|
On the 27th of June we were welcome to
visit the Fliegerhorst Laage.
Laage is a civil as military airport. The civil terminal is on the south
side of the runway.
Our interest this day lay in the military site on
the north side of its runway 10/28.
The Fliegerhorst Laage was built as
recent as 1980 as a military air base. Then Laage Fitter as located in
the former DDR and was home to JBG77 and MFG28 both flying the
magnificent Su22 from 1984 till the fall of the Berlin wall. From 1994
it has been in use as a civil airport.
 |
|
|
These days Laage
hosts JG73 "Steinhoff", flying the modern Eurofighter. The unit is named
in honour of Johannes Steinhoff. He was a German ace of the second world
war. Originally a biology teacher, in the Germany of the late 1930's he
could not get a job. He enlisted in the Luftwaffe and as it turned out
he had some other talents as well. He ended the war with 176 victories
of which 46 were made flying the first jet fighter: the Messerschmitt
262. Because of his involvement in the reconstruction of the post war
Luftwaffe the unit is named after him. On the tail of airframe 30+73 is
a picture of him.
JG73 is nowadays flying the Eurofighter. It was the first unit in 2004
to be equipped with these modern airplanes. Its also responsible for
the training of the German and the Austrian Eurofighter pilots. JG73 has
been formed in 1959 and has since had various tasks. Including close air
support and reconnaissance. This is also visible in the diversity of the
preserved airframes on base.
This is also evident in the various indications the unit has had: it
previously was LKG42 (Leichtes Kampf Geschwader, Light Attack Wing) and
JBG35 (Jagd Bomber Geschwader, Fighter Bomber Wing). After the
unification of both Germany's the unit received a very unique aircraft:
the MiG29. From 1997 until 2004 the smoking MiG29 and the smoking F4F
Phantom flew together with JG73 from Laage. This must have been a
wonderful experience!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A former
smoker
|
 |
|
Some NVA
shelters |
 |
|
Been where ? |
Even though Laage is a former NVA base there is not much that reminds
of the units based in that period. Of course the NVA did not have much
time to utilize the base in the short time between the building of the
base and the fall of the wall. Even though spread out across the base
you will find a lot of old shelters and buildings dating from that
period.
Beside the new boxes for the Eurofighters these cold war buildings give
a very strange image. The unit does keep up its flying heritage. Across
the base you will find many preserved airframes from its flying past.
Not only the western types like the F4F Phantom, The CL13B Sabre, The
Fiat G91 and the F104G Starfighter. Also a MiG23 Flogger and a Sukhoi
22 are preserved.
Leaving for our visit he evening before we arrived at Laage with time
to spare. When we made a short stop at the civil terminal 6 Eurofighters
went in take off. A good start of the day. The visit itself was like you
would always want it. When we were picked up at the main gate our guide
asked us what it was we wished for. Almost
anything was possible. The recovery of the
morning wave was pictured from tree different positions. For the take
off of the afternoon wave we went on to the blast wall at the last
chance. Taking pictures from above. The landing was pictured from the
other side of the runway, keeping the position of the sun in mind.
After he recovery of the last aircraft it was time to leave. Karo
Aviation would like to thank the people at Laage very much for giving us
this opportunity. Especially we would like to thank our guides for a
visit that was well worth the 1.400 kilometer drive.
|
