Swidwin (EPSN) - 2011 MIL

[r.e.hendriks]

Hi all,

Here's a log of a fantastic day at Swidwin AB.

Friday 6 may 2011, 21.BLot Świdwin [EPSN] (PL)

Parked / Flying from Flightline:
4510 Mi-2RL LGPR / 1 Gpr Polish AF
310 Su-22UM-3K 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
508 Su-22UM-3K 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF flying
509 Su-22UM-3K 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
707 Su-22UM-3K 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF arr. Tiger c/s
3508 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF flying Tiger mks.
3509 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
3816 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF flying
3920 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF flying
8103 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
8308 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF towed away
8310 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF arr.
8715 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF flying
8919 Su-22M-4 8 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
8920 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF towed away
9102 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF

Parked at engine test area:
308 Su-22UM-3K 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF

Parked inside Hangar:
3715 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
8101 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
9306 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
9616 Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF
1x Su-22M-4 40 ELT / 21 BLot Polish AF

Temporary stored near Hangar:
605 Su-22UM-3K nn Polish AF Anniv. mks.
3203 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
3216 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
7308 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF (27309 written on nose wheel door)
7411 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF (27411 written on nose wheel door)
9204 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
9409 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF

Stored near Hangar:
0602 Mi-2RL nn Polish AF rotorless

Preserved on base:
1x SBLim-2 nn Polish AF Marked as “2105”
9483 MiG-21bis nn Polish AF
3617 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
1804 TS-11-bis DF nn Polish AF



Friday 6 may 2011, Świdwin (PL)


Preserved near Railway Station:
1x Lim-5P nn Polish AF Marked as “1976”


On some of the stored Su-22s a c/n was written on the nose wheel door with a marker. On two of the aircraft the c/n of the nose wheel door is different from the c/n plate.

According to the latest Scramble magazine 7308 was seen (mar11) at Kolobrzeg. However, we read c/n 27308 on the c/n plate. So I'm curious on what the info in Scramble magazine was based.

Any corrections/ additions are more than welcome.

Best regards Rob.

[Paul van der Linden]

Hi all,

Here's a log of a fantastic day at Swidwin AB.

Friday 6 may 2011, 21.BLot Świdwin [EPSN] (PL)


Temporary stored near Hangar:
605 Su-22UM-3K nn Polish AF Anniv. mks.
3203 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
3216 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
7308 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF (27309 written on nose wheel door)
7411 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF (27411 written on nose wheel door)
9204 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF
9409 Su-22M-4 nn Polish AF

On some of the stored Su-22s a c/n was written on the nose wheel door with a marker. On two of the aircraft the c/n of the nose wheel door is different from the c/n plate.

According to the latest Scramble magazine 7308 was seen (mar11) at Kolobrzeg. However, we read c/n 27308 on the c/n plate. So I'm curious on what the info in Scramble magazine was based.

Any corrections/ additions are more than welcome.

Best regards Rob.

Hi Rob,

Many thanks for the log.

The thing with the Su-22 c/n plates is that the fuselage and the wings are manufactured on a parallel line. Therefore they receive identical c/n numbers but eventually the wings and fuselages are being assembled ad random and not as we would like it with both wings and fuselage with the same numbers assembled together.

Most people check one of the wing plates which therefore do not have to be the same as the fuselage. In this case the number written on the nosewheel door is most probably correct. Please confirm that you checked the wingplate and not the fuselage c/n which is in the nosewheel bay.

The aircraft that you saw in storage are there for some time now so I think (!) that they will remain grounded as the fleet is to decrease from 48 to 36 aircraft.

One additional question Rob; some time ago I heard that the aircraft at Swidwin are in a technical pool with the squadrons using aircraft from the technical unit as required. Did the aircraft that you mention as 8.elt and 40.elt have any markings, were they on two different flightline (parts) or were the pilots from these squadrons?

Greetings, Paul

[r.e.hendriks]

Hi Paul,

First of all....
Based on my photo's compared to other photo's on the internet 7308 should be 7309, ans 7411 should be 7410.
So as written on the nose wheel door.

Second...
Some Fitters on the flightline had squadron mks. All Fitters with 8 ELT mks were parked on the Western side of the flightline, all 40 ELT marked Fitters on the Eastern side of the flightline.

Third...
Our guide told us that all stored aircraft are only in temporary storage and that they will be flying in the future. The Polish Air Force intent to fly to Su-22 until 2025!

Best regards Rob

[frank kramer]

Further to the questions raised by Paul, if I'm not mistaken, I noticed that some 8.elt ships were flown by 40.elt pilots (e.g. in "mixed" formations, as when 3508 and 8715 took off together: both pilots came from 40.elt squadron building).

[Paul van der Linden]

Hi Paul,

First of all....
Based on my photo's compared to other photo's on the internet 7308 should be 7309, ans 7411 should be 7410.
So as written on the nose wheel door.

Second...
Some Fitters on the flightline had squadron mks. All Fitters with 8 ELT mks were parked on the Western side of the flightline, all 40 ELT marked Fitters on the Eastern side of the flightline.

Third...
Our guide told us that all stored aircraft are only in temporary storage and that they will be flying in the future. The Polish Air Force intent to fly to Su-22 until 2025!

Best regards Rob

Ha Rob,

1st: 7309 and 7410 make sense as they were noted in storage in oct10.

