Phigthertown Wittmund - 22.03.2011 Night Flying

[GME-AirFoto]

Last week I had the opportunity to visit Luftwaffe (German Air Force) last remaining F-4F Phantom II wing JG71 "Richthofen" (Fighterwing 71) based at Wittmund AB. On that day two missions were flown, one in the afternoon and one late nightflying action.
First some pictures of the nightflying

Wittmund Air Base


Phantom preparing for flight




BAE Systems A-4 Scooters work for the day is done.


Phantoms on last chance


Ready for take - off


What a awesome night and what a weather. Touch & go of a mighty phantom


Back to shelter days work done - and knowledge of the day: stars are fast


Some photos of the afternoon later if you want.
Hope you like it.
Regards from Germany

[iainpeden]

Lovely

[captain scarlet]

Very nice!

[A380-001]

lovely shots
i really like the last one

[roger s(lonewolf)]

Great stuff you lucky fellow

[GME-AirFoto]

Some photos of the afternoon.
Flight operations at the Richthofen squadron


37+81 was leaving Wittmund direction Jever. This F-4F will get a second life in an museum in eastern Europe.






QRA ready for take-off






JG71 Phantoms accumulated more than 6,500 flight hours last year, but use of the type will be reduced to 3,000h in 2011, 1,800h in 2012 and 700h in 2013. As a result of the reduction, all training missions are limited to just 40 minutes long sorties. All trainings sorties are flying without any additional tanks.









Maintenance JG71










The characteristic smoke trial and unique silhouette of the Phantom will be history soon, unfortunately!

[GME-AirFoto]

BAE Systems A-4N Skyhawk - the Scooters:







Hope you like it.

[sgkoksijde]

we like them very much, great pictures. It will be a great loss that we won't see any German phantoms anymore

[ben mccarthy]

Great pictures -shame theyll be gone in a few years What are BAE Systems' 'scooters' used for?

[toom317]

PHANTOMS! :snack:

[GME-AirFoto]

Great pictures -shame theyll be gone in a few years What are BAE Systems' 'scooters' used for?

Thank you. It is planned to retire the last 6 Phantoms already in 2013.
Unofficially known as 713 Dartziel Staffel, the BAE flying unit provides aerial target services for the Luftwaffe and other NATO air forces, using six A-4 Skyhawk.

[Kenny]

Holy cow! These are amazing! What a post

[Cimmerian]

Great shots.

[lynothehammer]

Very interesting set, that last night shot with the hanger is immense !

[nigelblake]

Awesome set, the second frame is the star shot for me though!

[ATrs.jules]

Maintenance JG71

Fantastic, great to see Tooms still being used and flown today, as an ex RAf Phantomphixer, i remember this routine for servicing and changing the main landing gear drag braces.

[swingy]

Great post.

[ciaranchef]

Superp post, some fantastic pictures....

[GME-AirFoto]

My old post back, thanks for feedback. Some more Phantom photos and a report about the wing in 2011 on our website.