German Alphas

[BigClick67]

Between the early 80´s and the mid-90´s the German Air Force operated a fleet of 175 Alpha Jets. These served with four Fighter Bomber Wings in the light attack/close air support and training roles, namely Jagdbombergeschwader 41 at Husum, JaBoG 43 at Oldenburg, JaBoG 49 at Fürstenfeldbruck and the Training Squadron at Beja/Portugal. Unfortunately the Alpha Jet was withdrawn from GAF-service prematurely after reunification and many were sold to other operators for a second lease of life. The Portuguese Air Force received 50 aircraft, the Royal Thai AF 25, and the MoD´s QinetiQ 12. Several others found their way to civilian operators like Top Aces (now Discovery Air), Air USA or The Flying Bulls.
The following photos give an impression of how they looked like in German Air Force service, and then later on with QinetiQ and the Portuguese Air Force.
#1 40+38 JaBoG 43 Oldenburg:

#2 41+51 JaBoG 43 Oldenburg:

#3 41+27 JaBoG 43 Oldenburg:

#4 40+84 JaBoG 49 Fürsty:

#5 41+58 JaBoG 43 Oldenburg:

#6 41+53 Fluglehrgruppe Fürsty:

#7 41+73 Fluglehrgruppe Fürsty (became ZJ649)

#8 41+68 Fluglehrgruppe Fürsty:

#9 41+55 Fluglehrgruppe Fürsty:

#10 ex-41+55 (see above!) as ZJ646 with QinetiQ, still wearing the GAF Norm 83 camo scheme:

#11 ex-41+55 as ZJ646 meanwhile in QinetiQ´s smart black colour scheme:

#12 ex-41+09 now ZJ648 still in Norm 83 camo:

#13 ex-41+71 now ZJ647 QinetiQ:

#14 ex-40+64 now Portuguese Air Force 15220 103.Esquadra at Beja:

#15 ex-41+46 now Portuguese Air Force 15248, here in 1999 in a very cool tiger dress:

#16 and last but not least with the Portuguese Air Force´s aerobatic team Asas de Portugal:


Unfortunately I cannot offer any Thai or Discovery Air Alphas ... maybe one of you can help me out ?
I hope these are of interest.C&C welcome!
Cheers, Chris

[Andyph]

I remember a 16 ship of Germans strafing Donna on a Elder Joust - late 80s

Happy Days!

[st24]

I remember a 16 ship of Germans strafing Donna on a Elder Joust - late 80s

Happy Days!

My God what had she done to deserve that?!?!

Great stuff, never as cute as a gina but....! Several were flown as single seaters, as a. couple of your lovely images show.

[Niallxg]

Very nice, enjoyed looking through them.

Here's a shot of one of the Top Aces Inc (now Discovery Air) Alphas, C-GNTA - 148, from the Maple Flag at Cold Lake, AB back in 2007. Ex 41+48.
Cold Lake AFB, Maple Flag 07, Top Aces Inc, 414EWSS, C-GNTA - 148, Alpha Jet A. by Niall Grant, on Flickr

Niall

[BigClick67]

Great Niall !! Thank you, that´s the stuff I`m asking for . Any more of those?
Cheers, Chris

[Niallxg]

Great Niall !! Thank you, that´s the stuff I`m asking for . Any more of those?
Cheers, Chris

More than welcome, Chris. I'll look through the folder for that exercise and see what other Top Ace's Alphas I got. I was a very late convert to digital - 2007 - so most of my Alpha's are on slide.

Although here's one from the Portuguese Air Force, Esq 103, 15250, Dassault Alpha Jet A. Ex 41+70. Twente, NL, 21 June 2003.
Portuguese Tiger Alpha Jet by Niall Grant, on Flickr

[Niallxg]

Chris,

Shots of the three other Top Aces' Alpha Jets in attendance at Maple Flag 07.

Top Aces Alpha by Niall Grant, on Flickr

Top Alpha by Niall Grant, on Flickr

Top Aces Alpha Jet by Niall Grant, on Flickr

[BigClick67]

Oh yes! Niall, these are great!! Very nice indeed!
Anybody any Thais??
Cheers, Chris

[soundbarrier]

All history now, I recently heard that with the Portuguese AF only five Alphajets still are active ...