Light Flight

It is a well-known fact that the Swiss are proud makers of small products that require technical excellence – watches and intricate pocketknives for example. Not all Swiss-made products are so small however. What you probably didn’t know is that Switzerland also produces airplanes.

Pilatus, Switzerland’s only airplane manufacturer, recently unveiled their newest military training airplane, the PC-21, amid pomp and circumstance. And you thought Switzerland was neutral. Circumstances were perfect and Swiss company Winkler Veranstaltungstechnik was called upon to provide the pomp in the form of Martin moving heads. A full range of MACs was supplied through Martin distributor ASL Electronic AG/SA.

As you might expect, the Pilatus Flugzeugwerke operates under the strictest guidelines and highest technological principles. Standards for the PC-21 presentation were no less lax. Based on Pilatus’s requirements for the unveiling, the Winkler team combined precise technical elements with a creative touch to produce an eye-catching multimedia show that included both laser and intelligent lighting. Cooperation between the two technical perfectionists was optimal with Pilatus even calling Winkler representatives on stage after the event for a “what an impressive light show” bow.  In operation for more than 15 years, Winkler has also worked with other high profile companies such as Swatch and Calvin Klein.