As the two main theatres of operation now are both CION theatres than the perfect aircraft to be re-introuduced into production would be a re-engined Douglas A1 skyraider or the Rockwell Bronco. Long over target loiter time and the ability to deliver a wide range of ordance on target be it 7.62mm rounds to 500Lb bombs and all manner inbetween. Cheap to aquire and operate and easy to maintain in-theater.
Steve
Aviation aside there is plenty to see and do in Munich. The two main attractions being the Octoberfest and Christmas Markets-Winter Tolwood. A summer Tollwood runs in July.
Much of the old city still stands, being out of range of most Allied Bombers unlike most other major German cities so the city takes a lot of exploring.
Within easy reach is the beautiful village of Garmisch and the Alps. The Winter Olympicstadium still stands in Garmisch as does the more modern Olympicpark in Muncih City.
The Deutches Museum has preseved a WW2 airfield just outside of the City. Its close to the concentration camp in Dachau I think. Also close by is Eagles Nest. Other main attractions ro consider are Oberammergau and Neuschweinstein Castle; you have a lot to see and do.
Dont forget the Magnificent Beer and nice food. Very heavy on Roasted Meats (Pork, Chicken and Duck) Potato Dumplings and Cabbage (Blue(our red) and Sauerkraut).
Checkin and security at MUC were smooth and quick, seats in row 6 secured 🙂
It was at the gate that the problems started. We were remote parked and when we arrived at the aircraft there was no ambilift for the wheelchair. It was cold and wet, with a wind blowing. So with no offer of help from the groundcrew I had to carry my wife up 19 very slippy steps to the A319. Poor show all round. The sympathetic crew helped as best they could once onboard and brought me a cold glass of water to help me cool down.
The return flight again departed and arrived on time, the same great service but bad food. Please lufthansa do away with the sky-snacks and lower my ticket price a bit.
We returned on D-AILC, which smelled of sick. MAN was quiet when we returned on the night-stopper.
Looking forward now to a spot of winder sun in Faro at the end of Feb. I hope you enjoyed.
Steve
After a few very pleasant days in MUC we set off for the airport, a few hours too early as a Christmas Market is set up in the central square. MUC must be one of the most enthusiast friendly airports in Europe. In T2 there is an old style rooftop viewing balcony. Here you can see the Lufthansa / Star Alliance ramp up close and both runways. It costs just 2 euro (no passout, free to wheelchair users) to enter and is open 8am till 10pm. Its partially covered and has a glass front. The glass front did give me some problems with the camers as the sun was low and setting behind me so some pictures had glare on them. There are two refreshment shops on the deck but they were both closed. No matter though as on the way up to the balcony you pass several bars and restraunts, including the Airport Hofbrauhaus. In the terminal is a supermarket so you can stock up on supplies if you want to send a full day on the deck. This would be a very pleasant place to spend a long summer weekend.
Other attractions for the entusiast at the airport include the Airbrau micro-brewery. The airport also offers a full ramp-tour (take photo ID to the information desk in T2 to book). It aslo runs, through the winter a lights tour of an evening. It gives you a chance to go on a driving tour of the taxiways and runwasy with the lights turned up to max. Booking as per the apron tour.
Noted during the day were the following. I have removed all Lufthansa and Augusbers. Aside from the occasional 737 MUC, for Lufthans is strictly Airbus territory:
9A-CTG A.319 112 767 Croatia Airlines
9H-AEP A.320 214 3056 Air Malta
9H-AFJ Learjet 60 60-030 Eurojet Malta
D-ABDC A.320 214 2654 Air Berlin
D-AHFE B.737NG 8K5/W 27979 TUIfly
D-ALPA A.330 223 403 Air Berlin
D-BUSY CL600 Challenger S 1070 Jet Executive International C
EC-HQG A.320 214 1379 Iberia
HB-IIQ B.737NG 7CN/W BBJ 30752 PrivatAir
HB-IUX Falcon 900EX 54 TAG Aviation SA
HS-TGT B.747 4D7 26616 Thai Airways International
I-ADJH 146 300 E3129 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLJ ATR 72 212A 686 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLL ATR 42 512 518 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLN ATR 72 212A 557 Air Dolomiti
I-ADLQ ATR 42 500 606 Air Dolomiti
LX-LGP B.737 5C9 26439 Luxair
OE-LNM B.737NG 6Z9 30138 Austrian
OY-KHE DC-9 82 49604 Scandinavian Airlines System
P4-MIV ERJ-135 Legacy 14501031 Rus Jet
S5-AAL CRJ 900 15129 Adria Airways
SP-LGH ERJ-145 MP 145329 LOT Polish Airlines
SX-BGV B.737 4Q8 26308 Aegean Airlines
YR-SBE 2000 041 Carpatair
ZS-SXB A.340 313E 582 South African Airways
If you want a breakdown of LH traffic then send me an in forum message.
