Classic Formation Team
Hugo Mathys
Pilot & Owner
Hugo is the owner of all aircraft. It was his idea to build a vintage aircraft formation and he finances the operation of these old-timers, which fly about 30 to 50 hours each per year. Thanks to his enthusiasm and dedication to the continuation of this exciting experience, he also provides the funding for both the specific formation flight training of all pilots and the individual recurrent training on Beech 18 and DC-3 as well.
He has a flight experience of 2’000 hours and currently pilots the DC-3 – with over 500 hours – the Beech 18 and Beechcraft King Air 90 as pilot-in-command. Within the Classic Formation he pilots the red Beech 18 „Classic 3“ as commander.
Hugo is the President of the board of the family-owned Swiss med-tech company. He has degrees in both mechanical engineering and in business administration.
Philipp "Phile" Müller
Pilot
Phile, a former Swiss military pilot, is the expert on formation flying. He directs the training sessions and briefs his fellow pilots in detail for the particular air displays. He trained and certified all non-military Classic Formation pilots in formation flying.
During his career as military pilot he accumulated more than 10’000 flight hours by flying the following jets: de Havilland Vampire DH-100; de Havilland Vampire Trainer DH-115; de Havilland Venom DH-112; Hawker Siddeley Hunter Mk58; Northrop Tiger F-5E/F; Dassault Mirage IIIS (1’500 flight hours); Hawk Mk66; FA18 C/D (2’000 flight hours).
Furthermore, Phile was a member of the Swiss Air Force PC-7 team and fulfilled the function of „Head of Factory Flight Test RUAG Aviation“. Within the framework of the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) he is still acting as a flight examiner on PC-6, PC-7, Vampire, Hawker Hunter and Mirage IIIDS.
Phile – ranking Colonel General Staff – retired in 2016.
Within the Classic Formation Phile commands the yellow Beech 18 „Classic 4“ and issues instructions to the entire formation – if needed.
Benedikt "Beni" Kissling
Pilot
After several years activity as a teacher, he became a flight professional 13 years ago. Since then he has totaled 4’800 flight hours.
He started on the Cessna CJ3, later on a "Global Express“. He works as Inspector for FOCA and still flies on a Jet, acts as flight instructor and examiner.
Within the Classic Formation Beni leads the formation with the DC-3 as "Classic 1".
Hans Jörg Herzog
Pilot
Hans Jörg is a classical business aviation pilot, flight instructor and examiner. In these functions he has totalled more than 16’000 flight hours and approximately 24’000 landings. Overall he has flown more than 100 different types of aircraft, amongst them the complete series of Cessna Citation models. Since 1986, the time Classic Air started to operate their DC3 in Switzerland, he is type rated on the Grand Old Lady.
He was employed by „Jet Aviation“ for 28 years and got retired in May 2019. He acted as their fleet chief on Citation, Hawker and Embraer, Head of Training and company chief flight examiner.
Moreover, he also acts as type-rating instructor (TRI), examiner and senior examiner for Swiss FOCA.
Nowadays he acts as instructor at Lufthansa Aviation Training (LAT), from the students first step into aviation until their CPL, IR, Multi Engine ratings.
Within the Classic Formation Hans Jörg pilots the DC-3 as pilot in command / leader of the formation.
Nicolas "Nicu" Misteli
Pilot / Fleet Manager
Nicu started his aviation career at the age of 15 by flying gliders and later the Cessna 150/172. Thereafter he flew many hours on the family owned Cessna 170, Cessna A185F Skywagon or on the Stradivari of the air, a Bücker Jungmann – on which he loves flying aerobatics. He pilots the Pilatus Porter PC-6T in various missions like paradropping, air survey, photo missions, LIDAR and so on. He is specialized in HALO paraflights up to 25’000 feet. Occasionally he flies other historic aircraft like the Stinson L-5 or the Dewoitine D-26 fighter-trainer. He has 1’700 flight hours on his logbook, mostly on taildraggers.
Since 2021 Nicolas is acting as the Fleet Manager for the Classic Formation and is responsible for the complete organization around our four beauties like taking care about the paper work and organizing our flights.
Within the Classic Formation, he pilots the red Beech 18 as “Classic 3”, both as commander or copilot.
