The forum for all movements and news about Ramstein Air Base.
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If you are planning to go to Ramstein, be advised....
Today we were sent away by (heavily armed) German police, after they noted our names. They claimed that we were not allowed to watch and/or photograph arriving and departing aircraft. The area is declared 'sperrgebiet' due to terrorist threats.
We were sent away from the 26/27 side, but same applies for 08/09, according to the Polizei.
Polizei was very unfriedly, even hostile, with no reason.
The state of Rheinland-Pfalz has been a bit "nervous" lately in this respect, see the Rock-Am-Ring festival that was interrupted.
I guess they have their valid reasons to do this.
We will have to accept it, safety first
In the current climate with several attacks in the UK and Germany I also understand the tense situation for the Police.
Perhaps its best as in the early days of spotting to keep a low and vigilant profile until hopefully the situation improves.
Especially note where you park your car ... only where it is allowed.
Or in the case of Ramstein also take a bike with you for the last km.
CBR wrote:In the current climate with several attacks in the UK and Germany I also understand the tense situation for the Police.
Perhaps its best as in the early days of spotting to keep a low and vigilant profile until hopefully the situation improves.
Especially note where you park your car ... only where it is allowed.
Or in the case of Ramstein also take a bike with you for the last km.
Also keep your radio out of sight.
The polizei at Ramstein have been much more tolerant towards spotters for the last couple of years- and there was no trouble when I was there for the day on the 24th May. At the runway 27 approach they were not even to be seen up to around mid-day.
At Ansbach and Illesheim the situation will also be tense. Caution is advised at these 2 locations.
Rabbit wrote:If you are planning to go to Ramstein, be advised....
Today we were sent away by (heavily armed) German police, after they noted our names. They claimed that we were not allowed to watch and/or photograph arriving and departing aircraft. The area is declared 'sperrgebiet' due to terrorist threats.
We were sent away from the 26/27 side, but same applies for 08/09, according to the Polizei.
Polizei was very unfriedly, even hostile, with no reason.
Never experienced this in all those years.
In Germany you are not allowed to photogrph onto a base. Also much of the runway 27 end is off limits, and vehicles are 'verboten'. Up to a few years ago, this was enforced on a regular basis.
Visited Ramstein today to see the AC-130.
Went to the Eastern end to read the Herc. No police in sight and 3 other cars parked near the end of the runway.
Then went to the Western end. Parked at the Autohof and walked to the fence with the dog. Was there a while reading off stuff from the fence.
Again, no police.
Perhaps I was lucky??
Boswell wrote:Visited Ramstein today to see the AC-130.
Went to the Eastern end to read the Herc. No police in sight and 3 other cars parked near the end of the runway.
Then went to the Western end. Parked at the Autohof and walked to the fence with the dog. Was there a while reading off stuff from the fence.
Again, no police.
Perhaps I was lucky??
Maybe Sunday's event was a show of force. The German police budget has been cut by some 20% over the last 10 years, so a sustained presence at the base is going to cost money and manpower, and there are no doubt other priorities for police attention elsewhere.
First of all I can understand the increased activity of the police. But what I can't understand is how they acting. First we were controlled around 13.00. I was standing next to my car at the 27 end, the police arrived from behind out the woods. They stopped and came out of the car with three persons one younger cop with a machinegun, a female and a older one who did the talking. He kindly asked me to remove my car behind the curve and after that we can come back to take pictures of aircraft but only in the air. Not from buildings of pictures of the field. I did what he asked me remove my car, parked a little further than he asked and walked back to the woods. Then after a few hours later , in the mean time there arrived a German guy with his car, there came again a policecar. They drove between the landinglights and stopped a few metres in front of us. They got out of the car, same young cop and female but another older cop. First he talked to the German guy and after that he approached us. He want us to give him our passports and write down our name and passnumbers. I see that he also noted my licencenumber, color and type of my car who was parked by the mainroad. After he write it down, he told us that it was not allowed to stay there because it is military shutzbereich and I was trespassing a Bundesweer road and I had noting to do there. I tried to say in my best German that we already had a control and that the other older cop said that it was not a problem that we stayed there as long as we didn't make pictures of the field and only take pictures in the air. I told him that the other two with him were there when the other cop says that. The younger one did a step back and the female says nothing. He turned back to us and says nothing to do with that just leave!! I picked up my gear and l walked back to the car and leave.
Sunday 11th June, From 13:00 until 17:45 I was parked by the woods on the 26 approach, and the polizei appeared out of the woods around 13:45, had a quick look at my car and that of a German couple parked nearby, then drove off.
Canberra TT.18 wrote:Hi
Question:
Is the Bismarck Turm open? It was closed a few months ago, I read somewhere.
Pieter
It was open yesterday, because I climbed up it! We were looking for the Afghan C-27's, of which we saw 3, in a line facing up the taxiway. We couldn't see the 4th one, which I assume was in the trees somewhere? Does anyone know which ones are parked where please?
mwpeters wrote:Just drive along the fence and you can see them all.
...provided it isn't summer or spring with all the foliage blocking the view...? And do know that it is an "Anlieger frei" road so officially no access by car.
mwpeters wrote:Just drive along the fence and you can see them all.
...provided it isn't summer or spring with all the foliage blocking the view...? And do know that it is an "Anlieger frei" road so officially no access by car.
Too late on this occasion, I'm back in the UK now. Which road do I need to access, and if it's "Anlieger Frei", can I park up and walk along the fence to see them? Of course this depends on how long they remain there and when I am next back!
mwpeters wrote:Just drive along the fence and you can see them all.
...provided it isn't summer or spring with all the foliage blocking the view...? And do know that it is an "Anlieger frei" road so officially no access by car.
Too late on this occasion, I'm back in the UK now. Which road do I need to access, and if it's "Anlieger Frei", can I park up and walk along the fence to see them? Of course this depends on how long they remain there and when I am next back!
/emirates.gif)
