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Berlin: Schönefeld's Nazi past is being dealt with

Amely Mizzi August 17, 2021 07:35

Berlin's Schönefeld and Tempelhof airports have a very dark chapter in their respective histories. While this is widely known and in some cases obvious at the former inner-city airport, only a few people remember Henschel's armaments production in Schönefeld. Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH is based on the former site of the Henschel aircraft factory. Founded in 1934, the subsidiary of the Kassel-based company Henschel & Sohn developed into one of the most important German armaments factories for fighter aircraft and glide bombs during the Nazi era. Aircraft, weapons and weapon systems were developed, tested and built in Schönefeld, bringing death and destruction throughout Europe. This part of the history of the Schönefeld airport site is little known to date. The airport company has therefore commissioned a team of historians to conduct scientific research into the site's Nazi past and would like to communicate the results to a broader public. On Monday (16.08 August) she presented the book "In the service of the National Socialist war - The first airfield in Schönefeld" by the authors Prof. Dr. Harald Bodenschatz, TU Berlin, and Christoph Bernhardt, Stefanie Brünenberg and Dr. Andreas Butter from the Leibniz Institute for Spatial Research (IRS) Erkner. At the same time, an exhibition under the same title was opened in the Schönefeld administration building of the airport company. The publication presents for the first time the construction of the Henschel aircraft factory including the airfield, the military research and production there, and the importance of the Schönefeld location in the armaments landscape of Berlin and its surrounding area. In addition to an architectural-historical assessment of the buildings, an important focus is on military research and production conditions.

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2 lectures on aviation history in the district museum 13

Granite Pireci July 27, 2021 07:29

The "Society of Friends of the Technical Museum Vienna" is organizing two lecture evenings in the ballroom of the Hietzing District Museum (13th, Am Platz 2). Otto Brandtner will be giving a lecture there on Tuesday, August 3rd, from 18.00 p.m. entitled "The beginning of (military) aviation in Austria - Part 1". The transport expert will talk about things like the beginnings with balloons and the use of aircraft called "Etrich-Taube" and "Lohner-Pfeilflieger". On Tuesday, August 10th, Otto Brandtner will be speaking in the museum from 18.00 p.m. on the topic of "Austria's aviation troops in the First World War". In part 2 of his lecture, the expert will look at the eventful history of the "kuk aviation troops". The audience will be informed about the previous use of various types of aircraft. Brandtner recalls the training of pilots and observers at the time and deals with the air forces of the "kuk Kriegsmarine", known as "Seeflieger". For both lectures, listeners pay an "entrance donation" of 5 euros and comply with Corona regulations. Registration is also required: The "Society of Friends of the Technical Museum Vienna" is now happy to accept binding reservations on 0664/20 23 778 (secretariat: Irene Zirbs). You can also express your interest in this event by email: [email protected].

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After floods: Luxembourg is running out of fuel

Jan Gruber July 16, 2021 14:45

This week's floods have had a significant impact on Luxembourg Airport, which is slowly but surely running out of fuel. The airport is supplied with fuel via a NATO pipeline, and this is precisely the pipeline that has been damaged. It is not yet known exactly where the damage occurred, but it is suspected that a valve in Echternacherbrück was damaged. The kerosene pipeline is 5.000 kilometers long and is particularly important for NATO, as it supplies several military facilities. Luxembourg Airport confirmed that its kerosene supply will only last for today, Friday. All airlines and private pilots have been urgently warned that kerosene will continue to be extremely scarce in the coming days and that refueling in Luxembourg may not be possible. Pilots are advised to fill up with enough fuel for the return flight or to have the oil companies truck the kerosene to the airport. According to reports, the fuel companies are trying to bring in the fuel needed for the planes by truck, but the same quantities are not available as usual via the pipeline. Luxembourg is a very popular place for airlines to fill up their tanks. It remains to be seen whether the effects of the flooding will be felt at other airports. Zurich, Frankfurt am Main, Brussels and Amsterdam are also connected to this pipeline. The repairs that have to be carried out on the German side are said to take a few days.

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Airbus delivers A400M number 100

Amely Mizzi 26 May 2021 09:08

The European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has now delivered 100 units of the military turboprop model A400M. The aircraft with the MSN111 went to the Spanish Air Force. On May 24, the aircraft completed its ferry flight from Seville to Zaragoza, where the Spanish A400M fleet is stationed, according to the manufacturer. In the same week, the global A400M fleet reached the 100.000 flight hour mark in worldwide missions in all eight customer nations. Recently, the A400M program successfully completed an important flight test certification campaign for aerial refueling of helicopters in cooperation with the French procurement authority DGA. This means that the A400M's certification objectives have largely been completed, including the first refueling of two helicopters simultaneously. The A400M can also already drop up to 116 paratroopers simultaneously, day and night, either from the side doors with automatic parachute opening or by simultaneous free-fall jumps from the ramp. Recently, tests were carried out in Spain with the British Air Force parachute test team, increasing the altitude for automatic parachute opening to 7.600 metres and for free-fall to 11.582 metres. Further tests have also been completed to increase the A400M's drop capacity, including multiple parachute drop platforms (23 tonnes). France and Spain took part in these flights. Another option for dropping cargo on difficult runways without aids has also been certified: load dropping of up to 19 tonnes (in one pass) or 25 tonnes (in two passes) on pallets on paved or unpaved runways. With the certification flights of the automatic low-level flight capability under instrument flight conditions (Instrumental Meteorological Conditions –

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Armed Forces: supersonic training of the Eurofighters

Granite Pireci 20 May 2021 11:33

Things may get a little louder in the near future. From May 25 to June 4, 2021, the Austrian Army's Eurofighter pilots will be training supersonic interception maneuvers. Two supersonic flights are planned each day between 8:00 a.m. and 16:00 p.m. "Supersonic training is essential for functioning airspace surveillance. It serves to ensure safe flight operations even during supersonic missions to maintain sovereignty and protect the Austrian population," said Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner. The pilots train under real physical stress that cannot be represented in the simulator. The close and extremely time-critical coordination between military pilots, radar control officers and military and civil air traffic control is also an essential purpose of the training. No flights over metropolitan areas Flights will take place over almost the entire federal territory with the exception of metropolitan areas and the federal states of Tyrol and Vorarlberg. The flight areas are determined in cooperation with civil air traffic control. In order to keep the noise level as low as possible, flights are carried out at high altitudes. 

