Nordholz (ETMN) 2023

[Trabanti]

23 AUG, from civil terminal/Top Aces area

D-HTMJ EC.145 MFG5, active
79+51 NH90NFH MFG5, active
83+06 S.Lynx Mk.88A MFG5, active
C-FGWT/499 TA-4J grey/grey, active “SKYHAWK7”
C-FGZD/367 A-4N grey, towed from A-4 hangar (left) into A-J hangar (right)
C-FGZO/532 A-4N blue/grey, A-4 hangar (left)
C-FGZH/534? A-4N grey with black radome, A-4 hangar (left)
C-FGZI/531? A-4N grey with grey radome, A-4 hangar (left)
C-GVTA/009 Alpha-Jet A black, right tent
C-GZTO/016 Alpha-Jet A blue/grey, active “TONIC1”
C-GFTO/038 Alpha-Jet A tan/green, platform
C-GJTA/057 Alpha-Jet A blue/grey, A-J hangar (right)
C-FHTO/104? Alpha-Jet A tan/green, A-J hangar (right)

With question mark are assumed. Not sure if my deduction logic is correct: based on my descriptions of the paint schemes, and knowing which ones are deployed to Aviano; are these the only possibilities or are there currently more in Europe with these liveries?


25 AUG, doing ILS approaches:

57+04 Do228 MFG3

[witje]

No, 79+50 was a flying NH-90 and was taken from a photo. s/n was hard to read. Most probably an mistake think it was 79+60 and not 79+50.

Nothing read inside the hangar. All the helicopters in the log flew or put outside.

79+50 doesn’t exist and 79+60 did fly a mission.

[Stephan Lodewijks]

(96+02) D-EGFG L-18C

It should be noted that we (Witje, Koen and me) did not actually read this serial. We only saw a yellow L-18 inside with luminous orange on its wingtips.

Stephan

[Stephan Lodewijks]

Mi-8PS11 0834 243.vrl

Important correction: The Czechs do have an Mi-8PS Hip in service with tail number 0834, but the Hip visiting Nordholz is Mi-17 0834. Same tail number, different type of Hip, different MSN.

Stephan

[Krazy]

…
C-FGZH/534? A-4N grey with black radome, A-4 hangar (left)
C-FGZI/531? A-4N grey with grey radome, A-4 hangar (left)
…
C-FHTO/104? Alpha-Jet A tan/green, A-J hangar (right)

With question mark are assumed. Not sure if my deduction logic is correct: based on my descriptions of the paint schemes, and knowing which ones are deployed to Aviano; are these the only possibilities or are there currently more in Europe with these liveries?
…

I have taken pictures of the 367 and 534 with black radome in the last half year, so I think your assumption on the 534 is correct.
The 531 has a grey radome, but a few others have as well. I think you deducted the options there already, but can’t confirm this one.

The 104 alpha jet looks about the same as the 038 and 069. The 069 was at Aviano as far as I know, so your assumption here should be correct.

[YOXA]

Someone for s/n of the NH90NFH which Friday 25th of August was in the low hangar right next to the large hangar?
He was still standing there at around 6pm. Saturday morning it was empty during the spotters morning.
Maybe someone saw him dragged Friday night or Saturday morning
I will appreciate it very much

Thanks in advance

[Antilliaan]

The following German NH90s were seen and checked on Saturday morning August 26th during the event, most plates photoproof:

79+40 msn 1448 (army) static
79+51 msn 1388 static
79+53 msn 1436 hangar door 1 front left
79+59 msn 1463 static
79+60 msn 1464 hangar door 2 front left
79+63 hangar door 2 back
79+64 hangar door 1 back
79+65 msn 1476 hangar door 2 front right
79+67 hangar door 2 back
+ msn 1505 hangar door 1 front right (anyone for its serial?)

hope this helps.

[patrick dirksen]

Hi, see my log of the spotters day in the airshow topic
C/n 1505 is 79+68.

[Trabanti]

Thanks for your reply Krazy! I will leave 531 as unconfirmed. Not sure how many and which ones they actually have here in Europe, 7 or 8? Including the dual?

Cheers, Bart

[Krazy]

According to my list, the following Top Aces birds are currently based in Europe, with their main location at Nordholz due to construction works at Wittmund. Top Aces is looking for employees (eg Alpha Jet pilots) for a new location at Laage, and they also have been operating from Lakenheath and Aviano this year.

