Wunstorf 2021

[Herby]

Which should be the first visit of a TLwG 74 (and JG 74) fighter aircraft was Eurofighter GS 30+22, landing after some Touch and go’s on 23.09. Previously the runway was too short and without cables for safe landings with F-104 and F-4F.

[Herby]

Hi Herby,

That's new info, thanks! Just checking, are you sure about 44+11? Scramble database has this as scrapped with only the cockpit surviving, but EMOOS gives it as instructional at Erding (together with 43+13 by the way).

Scramble could only be as good as the spotters at the fence and on base. The Info about 43+13 and 44+11 came directly from a student of Lehrwerkstatt who worked on both!

Some more infos are unfortunately not fully correct in the databank.

[patrick dirksen]

I know, and input is getting less and less it seems. Thanks for confirming!

[Zonan]

Seen at Wunstorf around 17:15 on 25.09 were 9 A400Ms:
54+06, 54+08, 54+09 (no props), 54+11, 54+14, 54+27, 54+29, 54+34, 54+36
Also the grey C-160 marked as L+LX (should be ex 50+60 if I'm not mistaken)

[Richard de Florennes]

WUNSTORF WEDNESDAY 22.09./FRIDAY 24.09.2021 RW26
Weather: broken clouds, clear air, some sun, light to strong wind

(both days at various places around runway 26 approach with hours of
absence between moevements because of shopping and a job in the area)

A.400M LTG 62 54+18 L14:24
A.400M LTG 62 54+25 L17:50

PC-9 QINETIQ D-FEMT 9A13:25
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A.400M LTG 62 54+07 T08:15
A.400M LTG 62 54+34 T10:42

Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-FHTO/104 1A11:23

A.400M LTG 62 54+25 L11:32
A.400M LTG 62 54+27 L14:33
A.400M LTG 62 54+34 L15:46
A.400M LTG 62 54+36 L18:36

(as always, only active aircraft noted in addition to photography)

[Bennie]

Which should be the first visit of a TLwG 74 (and JG 74) fighter aircraft was Eurofighter GS 30+22, landing after some Touch and go’s on 23.09. Previously the runway was too short and without cables for safe landings with F-104 and F-4F.

Have the runway dimensions changed in the last couple of years? Present runway length is 2499m, although the landing distance available is 'only' around 2250m. Should be (more than) enough for a Phantom (and possibly a Zipper too) landing with dragchute.
The lack of cables present sounds like a reasonable explanation though!

[Bennie]

WUNSTORF WEDNESDAY 22.09./FRIDAY 24.09.2021 RW26
Weather: broken clouds, clear air, some sun, light to strong wind

(both days at various places around runway 26 approach with hours of
absence between moevements because of shopping and a job in the area)

A.400M LTG 62 54+18 L14:24
A.400M LTG 62 54+25 L17:50

PC-9 QINETIQ D-FEMT 9A13:25
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A.400M LTG 62 54+07 T08:15
A.400M LTG 62 54+34 T10:42

Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-FHTO/104 1A11:23

A.400M LTG 62 54+25 L11:32
A.400M LTG 62 54+27 L14:33
A.400M LTG 62 54+34 L15:46
A.400M LTG 62 54+36 L18:36

(as always, only active aircraft noted in addition to photography)

54+07 flew to Leeuwarden to participate in the WIC.

[Herby]

Which should be the first visit of a TLwG 74 (and JG 74) fighter aircraft was Eurofighter GS 30+22, landing after some Touch and go’s on 23.09. Previously the runway was too short and without cables for safe landings with F-104 and F-4F.

Have the runway dimensions changed in the last couple of years? Present runway length is 2499m, although the landing distance available is 'only' around 2250m. Should be (more than) enough for a Phantom (and possibly a Zipper too) landing with dragchute.
The lack of cables present sounds like a reasonable explanation though!

Of course the dimensions have changed. Before the A400M entered service the runway was lengthened from 1.877 m (and earlier 1.800 yards and normal for a former RAF base) to 2.499m and two cables were installed. If you know the history of German Air Force the former length is too short for save (!) operations with F-104 and F-4. Of course they can land and take off (but why they should?), but Wunstorf wasn’t certified for the types. You can also look into the old Air Show reports on scramble and will never find any other fighter aircrafts than RAF Jaguar and Harrier, USAF A-10, German Tornado and Alpha Jet as visitors and air show participants. F-104 came sometimes, but on a truck only as an non-flying exhibit.

Only after lengthen the runway Wunstorf is alternate for German Eurofighters and Tornados.

[Herby]

Planned for arrival on 30.9. is BAe 146 CC.2 ZE701 of No.32(TR).Sqn.

[Herby]

Landing for a nightstop on 4.10. at 14.56h was HAF C-27J 4117 of 354.MTM.

[Herby]

Visiting today on 15.10. was Lithuanian AF/Transporto Eskadrile C-27J 08.

[Herby]

Noted visiting here on 20.10. were Tornado IDS 45+85 of TLwG 33 and Global 6000 14+06 of FBS BMVg.

[Herby]

Making a weather diversion due to colour state RED at Wittmund were TLwG 71 Eurofighter GS 30+92 and 30+87.

Both departed again at 13.15 h as Flash 1 and 2.

[Herby]

Awaited back tomorrow from Andersen AFB, Guam, routing via Doha, Kula Lumpur und vice versa was LTG 62 A400M 54+36 beeing the very first very long distance flight to the Pacific area.

[Herby]

As 36th German A400M 54+37 departed Sevilla in the morning of 12.11. for Wunstorf and LTG 62.

Many of the current A400 are on maintenance at Airbus for A and C Checks and upgrades. Airbus promised to improve the situation soon.