A friend of mine flies Cessnas around Switzerland in his free time and is close to acquiring his private pilot license. He tells me that it is beautiful up there, buzzing around the mountainous landscapes. I am inclined to believe him, especially when I see the uncontrolled smirk on his face when he spots a Cessna, Piper, or Mooney in the sky. Single-engine planes have their limits — apparently it is a big no-no to fly directly over the mountains, since engine failure would be catastrophic. Fighter pilots, on the other hand, have no qualms about low level flight over glaciers, peaks, and crags.