During the episode, host Flo Taitsch takes viewers on an exclusive behind-the-scenes visit to the German Air Force’s 74 Squadron in Neuburg.
In addition to their day-to-day role in the Air Force, the Squadron is also a member of the NATO Tiger Association,which is legendary in the military aviation world.
And… as a Tiger Squadron every year they need to foil (paint) one of their Typhoons in Tiger livery and take it to a NATO Tiger Meet.
The unique, intricate, and painstaking foiling process takes many hours over several days, but the result is totally worth it.
With exclusive access to the Tiger hangar in deepest Bavaria, Flo Taitsch watched and learnt what goes into the process.
“It was fascinating to witness the birth of the Bavarian Tiger! From start to finish the process was truly absorbing. There are so many crucial moments, with concentration needed throughout. No wonder there is so much pride from every Tiger Squadron.”
Designer and airbrush artist, Chris Erhart, was tasked with producing the design for the Bavarian Tiger, having also showcased his flair for stripes on the Austrian Tiger aircraft earlier in the year.
Chris said: “It took around 20 hours to design this livery and this year the inspiration came from the Tiger spirit. It has a vintage, 70’s feel.”
His final design featured classic orange and black stripes with piercing green tiger eyes adorning the foreplanes.
Flo also speaks to Casimo Ribiero, who, along with his team at Hamm Werbung advertising agency in Neuburg, were responsible for foiling this year’s aircraft.
Casimo and his team make the complex process look simple. They take hours to ensure there are no bubbles in the finish and the Eurofighter has a sleek finish. He said: “It is all about having the right tools, a lot of experience, and magic fingers.”
Chris’s design and Hamm Werbung’s application for the Bavarian Tiger was a star of the 2023 NATO Tiger Meet at the military airbase Gioia del Colle, Italy. It was named best designed Typhoon of the year, and the squadron took the prestigious Silver Tiger Trophy back to Bavaria.
Check out the video here: