area, which may be used for air-drop tests
by transport aircraft, among other tasks.
The base has two parallel runways, the
northern one with a length of 10,498ft
(3.2km) and the southern 11,811ft (3.6km). In
between are the facilities for WTD 61 aircraft,
dominated by four hangars. The largest, Werft
1, is for the unit’s fighters; Werft 2 handles
transports and the smallest hangar, Werft
3, is for WTD 61’s helicopters. The newest
hangar, the Otto-Lilienthal-Werft, is reserved for
unmanned aerial systems such as the RQ-4E
Eurohawk and forthcoming MQ-4C Triton.
WTD 61 has just a few aircraft in its inventory,
usually recognisable by their ‘98+’ serials, bright
blue WTD 61 badge and/or test markings. Some
non-flying aircraft in special orange markings
are preserved around the base, including an
F-4F Phantom II and a Tornado. Today, most
WTD 61 flying assets retain their normal service
colour schemes, which is more cost-effective.
Depending on the test projects, additional
aircraft can be temporarily assigned to the
unit. At the time of AFM’s visit, those in use
comprised one Eurofighter, five Tornados, one
C-160D Transall, one UH-1D MAT
(Missionsausrüstungs-
träger, or mission
equipment carrier), a standard
UH-1D, two CH-53Gs and a single
Tiger. In future the Luftwaffe’s latest flying assets- the A400M transport and NH90 helicopter – are
expected to be added to the test fleet. A new-
generation replacement for the UH-1 MAT is
awaited, as the venerable ‘Huey’ is approaching
retirement from German military service.
Some of WTD 61’s previous test aircraft are
retained at Manching in non-airworthy condition
for technical education purposes with the unit’s
Berufsausbildung (professional training) section.Test pilots
AFM spoke to Lieutenant Colonel Rolf E,
one of the WTD 61 test pilots, to learn more
about their work at Manching. The former
Luftwaffe Tornado pilot was recruited to
join the special unit after fulfilling the basicprofile, which stipulates required operational
flying hours, technical study (preferably
aviation or space-orientated), and age.
Part of the selection process assesses the
pilot’s ability to adapt quickly to the essential
flying characteristics of a new aircraft. In the
morning the applicant studies and prepares
for a first flight later the same day. The aircrew
follow the principle of qualitative flight testing
(QFT) – determining the maximum amount of
information in the minimum amount of flying time
to evaluate an aircraft across its entire mission
spectrum or within a specific area of interest.
Prime importance is given to the pilot’s opinion- supported by measured data from sensors.
Magicians
Above: WTD 61 operates a pair of UH-1D helicopters, of which 98+98 (c/n 8358) is the specially confi gured
MAT (Missionsausrüstungsträger, or mission equipment carrier). The ‘Huey’ undergoes periodic
maintenance in the unit’s Werft 3 hangar. Peter ten Berghttp://www.airforcesmonthly.com #362 MAY 2018 // 95