Breitling, the Swiss watch manufacturer is honored to announce that the Breitling Jet Team will be performing in the U.S. for the first time ever in 2015. The prestigious aerobatic display team is the first and largest of its kind; comprised of seven L-39 C Albatros jets that can reach speeds of up to 565 mph, and have flown across 36 countries all over the world to-date.
“I am very excited that the Breitling Jet Team will finally perform in the United States,” said Breitling USA President Thierry Prissert. “They have performed all over the world and this is the first chance to show U.S. audiences what they can do and inspire younger generations of American aviation enthusiasts with their precision flying and breathtaking performances. It is a costly investment to support this Jet Team and I am grateful that our headquarters in Switzerland value Breitling’s involvement in the American world of Aviation enough to share the Breitling Jet Team with us in the United States.”
The precision and skill demonstrated by the team personifies Breitling’s ties to aviation. Since developing onboard chronographs for airplane cockpits, including World War II propeller-driven fighter planes, Breitling has been known as the authentic partner of aviation. This reputation was solidified in 1952, when Breitling launched its legendary Navitimer wrist chronograph featuring a circular slide rule serving to perform all navigation-related calculations. A cult object for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, it has been continuously manufactured for almost 60 years – making it the world’s oldest mechanical chronograph still in production. Other favorites among pilots are the Aerospace watch, which was launched in 1985, and the innovative Emergency timepiece with a built-in transmitter that was originally introduced in 1995 and was recently updated to a new version that will launch in 2014 and is the world’s first wristwatch with a dual frequency locator beacon.
“Bringing the Breitling Jet Team to the United States is very exciting and will be greatly anticipated by the large contingent of aviation and airshow enthusiasts in this country. I am looking forward to working with Breitling on this project. We had such great success with Jetman last year at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada in 2013. This is another opportunity to make a positive impact on aviation in the U.S.,” said Sue Gardner, National Aviation Events Specialist and Air Show Coordinator of the FAA General Aviation and Commercial Division AFS-800.
The Breitling Jet Team will perform at the world-famous EAA AirVenture Oshkosh and then also at the National Championship Air Races in Reno. Additional air shows and performances in the U.S. in 2015 will also be announced as confirmed.
“The Breitling Jet Team represents all that we strive for in the air show industry: professionalism, showmanship, precision. Their U.S. tour in 2015 is one of the most important developments in our industry in the last 20 years,” said John Cudahy, President of International Council of Air Shows (ICAS).