Onboard service was pleasant. Two drinks services but the ‘sandwich’ was damm awful. Smoked turkey with a 2 x1 inch piece of lettiuce. I only managed to eat half before leaving it, my wife just smelled hers and said no. I wish I had said no too as by god it gave me wind something rotten a few hours later. Arriving in MUC the A319 was put down with a real whack. Being located inbetween two paralell runways the taxi time was just 3 or 4 minutes to Gate 212. Our wheelchair was waiting for us at the doors of the aircraft and we were escorted through the airport and in just 10 minutes we were on the S-Bahn platform waiting for the half hour train into the City.
Attached picture as we transitted overheal Cologne.
The downside of being expressed with our own escort through the airport meant that we didnt have a chance to look around before we left. Noted on arrival were:
Reg/Code Type C/n Airline/Operator/Owner
CS-TNN A.320 214 1816 TAP Portugal
D-ABIF B.737 530 24820 Lufthansa
D-AIHT A.340 642 846 Lufthansa
D-AILB A.319 114 610 Lufthansa
D-AILK A.319 114 679 Lufthansa
D-AILW A.319 114 853 Lufthansa
D-AIPK A.320 211 093 Lufthansa
D-AIPL A.320 211 094 Lufthansa
I use ADU whick is superb and updated very often. It also has SBS integration.
Steve
The Russians flew a nuclear powered Tu95. The crew all died in the following years.
An RAF Tristar pilot was cautioned after announcing upon return to Brize Norton from the Falklands (95% Male service personnel, 5% Female on 4 to 6 month tours) ‘Welcome Home to RAF Brize Norton, the time is (yadda-yadda) and a special message to all the ladies on board, what it like to be ugly again’.
Steve
Further South – Mexico.
‘Welcome aobard theeeeeees new boeeeeeeeeeeeeeeing airpayne form Guadalahara eye am your Capitain Vida Muchas loco’.
Ive just tried each ‘free’ route from Liverpool and taxes and charges still had to be paid on each flight. Is anyone else experiencing this?
Steve
How/ will EZY respond?
Steve
How about a paper airplane, seeing as though UFOs dont exist :D:D:D
Forgive the bad pun here but there are plenty of ‘Crusty’ Tu134s needing replacing in the CIS.
I think this will be one of the Superjets major markets because the 134s, and early Yk42s are really showing their age now.
steve
RAE BE2-Too slow and stable, RFC crew were lambs to the slaughter in it.
Nimrod AEW-No explanation needed.
Myasishchev M50-Supposedly to be nuclear powered and supersonic.
Rockwell F-12A-US VTOL project costing $1Bn produced 1 prototype that never flew.
Blackburn Botha-Had a loss rate that would make German F104 pilots wince.
Vought F7 Cutlass-Named as the least safe US Naval Fighter ever flown.
Lavochkin La250-Intended to be a supersonic bomber interceptor. The first 3 prototypes all crashed on their maiden flights.
But my all time favourite failure
Tupolev Tu22 Blinder
It failed its acceptance tests yet was pressed into service by polititians. 20% peacetime loss rate in the Soviet Air Force. In the 1960s its crews branded it as unflyable and refused to fly it. Its skin heated up at high speeds causing the control rods to expand and adversly affect its handling; it had a high landing speed and an inexperienced crew could easily pitch its nose up on landing. Vulnerable to groundfire at low level. Its crews took to drinking the (450l) of alcohol carried onboard for its hydraulic and de-icing systems. The central windscreen mount caused the pilots seat to be offset, despite this visability was poor. It carried just 1 ASM where the Tu16 (the aircraft it was due to replace) carried 2
Steve