Starman wrote: ↑25 Dec 2022, 20:42
"Hildesheim is a small field that most spotters ignore"....could be, I was in Germany a hundred years ago & saw a sign for "open tag" or something, didn't even know there were British Army helicopters there....scored my only Lynx flight that day, result
Back in the day when men were men and Air Forces flew Starfighters (around 200 years ago?) the Heeresflieger were there with a Alouette unit (HFS-1, IIRC) and I was shown round and noticed the Brit Army were operating off a diferent ramp, which I didn't know about. I asked my guide if we could visit the British unit, but said guide claimed the Brits didn't want any visitors.
So, I wrote to them and was shown round the following year, after received a positive reply. Whilst on base, a US Army UH-1H showed up and landed. Bonus.
Later when in the tower a second US Army UH-1H appeared, and without calling up proceeded to land in front of the tower. The comtrollers and others were less than impressed, and took the crew of the second Huey to task. The crew replied they thought Hildesheim was some primitive outpost with no ATC, and other infrastructure. At least the second UH-1H was also 'needed'. Another bonus.
After this, the crew were asked why they were there, and they replied they were to pick up x passengers/freight/beer or whatever, a task the first UH-1H was assigned, and was still stittng patently on the ramp waiting for their pax, etc to show up.
Don't ever believe anyone who claims the US Army in Germany in the 1980s were efficient.
. It was supposed to leave just before Christmas but is still around and even flew on Christmas day so guess it still needs to complete some measurement flights. 
/iberia.gif)
/emirates.gif)
