Ramstein (ETAR/RMS) - 2007

[Rene Peteri]

1/5/2007 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 76th Airlift Squadron will lose three of its 13 C-21A aircraft by the end of the month, as the U.S. Air Force retires the aircraft from the active duty inventory.

The C-21 is the military version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet and is used primarily for senior-level passengers, cargo airlift and aeromedical evacuations.

"No commander wants to lose assets, but we understand it is for the good of the Air Force," said Lt. Col. Dan Baldessari, 76th AS commander. "We are fortunate to not lose more than we already are."

The 76th AS flew more than 2,965 sorties in 2006 which was approximately 1,000 more than in 2005, according to the 76th AS C-21 Flight. Those sorties included more than 120 aeromedical evacuations that potentially saved 140 lives.

Although the squadron is losing three C-21s, Colonel Baldessari said it will not affect the aeromedical evacuation mission, as the 76th AS will continue to have crews on alert for those missions.

Colonel Baldessari said the real impact will be scheduled missions, which include transporting distinguished visitors, cargo and intelligence support.

Because of the flight's high operations tempo, higher headquarters will combine missions for distinguished visitors, possibly putting two parties on one jet, he said.

As the planes leave, the number of C-21 pilots and support personnel will be reduced appropriately, but will continue to work in the squadron until their DEROS.

Despite the loss, Colonel Baldessari said the flight of professional aircrew members is ready to take on the challenge and continue to accomplish the mission 365 days a year.

---
Besides this sad news also C130E 63-7887/RS left to AMARC last week...

[andel]

(quote)
Besides this sad news also C130E 63-7887/RS left to AMARC last week

Two more to loose this year

[Maurizio]

Sad news the loose of three C-21?

Ciao.

[pluggie]

C130E 63-7887

Well that wasn't news, and will be welcomed a lot by 86th AW

[K-9]

Every reduction is one to many ! And because of that it is sad news. Ramstein has lost it's C-9 's now a few C-21 and C-130 aircraft will go, what next ?
Oké in the future they will be replaced by C-130J's and the C-21's are likely to get another life with the ND Ang....

But still it remains a reduction....

[andel]

I,ve thought the C-21,s where going to AMARC ?
But indeed every reduction is one to many !

[Robert]

.The wing will retire one of its C-130 Hercules because this particular "E"model is no longer considered useful. Tail No. 7887 was a
"restricted" plane and was limited on the missions it could fly because of
its age and condition.Staff Sgt. Benjamin Comer, who has been the plane's crew chief for the last six months, plans to kiss the plane goodbye before it leaves Ramstein Air Base for the United States on Thursday morning. It's a tradition of his to always give the planes he works on a quick peck on the nose before they take off. The Air Force crew chief with the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is responsible for the upkeep of the planes his unit is assigned. "I've never had a problem getting her to fly," he said. "She's been a spectacular plane. It's sad we have to retire (her). The wings are getting old. It's time for her to go to a new home for a while." Tail No. 7887 is the cargo plane's official name, but it also goes by the nickname "Ace of Spades." The plane, which was delivered to the Air Force on June 5, 1964, is older than many of the squadron's pilots and mechanics. The plane will fly to the Aerospace Maintenance and Recovery Center, commonly known as the "boneyard," at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson,Ariz.It will be stripped of any parts needed to keep the current models flying. The plane was first assigned to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina in 1964. Then, it spent five years in Vietnam in the late 1960s before getting an overhaul. The Air Force transferred the plane to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in 1992 before coming to the 86th at Ramstein in 1995.