A-4N:
C-FGZO/532
C-FGZT/542
C-FGZD/367
C-FGZE/495
C-FGZH/534
C-FGZS/337
C-FGZI/531
C-FGYL/478 (arr 26-9-2023)

TA-4J:
C-FGWT/499

Alpha Jet:
C-GITO/069
C-GFTO/038
C-GITA/040
C-FHTO/104
C-GVTA/009
C-GJTA/057
C-GZTO/016

See also: https://www.flickr.com/photos/39317519@ ... 0309411680

[Trabanti]

Dank je Bram!

[Richard de Florennes]

NORDHOLZ FRIDAY 25.08.2023 RW26
Weather: broken clouds, some sun, some showers with bad visibility

(07:45 – 17:00 at various places around the airbase)

Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GFTO/038 T08:00 L09:45

NH.90-NFH MFG 5 79+51 T10:02 a5 L12:52
NH.90-NFH MFG 5 79+60 T15:37 aX L16:07
NH.90-NFH MFG 5 79+65 T15:39 a1 L16:44

Do.228-212NG MFG 3 57+04 T10:00 a2 L12:20

P-3C MFG 3 60+04 T08:05

Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+13 T16:10

Sea King Mk.41 MFG 5 89+63 spec c/s T11:33 a3 L11:02
Sea King Mk.41 MFG 5 89+55 T15:32 a3 L16:59

W-3A 243.vrl 0716 T15:23 aX L15:39
Mi-17 243.vrl 0834 T16:07 a1 L16:58
AS.365N3+ Sra.Esk 42 T16:46 a0 L17:05

[Richard de Florennes]

NORDHOLZ TUESDAY 29.08.2023 RW26/RW08
Weather: scattered/broken clouds, some sun, some showers, light wind

(07:45 – 20:15 at various places around the airbase)

Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GFTO/038 T08:05 L09:57
Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GZTO/016 T09:41 L11:46
Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GVTA/009 T09:41 L11:39

C-12U 1-214 AVN 40165 A09:29

Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+17 T09:32 L15:22
Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+12 T09:46 L17:40
Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+07 T10:43 a0 L15:38
Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+23 T13:11 aX L14:51
Super Lynx Mk.88A MFG 5 83+11 T13:14 a0 L15:08

Do.228-212NG MFG 3 57+04 T08:27 L12:03

P-3C MFG 3 60+08 T10:34 a0 L15:42
P-3C MFG 3 60+04 T11:52 a5 L15:15

NH.90-NFH MFG 5 79+60 T15:20 a1 L15:53
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GZTO/016 T13:45 L15:47*
Alpha Jet A Top Aces C-GFTO/038 T13:45 L15:47*

Tornado IDS TaktLwG 51 45+59 A14:54

H.145M SOF HSG 64 76+05 L17:15 T20:23
H.145M SOF HSG 64 76+03 L17:15 T20:23

[Krazy]

A new A-4 has arrived at Nordholz: C-FGYL/478, making it a total of 9 now.

[Herby]

Noted here on 12.10. were the following aircrafts:

MFG 3:

P-3C 60+08 was noted during engine running in front of 3./MFG 5 hangar.
Do228NG 57+05 arrived from a polution control mission.

MFG 5:

Sea Lynx Mk.88A 83+20 or 26 (partly covered serial) was noted in tarpaulins and rotorless in front of the 3./MFG 5 hangar. There was no Lynx activity at the base, also many days before and obviously for the first weeks of October! This Lynx came some days before via the Netherlands by truck (roadrunning) and presumably had an emergency landing in the UK. It looks like the fleet was even grounded! Even the dispersal place was partly occupied by others, (the Orion noted), due to no flying activity. After checking ADSB no Lynx GNY 46.. callsigns were visible for weeks.

One unidentified NH90NTH landed in the afternoon and one was parked rotorless and covered in front of the squadron´s hangar.

Sea King Mk.41 89+64 flew several short missions from/to the base, perhaps some with some soldiers on joy rides.

Top Aces:

A-4N C-FGZD/367 and C-FGZH/534 flew one mission. Later Alpha Jet A C-GZTO/016 took off.