Bückeburg Air Base
Encyclopedia
Bückeburg Air Base is located northeast of the city
of Bückeburg
, Lower Saxony
, Germany
.
The airfield was built in 1946 as a RAF Station, RAF Bückeburg, serving the headquarters of the Royal Air Force Germany
in Bad Eilsen
. It complemented the nearby headquarters of the British Army of the Rhine
in Bad Oeynhausen
. During the Berlin Airlift it was one of the numerous air fields from where supply flights to Berlin
were carried out. After the building of the British Forces' Joint Headquarters (JHQ) at Rheindahlen
in 1954, the RAF closed the airfield at the end of the 1950s.
With the foundation of the Bundeswehr
in 1955, a decision was made that every branch of the Bundeswehr should have their own helicopter units, operating within the framework of the tasks designated to each branch of the armed forces. Thus, the German Army Aviators Corps
was founded. The first training school, of this newly established branch of the German Army
, the German Army Aviators School
, was established in 1959 in Mendig
but moved to its current location in Bückeburg in January 1960 and has been there ever since. Its first commanding office was Colonel
Kuno Ebeling.
Bückeburg Air Base is used by the German Army Aviators School as one of the bases for the practical instruction of its flying and non-flying personnel. Basic flying training of helicopter pilots of other components of the German Armed Forces also takes place at Bückeburg Air Base.
Apart from the actual flight training, modern high-end flight simulators
are extensively used during the training of future military helicopter pilots.
Approximately 70 helicopters are permanently based at the airfield, 30 of which are used on a daily base for training. Initial training begins with the Eurocopter EC 135
. During the second stage, prospective pilots are then instructed in flying the Bell UH-1D
, Bölkow Bo 105
, medium transport helicopters LTH NATO-HELICOPTER 90
and Sikorsky CH-53G/GS
. Flying instruction on the helicopters of the type Bell UH-1D, now being phased out, and Bölkow Bo 105, takes place at Celle Air Base
.
The tasks of Army Aviators Test Squadron 910 consist not only of trials of new types of helicopters but also of tactical and logistical research aiming at improving and developing the efficiency and concepts under which the German Army Aviators Corps are supposed to fulfil their manifolds tasks.
The following units are stationed at Bückeburg Air Base:
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Bückeburg
Bückeburg
Bückeburg is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, on the border with North Rhine Westphalia. It was once the capital of the tiny principality of Schaumburg-Lippe and is today located in the district of Schaumburg close to the northern slopes of the Weserbergland ridge...
, Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony
Lower Saxony is a German state situated in north-western Germany and is second in area and fourth in population among the sixteen states of Germany...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
The airfield was built in 1946 as a RAF Station, RAF Bückeburg, serving the headquarters of the Royal Air Force Germany
Royal Air Force Germany
The former Royal Air Force Germany was a command of the Royal Air Force and part of British Forces Germany, consisting of those units located in Germany initially as part of the occupation following World War II, and later as part of the RAF's commitment to the defence of Europe during the Cold...
in Bad Eilsen
Bad Eilsen
Bad Eilsen is a municipality in the district of Schaumburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 11 km southwest of Stadthagen, and 13 km southeast of Minden.Bad Eilsen is also the seat of the Samtgemeinde Eilsen....
. It complemented the nearby headquarters of the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen
Bad Oeynhausen is a spa town in the Minden-Lübbecke district, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.- Geography :Bad Oeynhausen is located on the banks of the Weser river, which runs along the eastern edges of the town. Bad Oeynhausen has the world's highest carbonated, thermal saltwater fountain,...
. During the Berlin Airlift it was one of the numerous air fields from where supply flights to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
were carried out. After the building of the British Forces' Joint Headquarters (JHQ) at Rheindahlen
Rheindahlen Military Complex
JHQ Rheindahlen, latterly also called the Rheindahlen Military Complex, is a British forces base in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. JHQ stands for Joint Headquarters and the base has functioned as the main headquarters for British forces in Germany since being built in the 1950s...
in 1954, the RAF closed the airfield at the end of the 1950s.
With the foundation of the Bundeswehr
Bundeswehr
The Bundeswehr consists of the unified armed forces of Germany and their civil administration and procurement authorities...
in 1955, a decision was made that every branch of the Bundeswehr should have their own helicopter units, operating within the framework of the tasks designated to each branch of the armed forces. Thus, the German Army Aviators Corps
German Army Aviators Corps
The German Army Aviation Corps is a special unit within the German Armed Forces . The German Army Aviation Corps is part of the German Army , containing all its helicopter units...
was founded. The first training school, of this newly established branch of the German Army
German Army
The German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
, the German Army Aviators School
German Army Aviators School
The German School of Army Aviation based at Bückeburg, is one of the schools of the German Army and is responsible for the training and development of the German Army Aviation Corps' personnel and equipment...
