10.09.2020 15:00 69.832
Airbus is accompanied by two tornado fighter jets over Dresden: That’s it!
–
From Max Patzig
Dresden – On Thursday afternoon around 2:25 p.m., the Bundeswehr flew with three Planes of the Air Force, including two tornado fighter jets, exceptionally low above Dresden.
–
The Airbus A310 MedEvac “Hans Grade” of the Air Force. © Max Patzig
As a token of thanks, the German Armed Forces sent their Airbus A310 MedEvac, which they named “Hans Grade”, and two tornadoes for a short overflight to Dresden. Because the machine no longer takes off for its actual purpose of refueling other jets during the flight.
Many Dresden residents took the opportunity and drove to Dresden International Airport to see the fighting machines and the former tanker live in action.
As Anke Lemke, spokeswoman for Elbe Flugzeugwerke, announced, the Airbus is an aircraft that the Dresden company had converted many years ago. “From 1998 in Dresden four A310s were converted into modern ‘Multi Role Transport Tankers’ for the German Air Force in two steps,” explained Lemke.
In the first step, the EFW built a cargo aircraft from the former passenger aircraft and in a second step followed the “installation of appropriate devices and equipment” to enable refueling in flight.
The Airbus was therefore primarily entrusted with refueling the Tornado fighter aircraft during the flight. The A310 could deliver up to 45 tons of kerosene of the 72 tons of fuel loaded.
–
Without a bang, but with a lot of hustle and bustle: tornadoes rush past Dresden Airport
Two of these tornado warplanes accompanied the Airbus. © Max Patzig
But “Hans Grade” not only had this task.
The A310 and the other three aircraft of the type, which had been withdrawn from the tank service earlier, can also “be used for the medical evacuation of seriously and seriously injured people over long distances,” as Lemke knows.
An Airbus A310 MedEvac converted by EFW can cover up to 11,000 kilometers.
Most recently, he was on duty to bring stranded holidaymakers and corona patients from abroad to Germany. At least one era is coming to an end: namely that of refueling. “For almost 16 years the Luftwaffe’s A310 flew numerous aerial refueling missions and supplied German tornadoes and aircraft from international alliances with several thousand tons of kerosene,” said EFW spokeswoman Lemke.
But now the last tanker is “decommissioned and initially used as a transport aircraft”. The very last refueling was simulated on Thursday afternoon at Dresden Airport in a low flight.
–
Airbus A310 now only in service for medical use
The tank hoses were let out one last time. © Max Patzig
Numerous Dresdeners watched the spectacle up close. © Max Patzig
Video of the escort flight
The Flugzeugwerke spokeswoman used the opportunity to emphasize that it was by no means the cooperation between EFW and the Air Force. As part of a ten-year contract, both sides agreed on the maintenance and servicing of up to 14 Bundeswehr helicopters a year.
Airplane fans therefore still have the opportunity to visit the otherwise rather quiet Dresden International Airport extraordinary machines to see and hear.
–
Cover photo: Montage: Max Patzig (2)
–
:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/5f5214f4-33f2-11eb-a6c1-0217670beecd.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1)