A 50th anniversary is always something special, and when a flight test centre is celebrating it you have the right ingredients for a lot of surprises. Exactly that was the case at Manching near Ingolstadt in southern Germany when the Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WTD61) opened its doors on September 15th, 2007.
Where? Manching (ETSI) When? 15/09/2007
The WTD61 was founded on October, 1st 1957 in Oberpfaffenhofen and has been given the task to examine and evaluate everything that was due to fly within the Luftwaffe. But by that time it was still called "Erprobungsstelle" ("E-Stelle", or "Test Centre"), which was still the case when it moved to its current location in 165/66. In 1987 it changed its name from "Erprobungsstelle 61" to "Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge des Bundeswehr" (WTD 61) and by doing so also got the recognition of the widespread field of activities in aircraft and system testing. It is today the main test and evaluation unit for flying systems in the German armed forces.
To celebrate this anniversary a Tornado and a Phantom were painted in bright orange, similar to the test equipment that is installed in the aircraft. Furthermore aerodynamic and flight mechanic formulas were written all over the aircraft together with the German national colours and the WTD61 emblem. Additionally the F-4 has got 'Spooky' on the bottom side, the Tornado carrying an emblem with a Tornado saying "Tornado Flight Test".
After my visit to Duxford in July I still wanted to see a bit more this year. The choice was not difficult, because if you are a warbird enthusiast and you have already been to…Read More
Watching out for something special and exotic this year the Romanian International Air Show (RoIAS) caught my attention. The two day event was celebrated at the Mihail Kogalniceanu AB near Constanta not far from the…Read More
In combination with the 65th anniversary of the "Group de Chasse" GC 01/030 "Alsace" a Open Doors Day (Journée Portes Ouvertes or JPO) was organized at the Base Aérienne BA 132 Colmar Meyenheim on Sunday,…Read More
Even though spectacular contract signings had been missed at this year's ILA and announcements were nearly drowned out by the discussion where the next ILAs will take place due the extension of Schönefeld to the…Read More
Where? Manching (ETSI)
The WTD61 was founded on October, 1st 1957 in Oberpfaffenhofen and has been given the task to examine and evaluate everything that was due to fly within the Luftwaffe. But by that time it was still called "Erprobungsstelle" ("E-Stelle", or "Test Centre"), which was still the case when it moved to its current location in 165/66. In 1987 it changed its name from "Erprobungsstelle 61" to "Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge des Bundeswehr" (WTD 61) and by doing so also got the recognition of the widespread field of activities in aircraft and system testing. It is today the main test and evaluation unit for flying systems in the German armed forces.
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
---- 