, was established in 1959 in Mendig
Mendig
Mendig is a municipality in the district Mayen-Koblenz, in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. It is situated approx. 6 km north-east of Mayen, and 25 km west of Koblenz.Mendig is the seat of the Verbandsgemeinde Mendig....
but moved to its current location in Bückeburg in January 1960 and has been there ever since. Its first commanding office was Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Kuno Ebeling.
Bückeburg Air Base is used by the German Army Aviators School as one of the bases for the practical instruction of its flying and non-flying personnel. Basic flying training of helicopter pilots of other components of the German Armed Forces also takes place at Bückeburg Air Base.
Apart from the actual flight training, modern high-end flight simulators
Flight simulator
A flight simulator is a device that artificially re-creates aircraft flight and various aspects of the flight environment. This includes the equations that govern how aircraft fly, how they react to applications of their controls and other aircraft systems, and how they react to the external...
are extensively used during the training of future military helicopter pilots.
Approximately 70 helicopters are permanently based at the airfield, 30 of which are used on a daily base for training. Initial training begins with the Eurocopter EC 135
Eurocopter EC 135
The Eurocopter EC135 is a twin-engine civil helicopter produced by Eurocopter, widely used amongst police and ambulance services and for executive transport. It is capable of flight under instrument flight rules .-Development:...
. During the second stage, prospective pilots are then instructed in flying the Bell UH-1D
UH-1 Iroquois
The Bell UH-1 Iroquois is a military helicopter powered by a single, turboshaft engine, with a two-bladed main rotor and tail rotor. The helicopter was developed by Bell Helicopter to meet the United States Army's requirement for a medical evacuation and utility helicopter in 1952, and first flew...
, Bölkow Bo 105
Bölkow Bo 105
The MBB Bo 105 is a light, twin-engine, multi-purpose utility helicopter developed by Bölkow of Stuttgart, Germany. Production began under Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm , which became a part of Eurocopter in 1991...
, medium transport helicopters LTH NATO-HELICOPTER 90
NHI NH90
The NHIndustries NH90 is a medium sized, twin-engine, multi-role military helicopter manufactured by NHIndustries. The first prototype had its maiden flight in December 1995...
and Sikorsky CH-53G/GS
CH-53 Sea Stallion
The CH-53 Sea Stallion is the most common name for the Sikorsky S-65 family of heavy-lift transport helicopters. Originally developed for use by the United States Marine Corps, it is also in service with Germany, Iran, Israel, and Mexico...
. Flying instruction on the helicopters of the type Bell UH-1D, now being phased out, and Bölkow Bo 105, takes place at Celle Air Base
Celle Air Base
Celle Air Base is a military airbase of the German Army. The airfield is situated southwest of the city of Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany. It was opened in 1934 and has been in military use ever since...
.
The tasks of Army Aviators Test Squadron 910 consist not only of trials of new types of helicopters but also of tactical and logistical research aiming at improving and developing the efficiency and concepts under which the German Army Aviators Corps are supposed to fulfil their manifolds tasks.
The following units are stationed at Bückeburg Air Base:
| Name of unit | Insignia |
|---|---|
| Staff HQ | |
| Instruction Group A (flying instruction) | |
| Army Aviators Test Squadron 910 | |
| Research And Development Group | |
| Technical Maintenance Department | |
See also
- German Army Aviators CorpsGerman Army Aviators CorpsThe German Army Aviation Corps is a special unit within the German Armed Forces . The German Army Aviation Corps is part of the German Army , containing all its helicopter units...
- History of the German Army Aviators CorpsHistory of the German Army Aviators CorpsThe history of the German Army Aviation Corps goes back to the time when the German Wehrmacht first began to develop helicopters.The first helicopter flight in Germany took place on 26 June 1936 with a Focke-Wulf Fw 61. The Focke-Wulf Fw 61 was, however, an experimental helicopter and only two...
- German ArmyGerman ArmyThe German Army is the land component of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. Following the disbanding of the Wehrmacht after World War II, it was re-established in 1955 as the Bundesheer, part of the newly formed West German Bundeswehr along with the Navy and the Air Force...
- Royal Air Force GermanyRoyal Air Force GermanyThe former Royal Air Force Germany was a command of the Royal Air Force and part of British Forces Germany, consisting of those units located in Germany initially as part of the occupation following World War II, and later as part of the RAF's commitment to the defence of Europe during the Cold...