Wittmundhafen (ETNT) - 2008

[Iwan Bogels]

Hi everybody,

Last Thursday I visited Wittmund for the very first time, partly because of the annouced new fence. Flying was good (three waves of up to nine aircraft each, until 16.00 hrs), and so was the weather.

For photographers the coming week(s) may be crucial if you want to do some good Phantom and Skyhawk shooting on line-up, take-off and roll out with chutes. The new fence will definately obstruct you from walking along the runway in the future, as can still be done now.

The bad news is that the new fence has been almost finished on the western part of the airbase, but the (temporary) good news is that you can still drive around it as the ring is not fully closed yet. Last Thursday no construction works to the new fence were observed, which may be caused by the holiday season. But most likely work will resume within days, maybe weeks, and many perfect photo spots will disappear forever.

So if you want to do some good German Phantom photography, you better hurry up as it may be your very last chance ever.......

In order to explain the situation, I have drawn a map to show you where to go. The light blue line is a trimmed grass strip of about 3 meters wide. This is the best way to get to the right spot by car, for line-up and touchdown shots. The grass strip is a bit bumpy, but it's better than the (unmarked) trimmed grass strip along the old fence, which can only be accessed through an enormous deep muddy pool near the middle of the runway (next to radar site). Everybody advised me to park the car AWAY from the old fence in order to avoid discussions with military police and even Polizei ! If you park inside the new fence, you may want to do it next to the parking spot outside the fence so your car "blends in" with other spotters vehicles.

The new fence is about 50 cm higher than the old fence, and has barbed wire that curves towards you (old fence was a straight up fence, new one has wires that extend towards you at the top). You need about a 5-step ladder to get a completely clear shot from over the barbed wire, or a 2-step to shoot just over the fence and under the wires.

I hope this message will provide you with enough information to get there before it's too late. I will upload some photos in the photo-section later this weekend.

Good luck,
Iwan

[Key]

Hi Iwan, I see you did well! Thx for the detailed info and the impressive pics.
Re. your map, the central spot (two green roads) used to be past the very large 'no photography' sign that had disappeared elsewhere. If that is still the case, shooting there would put you more at risk for a fine or otherwise. Just for info for those going for it!

Erik

[Bassie76]

@ Redskin301 and others:

I read you are planning a trip to Wittmund next tuesday. Maybe a rude question but is there any special reason for you to go on that day, arrivals for the spottersday maybe?

I was planning to go on wednesday, the spottersday, but not on the field itself, but to stay at the south-side of the runway. However, I don't know how the flying will be that day and if it wil be affected by the spottersday?

Maybe you know more?

Thanks

[Redskin301]

Bassie76,

The reason is that i'm allways of from my work on tuesdays. That's the big atvantage when you have to work sometimes in the weekend, it's compensated during the working week

[wvanbel]

@ Redskin301 and others:

However, I don't know how the flying will be that day and if it wil be affected by the spottersday?

Maybe you know more?

Thanks

This in the info I received related to the spottersday:

We expect you till approx. 10:00 o'clock in the lodging area of the fighter wing 71 “Richthofen “ in the Isumser street 20, in 26409 Wittmund.
From here a coach shuttle service will bring you to the airfield and you get the opportunity to take photos of the jubilee airplanes of the JG 71 “R “, of the JG 73 and the WTD in Manching. Moreover, an armed phantom is issued, as well as an A-4 Skyhawk of the company of BAE Flight systems.
Also our historical airplanes (F-104, F-86, Me-109) shall be seen.
In the midday there will be also a start phase.
About 13:30 o'clock the event will be finished.


Best regards,

Walter

[Ronaldsnl]

Hi,

Ik have 2 seats available in my car. 10 euro p.p.

Ik live near Delft (NL) and I drive via A4, A12, A27, A6 etc.

Please send a PM.

Mzzl

Ronald

[mirage 69]

I heard there will be a ringroad around the soutern side of the base.
But when I look at the place from the new fence, they can build a whole new sheltercamp.... (for the EF2000 maybe)

Grtz Rene

[perry dirkx]

The newly fenced off area has always been military terrain, to be used in case of an emergency to drop fueltanks and so.
Maybe they want to get it a little more safer this way.

Cheers,
Perry

[Iwan Bogels]

Edit: see this topic as well!

He Iwan, I took the liberty of taking your Wittmund overview and do some extras on the west side.

Thanks ! I hope your predictions are right, and the eastern part of the base stays accessible from the middle through the end of the runway. That would leave lift off and drag chute shots from runway 08 (most of my pictures in this topic), as well as line-up, lift off and drag chute shots from runway 26.

Next to that both ends will keep their landing opportunities, although you need some ladders. But that's only a minor inconvenience compared to a Beyond Visual Range situation when the fence is placed outward for about 500 meters.

Fingers crossed,
Iwan

[Iwan Bogels]

I heard there will be a ringroad around the soutern side of the base.
But when I look at the place from the new fence, they can build a whole new sheltercamp.... (for the EF2000 maybe)

Grtz Rene

Hi Rene,

Sounds like a plausible option when you look at the map. There doesn't seem to be any real reason for a ring road, except to facilitate one single building on the other side of the runway.

If they can build a ringroad on the eastern part of the base without moving the fence, they can do the same on the western end. So there is more reason to include the large unused area.

Perry could be right about the safety issue. But right now Wittmund has about 50 (!) Phantoms in its inventory, and I ask myself where they have put all these. How many Eurofighters are they going to get ?

A third shelter camp could provide with some extra photo opportunities, but it could also lead to extra taxiways which require more airbase area to be bought from outside the fence.

Who knows. Maybe someone can ask tomorrow, during the photocall. I'm sure the PAO will know a bit more...... Please, do ask !

Cheers,
Iwan

[Redskin301]

Iwan and others,

I went out yesterday to Witmund and theyu discovered that they can use de MP to sent us away constantly. Maybe this was because of the spotterday today, there were many spotters active around the field. Luckely if managed to get a really good serie of phantom shot from the "forbidden" area. It costed me a lots of camo tricks but it worked ou. The only thing i would say with this to other spotters is; stay away from the fence when there is no activity. Also don't leave your ladder there because the securty will notice this and sent you away

For the rest i had a great day at "Phantom city" and Iwan, thanks for sharing your info before, it was very usable during my stay

[D.R.]

Not able to make the spottersday today but able to go to Wittmund tomorrow. Is there any flying tomorrow, adn also what time doe the waves go out normally?

[Iwan Bogels]

Is there any flying tomorrow, adn also what time doe the waves go out normally?

Flying tomorrow ? No clue. But I don't see why they shouldn't.

Time ? First wave around 08.00, last wave between 16.00 - 20.00.

Sorry no more detailed info than this.

[Stefan]

Is there any flying tomorrow, adn also what time doe the waves go out normally?

Flying tomorrow ? No clue. But I don't see why they shouldn't.

Time ? First wave around 08.00, last wave between 16.00 - 20.00.

Last one in probably a lot sooner:

P3274/08 - NO ALTN, NO APCH, NO TKOF, NO LDG EXCEPT QRA A-SCRAMBLE. DAILY AFTER 1500, 28
JUL 15:00 2008 UNTIL 01 AUG 06:00 2008. CREATED: 17 JUL 14:03 2008

Greetings,
Stefan

[nilsko]

Iwan and others,

I went out yesterday to Witmund and theyu discovered that they can use de MP to sent us away constantly. M

I wonder for how long they are going sustain this behaviour. Wittmund will become more popular now the Phantom in German service becomes rarer. So will spotter activity at the fence (new or old ). Let's hope they'll relax somewhat..