Bückeburg Army Airfield
| Bückeburg Army Airfield | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Characteristics | |||
| ICAO code | ETHB | ||
| Coordinates | |||
| Height above MSL | 70 m (230 ft ) | ||
| Transport links | |||
| Distance from the city center | 4 km northeast of Bückeburg | ||
| Basic data | |||
| opening | 1946 | ||
| operator | International helicopter training center of the Bundeswehr | ||
| Start-and runway | |||
| 08/26 | 1832 m × 45 m asphalt | ||
The Bückeburg Army Airfield is a military airfield in the Lower Saxony city of Bückeburg and the location of the International Helicopter Training Center .
history
Post-war period and the Berlin Airlift
The airfield, captured in 1945, was expanded by the British Royal Air Force in 1946 . The reason for the construction was the need for an airfield for the courier planes of the headquarters of the Royal Air Force in neighboring Bad Eilsen . The British Air Force of Occupation was stationed at what the Allies initially referred to as Airfield B.151 , hence their Comms Wing (communications squadron), which had a number of different types of aircraft in its inventory.
During the Berlin blockade from June 1948 to May 1949, the airfield near Bückeburg was used as an alternate airfield for the Allied forces' supply flights , the Berlin Airlift .
Between June 1950 and the spring of 1952 there was another squadron here in RAF Bückeburg , the 2nd Squadron , which was still equipped with Spitfire until the end of 1950 , and which was reinforced by the 541st squadron from June 1951 . They were equipped with Meteor F8 / FR9 or PR10 , their role was reconnaissance. In April and May 1952 they moved to RAF Gütersloh . A squadron of RF-84F Thunderflash reconnaissance aircraft, the 306th, the KLu , which was relocated to the new RAF Laarbruch station in autumn 1954 , and the 1912th Light Liaison Flight with Auster between July 1952 and December 1954, were also located here .
Takeover by the Bundeswehr
The Army Aviation Force of the Bundeswehr took over the air base in April 1958. Initially, Dornier Do 27 aircraft were stationed .
The Army Aviation School was stationed on the site from 1960 to 2015 . In July 2015, it was reorganized at the same location as the International Helicopter Training Center. This is where the training of pilots and technical aircraft personnel of the German armed forces and allied nations for the Eurocopter EC 135 , NH90 and Eurocopter Tiger helicopters takes place.
International helicopter training center
The airfield is home to one of the most modern simulator centers for helicopter training in Europe. There are a total of fourteen simulators here, which are also configured as night low flight simulators for the following helicopter types:
- 2 × UH 1D
- 2 x CH 53
- 8 × EC 135
- 2 × NH 90
Trivia
In the early 1960s, automobile races , the Achum airfield races , took place on the site . Touring cars and sports cars drove in various classes. Later Formula 1 racing drivers were also at the start (including Jochen Rindt , Gerhard Mitter ).
See also
Web links
- International helicopter training center on the website of the Army of the Bundeswehr
Individual evidence
- ^ Air Commodore AE Clouston (29162). In: rafweb.org (English)