Manuel Kissling
Pilot
Manuel started his aviation career in 1995 in Grenchen. After he got his private pilot license, he continued his formation and got a commercial pilot license and an aerobatics rating. In 2001 be became a flight instructor and still works as a freelance instructor for the Flugschule Grenchen. In 2010 he started to fly for Skydive Grenchen as a pilot on the Pilatus PC-6 and later on on the PCA 750XL as a drop pilot for the skydivers.
Within the Classic Formation he pilots the blue Beech 18 as copilot.
Alan Casillas
Pilot
Alan has a true passion for aviation and especially for Oldtimers. He started his career at the age of 16 in Neuchâtel flying the Cessna 150 and the Robin DR400. After obtaining his private pilot license, he continued gaining experience by flying many different aircrafts, like the Piper L4/Cub, the Luscombe L8 and the Pilatus PC7. He also obtained his aerobatic rating on the Extra 200.
In 2017, Alan obtained his Commercial Pilot License and later, in 2020, his Airline Pilot Transport License (ATPL). He currently works for one of the biggest airlines in Europe. He is rated on the Airbus A320 family and totalize more than 3’500 flight hours on type.
Alan is also active as a military drone pilot in the Air Force.
Within the Classic Formation, Alan flies the yellow Beech 18 “Classic 4”.
Pius Kaufmann
Maintenance
Pius began his flying career in 1988 with training as an aircraft mechanic at the Birrfeld flying school. At teh same time, he also got his private pilots licence, which he used for the next 20 years in the air. After completing his training, he worked for the Aertec GmbH fo a few years, before he had the unique opportunity in 1994 to start as a DC-3 mechanic at Classic Air. After the end of the Classic Air, he moved on to SR-Technics (Swissair) where he was responsible for the Airbus and MD-80 models in the engine shop and on line maintenance.
As a licensed aircraft mechanic with the aircraft controller licence C, he became the managing director of Aerotec AG and lead the company from 1999 until 2021, before his path led him back to the former Classic Air DC-3 which is part of our fleet in the meantime.
Ian Lienhard
Photographer / Web
Even without any aviation background in his entire family Ian was already fascinated by airplanes since his early years. Because of that it wasn’t a surprise he started to discover the world of aviation from different perspectives. He worked in different positions as ramp agent and for the airport fire brigade in Berne, he helped out loading the big planes in Zurich whilst studying and he is in the possession of the private pilot license.
During all his time around the airports the camera is a constant companion. With this background it’s no wonder that Ian got contracted from different companies around the world as a photographer via www.il-photography.ch and is working as a freelance journalist for different medias.
Beside of his aviation life he is working as CMO for a Swiss industrial company.
He will assist the Classic Formation Crew with all relevant tasks like filming the trainings, supporting media requests and where ever they need a helping hand.
Former Team Members
Niklaus "Nik" Gammeter
Pilot
After having served for some years in the Swiss Air Force as a military pilot, Nik changed over to commercial aviation. As copilot he flew the Swissair DC9, MD80 and the B747, as captain the Airbus A320 and A330 and later on the A340 for SWISS.
Besides the career mentioned above he was constantly active as a flight instructor at the Swiss Air Traffic School SLS or for the airbus fleet.
Since his retirement in 2014 from SWISS, he has continued to work in aviation: as a flight instructor for LAT (Lufthansa Training), as a freelancer for Pilatus on PC12, in the „Flugverein Reichenbach“ or as an examiner for the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA).
During his career as a military pilot Nik has flown from the first hour on F5 Tiger with a total of over 1300 hours. In addition, he was a flight instructor on Vampire, Venom and Hunter.
In his leisure time Nik is a tour guide for the Jungfrau Railway, especially for Asian and American guests visiting the „Top of Europe“, the „Jungfraujoch“.
Within the Classic Formation Nik assists Hugo on the red Beech 18 „Classic 3“.
Jürg Marti
Pilot
In 2001 – during Swissair’s grounding – Jürg retired after 32 years of service as aircraft captain. Immediately thereafter he organized the operation of a corporate jet for Hugo. Later on he developed the project by building and leading a business aviation company. After his second retirement in 2009, he devoted himself to Hugo’s vintage aircraft as captain on the DC-3 and the Beech 18’s as well as operations manager.
During his long career, Jürg clocked more than 15'000 flight hours by flying, amongst others, the following aircraft: Douglas DC-9; McDonnell Douglas MD-80; Douglas DC-10; Airbus A310, A319, A320, A321, A330; Cessna Citation CJ1, CJ1+, CJ3; Beechcraft King Air 90. While working for Swissair he held various management positions like fleet chief pilot on MD80, chief Instructor on Airbus A310 amongst others.
