Airforces

some of the jet’s operational systems –

including the cannon – have been removed.

Procurement support

WTD 61 provides input to Luftwaffe

procurement decisions and carries out

continuous in-depth analysis of aircraft and

equipment available on the market. The test

team executes specific evaluations to support

procurement decisions and was heavily

involved in the acquisition of an Airbus A321.

The requirement for this aircraft appeared

very rapidly, in April 2016, due to capacity

constraints in the Luftwaffe’s existing VIP fleet.

The expertise available at WTD 61 is essential

to meet challenges like these with the necessary

urgency. In January last year an agreement

was signed for the Luftwaffe to purchase a

Lufthansa A321. The unit is still active in the

A321 project, offering guidance for re-equipping

and updating the airframe to military standards.

The Airbus is expected to join the Luftwaffe

VIP fleet at Köln-Wahn later this year.

Another acquisition project will examine

replacing the UH-1D search and rescue (SAR)

helicopters, the Luftwaffe having begun a tender

process to acquire seven new helicopters. The

age of the ‘Huey’ airframes meant the Luftwaffe

had originally hoped for a quick solution: the

UH-1Ds require a heavy maintenance workload

that puts pressure on capacity and budget.

Nevertheless, it was decided to continue flying

them until a thorough preparation procedure

had been conducted. Final replacement is

now expected in 2020. Three of the new

helicopters are planned to be stationed on

‘24/7’ alert at Nörvenich, Niederstetten and

Holzdorf. The other four will be based at

Niederstetten as a SAR reserve and for training.

The project is likely to include an initial pre-

selection, which will determine the three

highest scoring bidders. This trio will be

requested to make their proposed helicopters

available to WTD 61 for an extensive test

programme to evaluate flight characteristics

and other technical elements. The results

will determine the final selection.

Additional roles

The Manching testers play a role in aircraft

incident and accident investigation. If needed,

the unit can simulate an identical flight for

additional examination and assessment of

root causes. Once such investigation involved

a Nörvenich-based EF2000 that is now at

Manching. The jet was involved in a mid-

air collision with a GFD (Gesellschaft für

Flugzieldarstellung, Company for Aerial Target

Simulation) Learjet 35A in June 2014. The two

GFD crew on board the Learjet were killed.

The unit’s responsibility for testing and

evaluating aircraft and aeronautical equipment

for the German military means it serves as an

authority for type inspection, type certification

and flight demonstration documentation.

There’s no doubt about WTD 61’s continued

importance. The unit serves both the

Bundeswehr and wider European military

aerospace, and it is involved in European

co-operation under the new European Military

Airworthiness Requirements (EMAR) initiative.

EMAR aims to create a common regulatory

framework, including certification processes,

approach to organisational approvals and

certification/design codes. EMAR made a specific

request to WTD 61, calling for assistance in

furthering the capabilities of the A400M airlifter

on behalf of several of its European operators.

Inset: Lt Col Rolf E. In his view, any WTD 61

test pilot “must have the ability to adapt quickly

to the essential fl ying characteristics of a new

aircraft.” Peter ten Berg Left: Tornado ECR 46+40

(GS273) is joined by EF2000 98+07. At the time,

the Tornado was assigned to WTD 61 and wore

the unit’s insignia on the fi n, but it has since

returned to frontline service with Taktisches

Luftwaffengeschwader 51 ‘Immelmann’. Dr

Stefan Petersen Above right: Tiger 74+01 (UHT01)

is operated by WTD 61 and has been used to

support fi ring trials of the Stinger air-to-air missile

on the Vidsel range in Sweden. Peter ten Berg

Right: Tornado ECR 46+38 (GS271) is playing a

role in self-defence system trials for the A400M

transport. These mission markings — depicting

an A400M and missiles — are worn next to the air

intake. Peter ten Berg

WTD 61 called time on Phantom II operations in 2013. Wearing a scheme to mark the unit’s 50th anniversary, F-4F 37+16 (c/n 4388) is preserved at Manching

as an instructional airframe. Peter ten Berg

AFM

Above: At the time of AFM’s visit, two-seat, instrumented EF2000 IPA 3 98+03 (PT003) was the only Eurofi ghter
permanently assigned to WTD 61. It will be joined by IPA 7 and IPA 8, currently both with Airbus. Peter ten Berg

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #362 MAY 2018 // 97