The forum for all movements and news about Ramstein Air Base.
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Mode S / SBS and radio logs, airfield specific, are allowed, but always state your source, mode S / SBS or air traffic conversations. These logs can be placed in the "day topic" so a separate Mode S / SBS radio log is not necessary
1/5/2007 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The 76th Airlift Squadron will lose three of its 13 C-21A aircraft by the end of the month, as the U.S. Air Force retires the aircraft from the active duty inventory.
The C-21 is the military version of the Lear Jet 35A business jet and is used primarily for senior-level passengers, cargo airlift and aeromedical evacuations.
"No commander wants to lose assets, but we understand it is for the good of the Air Force," said Lt. Col. Dan Baldessari, 76th AS commander. "We are fortunate to not lose more than we already are."
The 76th AS flew more than 2,965 sorties in 2006 which was approximately 1,000 more than in 2005, according to the 76th AS C-21 Flight. Those sorties included more than 120 aeromedical evacuations that potentially saved 140 lives.
Although the squadron is losing three C-21s, Colonel Baldessari said it will not affect the aeromedical evacuation mission, as the 76th AS will continue to have crews on alert for those missions.
Colonel Baldessari said the real impact will be scheduled missions, which include transporting distinguished visitors, cargo and intelligence support.
Because of the flight's high operations tempo, higher headquarters will combine missions for distinguished visitors, possibly putting two parties on one jet, he said.
As the planes leave, the number of C-21 pilots and support personnel will be reduced appropriately, but will continue to work in the squadron until their DEROS.
Despite the loss, Colonel Baldessari said the flight of professional aircrew members is ready to take on the challenge and continue to accomplish the mission 365 days a year.
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Besides this sad news also C130E 63-7887/RS left to AMARC last week...
Every reduction is one to many ! And because of that it is sad news. Ramstein has lost it's C-9 's now a few C-21 and C-130 aircraft will go, what next ?
Oké in the future they will be replaced by C-130J's and the C-21's are likely to get another life with the ND Ang....
.The wing will retire one of its C-130 Hercules because this particular "E"model is no longer considered useful. Tail No. 7887 was a
"restricted" plane and was limited on the missions it could fly because of
its age and condition.Staff Sgt. Benjamin Comer, who has been the plane's crew chief for the last six months, plans to kiss the plane goodbye before it leaves Ramstein Air Base for the United States on Thursday morning. It's a tradition of his to always give the planes he works on a quick peck on the nose before they take off. The Air Force crew chief with the 86th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is responsible for the upkeep of the planes his unit is assigned. "I've never had a problem getting her to fly," he said. "She's been a spectacular plane. It's sad we have to retire (her). The wings are getting old. It's time for her to go to a new home for a while." Tail No. 7887 is the cargo plane's official name, but it also goes by the nickname "Ace of Spades." The plane, which was delivered to the Air Force on June 5, 1964, is older than many of the squadron's pilots and mechanics. The plane will fly to the Aerospace Maintenance and Recovery Center, commonly known as the "boneyard," at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson,Ariz.It will be stripped of any parts needed to keep the current models flying. The plane was first assigned to the 464th Troop Carrier Wing at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina in 1964. Then, it spent five years in Vietnam in the late 1960s before getting an overhaul. The Air Force transferred the plane to Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany, in 1992 before coming to the 86th at Ramstein in 1995.
Simple query, I have a couple of hours spare in the area in March this year and have looked at the Airfield guide which is great. To maximise my short time there and want to save having to drive to all the spots.
I am not too fussy for photographs, so can anyone advise the best peaceful spot to simply log the serials without any hassle.
Just back from a small trip, here are the results:
Spangdahlem:
C-5A 68-0226 337th AS
C-17A 03-3124 437th AW
Ramstein:
C-130H 92-..... WY ANG
C-130H 91-1232 165th AS (dep)
C-130H 91-1234 165th AS
C-130H 91-1235 165th AS
C-130H 91-1238 165th AS (dep)
C-130E 63-7852 463th AG "The Rock" (dep)
C-17A 89-1190 437th AW
C-17A 00-0185 62nd AW
C-17A 02-2112 172nd AW
C-17A 03-3118 172nd AW
C-17A 03-3127 305th AW (arr)
C-17A 05-5143 452nd AW
C-5A 68-0222
C-5A 70-0455 or 456 (hot cargo)
UH-60A 88-26023
No sign of the 89th AW C-12 (maybe inside?)
When we drove away there was a third 165th AS C-130 departing (around 13.00LT)
I wasn't able to read the F-15 and F-16's because I was in the back of a USAF police car trying to explain to the two MP's what aircraft spotting is.... So anyone for the missing serials???
Spangdahlem (15:15 LT):
Empty......
That''s it.
Cheers,
Last edited by Melchior Timmers on 30 Jan 2007, 20:22, edited 2 times in total.
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