Museum: Aeronauticum, Nordholz, Germany

Museum: Aeronauticum, Nordholz (Germany)

The German 'Luftschiff und Marinefliegermuseum - Aeronauticum', is situated close to the main gate at Naval Air Station Nordholz. The musuem pays attention to the history of airships and the German Navy. The aircraft and helicopters are parked outside. The public is actually walking on historical ground. During the first World War, the largest airship factory was build here. Some of the remainings of this factory can be seen as well. For additional information, please visit their website.

The Russian influence in the history of the German Marineflieger is clearly vissible. A pair of Russian build Mi-8 helicopters belong to the inventory of the museum, one of them is wearing a special livery as well. You can see that particular helicopter just behind this Mi-8 transport helicopter with serial 94+14. Note the third Russian build aircraft in this photograph; a Su-22M4.

A Bristol 171 Sycamore HR Mark 52 is seen here as WE+543, although this is not the original WE+543. During the 1950's, 50 Sycamores were delivered to the German Army and Navy.

This Su-22M4 was delivered to the NVA (Nationale Volksarmee - East German Air Force), back in 1984. The Su-22 fleet was phased out and put into airworthy storage after the collapse of the East German regime in 1990. One German unit, WTD-61, acquired several "Fitter's" and continued to fly this type for a couple of years. The paint is fading away on this example, so the 'storage' code 25+35 is readable just behind the 366 registration. Note the NVA markings on the tail.

A Fouga Magister CM-170, with serial SC-601, is displayed as well. The serial of this Magister is also fake. This particular Magister was registrated as 388 and belonged to the French Air Force.

This Tornado IDS was operated by Marinefliegergeschwader 2 which was based at Naval Air Station Eggebek. The 2nd Marinefliegergruppe was founded on 01-04-1958 at Kiel-Holtenau. The unit was later renamed into Marineflieger-geschwader 2. Most of the aircraft that MFG 2 flew with, are present at the Aeronauticum. MFG 2 executed their missions with: the Fairy Gannet, Seahawk, Piaggio P.149D, Fouga Magister, F-104G Starfighter and from 1986 they flew with the Tornado until the disbandment in August 2005. This Tornado with serial 43+55, was flown to Nordholz in June 2005 (the 21st) by Kommodore, Fregattenkapitän Schultz. It was also his last flight on the Tornado. One week later, the remaining two Tornado's left Eggebek. Totally, MFG 2 logged almost 352.510 flighthours. Sadly another end of an era.

This Bréguet BR.1150 Atlantic with serial 61+14 served with Marinefliegergeschwader 3 which is based at Nordholz, the 'homebase' of this museum. This Atlantic was recently retired and replaced by the newest "Seefernaufklärer" in the inventory; the Lockheed P-3C Orion. Eight Orions were acquired from the Royal Netherlands Navy. The first example was officially handed over during the Internationalen Luft- und Raumfahrtausstellung (ILA) at Berlin in May 2006.

The Marine took delivery of twenty Dornier Do-28D-2 aircraft, two of them are preserved at Nordholz. One of them is this Do-28D-2 with serial 59+22. The other Dornier is actually a modified Do-28D-2OU. It was withdrawn from use at the end of 1995 and is preserved in a white livery. Two modified Dorniers were deployed to Bahrain after operation Desert Storm for (polution) monitoring missions.

Sea Hawk MK100, VB+134, is seen here with the recently 'delivered' Atlantic in the background. Note that the livery on the Atlantic is quite similar with that from the Sea Hawk. The German Navy didn't really change their liveries in almost 50 years.

Both versions of the Sea Hawk are now present at the Aeronauticum. This Sea Hawk MK101 was placed on a pole at NAS Eggebek. Because of the disbandment of Marinfliegergeschwader 2 and the closure of the base, the Sea Hawk (with serial RB+363) was removed from the pole in march 2005 and handed over to the museum.