Within the Classic Formation Jürg was flying the blue Beech 18 („Classic 2“)
Fritz Locher
Maintenance
Fritz coordinated the maintenance. Thanks to his vast experience solving the problems in connection with various different aircraft, he was at the heart of the mechanical excellence of the fleet. He could be counted on to eliminate the question marks in every situation.
Hans "Breiti" Breitenmoser
Pilot
After having served for some years in the Swiss Air Force Surveillance Squadron, Breiti changed over to commercial aviation. Today he pilots the SWISS Airbus 330/340 airliners. Due to his passion for vintage aircraft, he spends most of his leisure time flying Buecker Bü131, Junkers JU52, DC-3, Beech 18 and Lockheed L-1049 Super Constellation old-timers. Over the years he has accrued more than 20'000 flight hours.
During his career Breiti has flown the following types of aircraft:
Air Force: Dornier DO-27, Pilatus P-3; PC-6; PC-7, de Havilland Vampire DH-100; de Havilland Vampire-Trainer DH-115, Hawker Siddeley Hunter Mk58; Hunter-Trainer T.Mk68, Northrop Tiger F-5E; Tiger-Trainer F-5F and Dassault Mirage III RS; DS/BS; S.
Civil: McDonnell Douglas MD-80, Airbus A310, A320 Family, A330, A340; Boeing B757, B767. Within the nostalgic „JU-Air“ group, Breiti acts as company chief examiner (CCE) on JU52, DC-3 and L-1049. For the Swiss Federal Office of Civil Aviation (FOCA) he keeps active as a type-rating instructor (TRI) and senior examiner.
Within the classic formation Breiti was flying the DC-3, thus leading the whole formation („Classic 1“).
Jan Locher
Aerial Filming / Music / Speaker / Media
Jan has filmed for over 16 years the aircraft of Hugo Mathys: Cessna Conquest 425, Diamond DA42 Twin Star, Cessna Citation Jets, King Air C90GTx, "Screaming Eagle C-47" as well as the four "shining stars" of the Classic Formation - the "Swissair DC-3" and three Beech 18s.
Besides filming the training sessions from the ground, which gives immediate feedback to the pilots, Jan supported the Classic Formation with several tasks: As a composer and producer for the airshow music, as speaker at airshows, as designer of the official logo, clothes and the web presence. In addition, Jan captured many terrestrial and aerial sequences and included the very finest in over 30 striking films. The (now) world-famous shot of the "Swissair DC-3" flying in the Swiss Alps made its way into TV with an ARTE/ZDF/SRF film documentary.
In 2020 Jan handed over his position to his successor, Ian Lienhard.
More films from Jan Locher: http://www.vimeo.com/janlocher
Werner Spichtig
Maintenance
Werni is the good soul of the team. Often unseen he is always working hard in the background to keep our aircraft in perfect flying conditions. Whenever there is a problem he has a solution, no matter how oily he gets.
Nicolas "Vincent"Rossier
Pilot
Vincent isn’t a newcomer on the airshow circuit, he flew the F/A-18 solo demonstration for years with the Swiss Hornet Display Team.
Vincent started flying at the age of 14 in gliders. He went then through the Air Cadet program SPHAIR and got his pilot license at the age of 19. After joining the Air Force, he passed his CPL/IR at the Swiss Aviation Training, before flying the Pilatus PC7. Following this initial training, Vincent moved on the F-5 Tiger II, and after receiving his wings, on the mighty F/A-18 Hornet. Vincent had then the unique opportunity of flying an exchange in the French Air Force on Mirage 2000-5. After coming back to Switzerland, Vincent took over the Swiss Hornet Display Team, flying the F/A-18 solo demonstration across Europe during the 2017-2018-2019 Airshow seasons.
Besides his military career as fighter pilot, Vincent continued flying both in gliders and airplane, including as a flight instructor. He totalizes 3’200 flight hours in 32 different types of airplanes and 1’700 hours on 37 different types of gliders. He loves flying Oldtimers and is qualified on Bücker Jungmann, Tiger Moth, Pilatus P-2, North American T-6 Texan and the iconic P-51 Mustang.
Within the Classic Formation, Vincent flies the blue Beech 18 “Classic 2”.