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Malta: Air forces deploy first drone

Jan Gruber 10 May 2021 13:32

For the first time in its almost 50-year history, the Air Force of the Republic of Malta has deployed an unmanned aircraft. It is an IAI Heron. It was used for the first time at the weekend. The IAI Heron is a reconnaissance drone made in Israel. The payload is around 250 kilograms. The aircraft is powered by two petrol engines, each with 115 hp. These are four-cylinder Rotax 914s from BRP Powertrain. The Heron has a two-blade pusher propeller and can fly to a height of around 9.150 meters. The operating speed is between 111 and 213 kilometers per hour. This drone is not usually armed. The main area of ​​​​use for the German armed forces is also reconnaissance. The IAI Heron is equipped with special cameras that transmit photos and videos in real time. This model is not necessarily used for classic military purposes, but also to get a better overview after a severe storm, for example.

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Ukraine: Diplomatic tensions surrounding Motor Sich

Jan Gruber 23 April 2021 11:05

Chinese investors had tried to take over the Ukrainian Motor Sich using a "straw man structure". The government intervened and stopped the transaction. The Chinese are now suing for around 3,6 billion US dollars in damages. The investors want to claim this sum from the Ukrainian government. The matter is quite explosive, as the government feared that Motor Sich's technology and know-how could be transferred to China and used there for military projects. According to the local news agency, the government is now facing a claim for damages amounting to 3,6 million US dollars. The Chinese have only paid 700 million US dollars for the shares, which are frozen due to a decree. And that's not all: the Chinese Foreign Ministry has also intervened and is calling on Ukraine to respect the rights of companies and investors from China. The Ukrainian government countered and is demanding additional information about the buyers and the origin of the funds. The diplomatic tensions have had no impact on the flight operations of Motor Sich Airlines, which is a subsidiary of the affected group. The carrier recently expanded its offering. Apart from a few international routes, Motor Sich Airlines flies primarily within Ukraine.

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"Hercules" brings relief supplies to Lebanon

Granite Pireci March 17, 2021 11:32

Klaudia Tanner visited the Vogler Air Base in Hörsching on the occasion of an air transport of relief supplies with a C-130 "Hercules" transport aircraft. The Defense Minister was accompanied by Derya Allüşoğlu Öcal, initiator and chairwoman of the aid organization "Artists for Children". In cooperation with the aid organization, the Federal Army is transporting more than four tons of food and teaching materials to Lebanon for over 100.000 children who became homeless as a result of the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, 2020. "We all still remember the images of the devastating explosion in the port of Beirut in August last year. The consequences are still present. It is therefore a matter of course for us to help the children in need together with the aid organization "Artists for Children", said Defense Minister Tanner. Military aircraft C-130 The C-130 "Hercules" is an aircraft for primarily military transport. The aircraft is primarily used to transport personnel and supplies, especially as part of the Austrian Armed Forces' foreign missions. The Austrian Armed Forces has 3 operational C-130 "Hercules". The maximum payload is around 19 tons. This would correspond to around 92 passengers or 64 parachutists.

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Vogler Air Base is being modernized

Michael David 25. February 2021 10:15

As Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner announced during a visit to Vogler Air Base, major investments will be made in the next few years to modernize the Hörsching site. After the Saab 105Ö was decommissioned, it became imperative to develop Hörsching as a second pillar for the remaining air defense alongside the Eurofighter base in Zeltweg. According to the Upper Austrian military commander, Brigadier Dieter Muhr, several million euros will be spent on renovating the apron and a hangar in the military part of the Linz airport area. Although the Eurofighters will probably continue to be stationed in Zeltweg in Styria, operations from Hörsching could also be ensured in the future as part of tactical measures or in the event of any emergency situations. Additional investments will be made in measures to ensure that the site can be operated independently in the future.

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Covid: Erwin-Rommel-Kaserne helps out in Portugal

Jan Gruber 23. February 2021 13:02

The 3rd Alb-Donau Medical Regiment of the Erwin Rommel Barracks in Dornstadt is sending a total of 27 additional doctors and nurses to Portugal. There, the Bundeswehr medical soldiers will lend a helping hand to the currently overloaded health system. Portugal asked its partner states for help as part of the EU system. Germany sent doctors and nurses to help treat Covid patients at the beginning of February 2021. The first contingent is now being replaced. Austria has since taken in numerous Portuguese patients for treatment. Just a few days ago, Slovakia also asked its EU partners for help in the form of urgently sending doctors and nurses. The team from the Erwin Rommel Barracks Dornstadt sent to Portugal took off from Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The destination of the military flight, which was carried out with an Airbus A400M, is Lisbon. There, the doctors and nurses will support and relieve their Portuguese colleagues. For several years, Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport has been named after Manfred Rommel, the former mayor of the state capital Stuttgart. The deceased CDU politician was the son of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel.

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