerdarmy]

3:30 Love that the Swiss Air Force has the 121.5 guard frequency on the drop tank for the intruders they intercept. Was wondering if other air forces do this; the US Air Force uses missiles that only imply the same thing.

[@se.real.kiliong]

In Emmen, close to Luzern there is another military airbase with a road across it. Was quite surreal seeing the barriers close in front of me and then 3 fighter jets landing in front of me in a row...

[@vilestine]

3:32 that tracking over the shoulder shot was straight up cinema!

[@daviddegenhardt5420]

I want to add this: in another valley in Switzerland in the Village of Ambrí, there‘s an Airfield with a ice hockey Arena right next to it. The local Club - HC Ambrí-Piotta - plays in the highest league in Switzerland and so the Arena takes advantage of the Airfield on Gamedays, and the visitors park on the airstrip.

[@TheBrokenLife]

Should you have the opportunity, try to observe a Harrier VTOL take-off/landing. It's the loudest aircraft I've ever heard, by far. But, that probably also has something to do with it being in the same place for a few minutes while I was watching.

[@ibanix2]

I saw the Harrier in person at the Oshkosh airshow. I was half a mile away. My father was next to me, *shouting* at me and I couldn’t hear a thing.

[@TheBrokenLife]

@@ibanix2 I was at a few hundred yards on the front row of the Dayton air show (close enough to see the pilot wave to the crowd). There was no point even attempting to scream at anyone. 😆 The only louder "thing" I've ever experienced is a jet dragster.

[@gnomoblu8015]

Harriers are LOUD AF even when flying normally, but I once came across something even louder: SAAB Viggen. I could feel the vibrations in the ground creep through my feet up my whole body, and found myself clenching my jaw harder for fear that the noise would shake my dental caps loose.

[@retro61]

The noise of a harrier making a Short Take Off on the grass at the side of runway at Leuchars, showering the crowd in bits of grass & mud was an experience my ears will never forget