Spottersday and Open day Wittmund 28/29 June 2013

[cHabu]

My big disappointment was the fact that all aircraft on the eastern shelter area were gated off before we could take any pics and the yaks were parked in a spot we could not go.

(And don't forget they parked the Orion and Airbus in a weird way.)

[Alpha Kilo One]

To me, that also was a big disappointment.
Why fencing them off?
On the western "frontier" it worked out quite well, actually....

ronald

[Gerard]

Why fencing them off?

I understood that this was done on request of the aircraft-owners.

Gerard

[Redskin]

Why fencing them off?

When registration started it was already said that some aircraft would be fenced because they are preparing for the openday during the spottersday.

[Mad Viper]

You're probably right. But they didn't had to place them so tightly around the aircraft. IMHO there was enough space to spread the gates fences some more.

Another small bummer was the fact that the F-104 and F-86 were still in the hangaar during the spottersday (behind the Airbus) and not on the tarmac, door was briefly open but was closed at the moment I wanted to take a picture.

But hey I went for the Phantoms and I got what I came for. Nice touch to let one Phantom be shot inside a hangar. Big thanks to the Wittmund crew. Ooh and thanks to the dutch guys that moved the stairs on the tarmac, too bad the third attempt at the Flight Test Phantom failed.

[andrewn]

Are there any scannerlogs known from arrivals on the 28th of june?

I didn't took a scanner with me and I only heard this one myself from a 'neighbour'. Surprisingly this German fellow couldn't tell anything about the incoming traffic talking to Wittmund ATC ..

XX315/315 Hawk T1A 208(R)Sqn "RFR7114"

Yes, here's what I heard and posted on FC:

GAF M74 Tornado ECR 4657 AG51
GNY 4524 P-3C 6005 MFG3
Mojo 1 Eurofighter 3029 Jg74
GAF 123 C-160 5082 LTG63
Dixie 29A F-4F 3715 WTD61
DAE 3160 Saab Supporter T-428 FLSK
RFR 7114 Hawk T1 XX315 208Sq
Dixie 29B F-4F 3813 WTD61
Viper(?) 4 Eurofighter 3073 Jg73
C 28 Bo.105 8763 HFWS
Nitro 1x JbG33 Tornado IDS
Strike 1x JbG33 Tornado IDS
RFR 7080 Tornado GR4 ZA472 9Sq
RFR 7081 Tornado GR4 ZD788 9Sq
BAF 501-503 3x BAF F-16 (FB18,FB24,FA110)

[wedge]

Am I the only one who feels ashamed about our own Air Force (RNLAF)? With so many countries/units attending this farewell party I was surprised not seeing any Dutch participants. Bit arrogant I think seeing as the 37+01 did attend Volkel two weeks ago and don't forget the awesome fly by of a JG71 "R" Phantom at the Soesterberg farewell party late 2008...

What should I feel, then as french?

[bvdboomen]

I can understand the disappointment of Marcel, especially when you only can go on Friday.
For me, the the spottersday was a great success. I finally got the chance to go on-base which I never did. Actually, in may this year it was my first visit ever at Wittmund!
First, the arrival in the morning. It looked pretty much like a spottersday since the spots are so great. I have pretty nice pictures despite the rain. Then, on base, as mentioned, the Phantoms without fences and not to many people around it. What isn't mentioned since Marcel posted is the spectacular engine run with a quick start only 10 meters or so away. They did know where to find the throttle lever. On Saturday, there was a Fokker DRIII on that spot. Also nice of course but if I may choose...

The Saturday was nice and well organised. Too bad some of the WWI birds could not fly due to the wind. The farewell ceremony was perfect! Suddenly all the 130.000 spectators came to the fence! Lucky for us we got there early and had a very nice place. With only the 80's-90's camo not enable to fly, the rest was great. The taxi route was nicely planned so that everyone could get a good view on the four planes. Even the spotters outside the airbase. Also how the two Eurofighters participated and arrived while the Phantoms were "gone". They got there welcome time while the F4's stayed in the distance then.

About the participation of the visiting planes. I've got the feeling that some of them came right from Örland tigermeet and stopped on their way home. As for the number of planes, I think the plan was to only fill the dispersals and a bit outside and those were occupied to the last one, knowing that the US is grounded for these events and Turkey and Greece weren't able to come as well as the Polisch Mig-29.

I nevertheless had a wonderful two days at Wittmund. Many thanks to the airbase and the German airforce.