[Coati]

Here is my log of Friday the 5th:

Locals:
84-0068 C-21A 76th AS
84-0086 C-21A 76th AS
84-0108 C-21A 76th AS
84-0109 C-21A 76th AS

01-0040 C-40B 76th AS

63-7840/RS C-130E 37th AS
64-0527/RS C-130E 37th AS
68-10935/RS C-130E 37th AS
68-10647/RS C-130E 37th AS
70-1264/RS C-130E 37th AS

Visitors:

1x C-5 Hot Cargo ramp
70-0448 C-5A 137th AS AFRC
01-0189 C-17A 437th AW
03-3126 C-17A 305th AMW
04-4136 C-17A 305th AMW
03-3122 C-17A 437th AW
05-4145 C-17A 452nd AMW AFRC
95-0104 C-17A 437th AW
00-0174 C-17A 62nd AW
03-3119 C-17A 172nd AW MS ANG
89-1190 C-17A 437th AW
06-6156 C-17A 60th AMW
01-0076 C-37A SHAPE Flt
95-6710 C-130H 130 AS WV ANG
1x UH-60A (Landstuhl unit)

Anyone for the C-5 and Blackhawk?

Greetings, Joost

[K-9]

The other C-5 Was 70-0464.

Grtz,

[Coati]

Thanks K-9!

[Vulture One]

Hi,

Simple query, I have a couple of hours spare in the area in March this year and have looked at the Airfield guide which is great. To maximise my short time there and want to save having to drive to all the spots.

I am not too fussy for photographs, so can anyone advise the best peaceful spot to simply log the serials without any hassle.

Regards
Rick W
Scotland

[mwpeters]

You have to go to the Kindsbach hill, from here you have an overview over the whole base. But you need a good binocular to read all the serials.

[Vulture One]

Evening Maarten,

Thansk for info. Have excellent binos but have a 60 x telescope, this should be fine I suspect from there. Weather permitting.

Shall send report.

Regards
Rick

[Melchior Timmers]

Hi all,

Just back from a small trip, here are the results:

Spangdahlem:

C-5A 68-0226 337th AS
C-17A 03-3124 437th AW

Ramstein:

C-130H 92-..... WY ANG
C-130H 91-1232 165th AS (dep)
C-130H 91-1234 165th AS
C-130H 91-1235 165th AS
C-130H 91-1238 165th AS (dep)
C-130E 63-7852 463th AG "The Rock" (dep)
C-17A 89-1190 437th AW
C-17A 00-0185 62nd AW
C-17A 02-2112 172nd AW
C-17A 03-3118 172nd AW
C-17A 03-3127 305th AW (arr)
C-17A 05-5143 452nd AW
C-5A 68-0222
C-5A 70-0455 or 456 (hot cargo)
UH-60A 88-26023
No sign of the 89th AW C-12 (maybe inside?)
When we drove away there was a third 165th AS C-130 departing (around 13.00LT)

Brussels:

C-40B 01-0041 89th AW
bae146 YR-BEA Romavia
Yak40 043??
A319 MM...... (Melsbroek)
Cl601 12+03

We were just in time to spot Mrs Rice boarding her C-40:



Cheers,

[Melchior Timmers]

Hi all,

Had another day off today so went to Brussels for the Pakistani and further to Germany. Here are the results:

Brussels (06:25LT):

Cl-601 12+03
Da900 T.18-04
G-4SP J-755
G-5 678
Da50 27
AN-74 UR-YVA

Spangdahlem (09:15 LT):

C-17A 95-0106
C-17A 06-6158
C-5A 69-0022
C-17A 437th AW arr around 09:25 LT (96-0006??)

Ramstein (10:30 - 13:50 LT):

C-17A 90-0534 (dep)
C-17A 97-0043 (arr)
C-17A 00-0184
C-17A 03-3118 (arr)
C-17A 03-3117 (dep)
C-17A 03-3122
C-17A 04-4132
C-17A 05-5143
C-17A 05-5144 (dep)
C-17A 06-6155 (arr)
C-17A ?? 62nd AW on ramp (00-0179??)
C-17A ?? 437th AW dep around 10:30LT (92-3292?)
C-5A 70-0446
C-5B 86-0011
C-5B 86-0022
KC-10A 79-1713 (arr)
F-15E ??/LN (arr)
F-16C ??/SP (low over)
F-16D ??/SP (low over)
C-130H 91-1235
C-130H 91-1238
C-130H 92-1538

I wasn't able to read the F-15 and F-16's because I was in the back of a USAF police car trying to explain to the two MP's what aircraft spotting is.... So anyone for the missing serials???

Spangdahlem (15:15 LT):

Empty......


That''s it.

Cheers,