2nd: Thanks, maybe the squadrons request a certain number of aircraft for a flying day and probably the technicians prepare them on their part of the flightline. Did you notice if the aircraft on the 40.elt flightline had the 40.elt markings and the same for the 8.elt ones?
It could be possible that they have their own aircraft as 40.elt was operating the AT-23 TV system equipped aircraft (aircraft from batch 30 onwards) in the past.

3rd: I am not so sure. Over the past seven months 33 aircraft were seen active with 21.BLT or undergoing o/h with WZL-2. Contrary to what I said earlier 32 rather than 36 are to remain active. However, it is off course possible that some of the aircraft that are currently active are running out of hours and need to be replaced by freshly overhauled aircraft. The Polish air force currently investigates the possibility to extend the life of the the Su-22's which expires in 2012-2014. This would enable the Su-22 to remain in service until 2016. In the mean time the possibility of upgrading the aircraft will be investigated. If this is possible and if funds are available the aircraft could soldier on for some time.

Greetings, Paul

[r.e.hendriks]

Hi Paul,

1st....Thanks!

2nd....Just like you said...all aircraft marked with 40 ELT mks were parked at one side (east) and all aircraft marked with 8 ELT mks were parked at the other side (west). The goes for the aircraft being towed to/from the flightline. 40 ELT coming from the east, 8 ELT from the west.

3rd....OK. We will just have to wait and see. During the briefing a Major told us they will be flying the Fitters until 2025. So maybe the decision to upgrade them is already made? Inside the hangar, close to the stored aircraft at least five Fitters were parked. According our guide those are operational test aircraft.

Best regards Rob.

[CBR]

Going to spend my holidays on the nearby beach (80km) and thinking of trying to catch some Fitters.

Anybody having recent experience with spotting (taking pictures off-base) at Swidwin.? It is safe??

Thx Carl.

[CBR]

Going to spend my holidays on the nearby beach (80km) and thinking of trying to catch some Fitters.

Anybody having recent experience with spotting (taking pictures off-base) at Swidwin.? It is safe??

Thx Carl.

Anybody??

[r.e.hendriks]

Last time I was spotting outside at Swidwin is more than 11 years ago.
About 25 soldiers with AK47s came after us to check our camera's.
At that time it was not allowed to take pictures.

I really don't know how things are nowadays...

Good luck!
Rob.

[Custard Gannet]

Hello Carl
My experience this year was very pleasant.
First of all you should check the ATC website,
http://www.pata.pl/aup for flying activity, if they are flying in the morning , aircraft will be dragged out 7am-ish. afternoon flying , aircraft dragged out 12pm-ish !!.
If there is are no flying allocations slots (in the website) Don't go !!!

The East end approach , is best for reading off the ramp, you are in full view of passing military vehicles, so stay in the avenue of trees and shoot approaches only ! And you will have no problems.
The West approach is a lot better ! You are away from observing eyes. Check the scramble airfield guide for access to these points.

One further point at the moment , Swidwin must be having repairs ! , as flying of the Fitters is taking place @ Mirosawiec !!

So again check the website !. Don't go to any jet base in Polska without looking !!!

Good luck & good Fitter spotting.

Regard

Mr Custard

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[CBR]

Mr. Custard thanks for the info, very valuable !!! (Rob thanks for trying ... )

Thats amazing you can see all the planned slots for military traffic in Poland.

According to this NOTAM Swidwin is closed until 15/08:

B4207/11 NOTAMR B4161/11
Q) EPWW/QFALC/IV/NBO/A /000/999/5347N01550E005
A) EPSN B) 1107180909 C) 1108142200
E) AD CLSD EXC SEARCH AND RESCUE HEL. PLACE OF HEL TKOF AND LDG IS
DETRMINED BY MIL ATC.
CREATED: 18 Jul 2011 09:23:00
SOURCE: EUECYIYN

[Custard Gannet]

Hi Carl
No probs !
Swidwin usually fly ( but by no means always ! )
Tues - Thurs !! , sometimes Mon - wed !!! & very occasionally also fridays mornings !!
Mission times 50 min - 80 mins , depending on the Range/op designated !!.
Typically 8-15 su22s on the ramp ! + 2 or 3 towed around
4-5 missions daily
Miroslawiec has good views of the ramp/ runway from the village (can't remember name) near the NNW approach .(Check GE)
If you can post serials, its always appreciated !

Again Good Fitter Photting/spotting

Regards
Mr Custard

[ Post made via Mobile Device ]

[FISHER01]

http://www.pata.pl/aup
give a errorpage 404

[Stefan]

http://www.pata.pl/aup
give a errorpage 404

I THINK this one is meant: http://www.amc.pansa.pl/aup.php

Regards,
Stefan

[CBR]

Going to spend my holidays on the nearby beach (80km) and thinking of trying to catch some Fitters.

Anybody having recent experience with spotting (taking pictures off-base) at Swidwin.? It is safe??

Thx Carl.

I have similar plans for this years summer. Unfortunately in July 2011 the weather was rather bad and the Su-22s were deployed to Mieroslawiec.

At Mieroslawiec off base photography is nearly impossible unlike at Swidwin were its is very good ...

My question : any chance on a similiar deployment this year? during the last two weeks of July??