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Exercise ELITE 2007The exercise ended safe and sound 2007-06-28 around 13:00 and no happening or even accident was to be noted. Thanx to the professionalism of everybody taking part and supporting it!
Flying: 14.-28. June 2007, times see below
Like every year also this time the Luftwaffe welcomes participants from many NATO countries with many different airplanes and other weapon systems. The different groups are detached to several airbases in Southern Germany but mainly to Lechfeld. Some participants from France and NATO AWACS fly from their home bases.
Homebase from |
Aircraft number and type |
detached to |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| NATO, Geilenkirchen | 1 x E-3F, AEW | ||
| Norwegen, 717 Sqdn | 2 x DA-20 | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, MFG 3, Nordholz | 1 x BR 1150 | ||
| Schweiz | 4 x F-18 | Ingolstadt | |
| Deutschland, JG 71 "R", Wittmund | 2 x F-4F | ||
| Deutschland, JG 74, Neuburg | 2 x F-4F | ||
| Deutschland, JG 74, Neuburg | 2 x Eurofighter | ||
| Griechenland, 343 Sqdn | 3 x F-16 | Lechfeld | |
| Türkei, 171 Sqdn | 2 x F-4E | Lechfeld | |
| Türkei, 161 Sqdn | 2 x F-16 | Lechfeld | |
| Türkei, 151 Sqdn | 2 x F-16 | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, JaboG 31, Nörvenich | 2 x Tornado IDS | ||
| Deutschland, JaboG 33, Büchel | 4 x Tornado IDS | ||
| Rumänien 86th Sqdn | 2 x Mig-21 | Lechfeld | |
| Polen, 8th Tac Sqdn | 2 x SU-22 | Lechfeld | |
| Frankreich, 3/3 Sqdn, Nancy | 2 x Mirage 2000 | ||
| Grossbritannien, IX(B) Sqdn | 4 x Tornado GR4 | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, AG 51 "I", Schleswig | 2 x Tornado RECCE | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, JaboG 32, Lechfeld | 10 x Tornado ECR | ||
| Italien, 155th Sqdn | 4 x Torndado ECR | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, LTG 61, Landsberg | 2 x Transall | ||
| Niederlande, 334 Sqdn | 2 x Herkules | Landsberg | |
| Portugal | 1 x CASA 295 | Landsberg | |
| Spanien, 35th TW | 1 x CASA 295 | Landsberg | |
| Frankreich, 2/61 Sqdn, Nancy | 1 x Herkules | ||
| Frankreich, 1/64 Sqdn, Nancy | 1 x Transall | ||
| Frankreich, FAF, Avord | 1 x E-3F AEW | ||
| Deutschland, AHRgt 1/261 | 4 x BO-105 | Lechfeld | |
| Deutschland, MTHRgt 25, Laupheim | 4 x CH-53 | ||
| Schweiz, LTG-3, Dübendorf | 2 x Cougar | ||
| Belgien | 3 x A-109 | Laupheim | |
| Deutschland, MFG 5, Kiel | 2 x Seaking | Laupheim |
Fighterbomber, transport aircraft, helicopter, evacuation forces and so on fly missions to the heavily defended area of Heuberg range (ED-R 132A). On their way to target area the forces encounter threats in form of mobile AAA and SAMs and of course opposing fighter forces. The ingressing packages are protected either by sweeping or embedded fighters as well as by SEAD (ECR) airplanes. While the fighters engage air threats early and drag them away from the force, the ECR establish a good ground situation and guide everybody around the (radar based) SAMs and AAA. In the target area the SEAD forces suppress the threats from outside.
Departures and approaches are according to the published procedures which can be found on our site in the "Service" area under "Lechfeld Procedures (VAD [Jet], SID, Approach Precedures)"
There are a couple of towns in the area which - due to the minimizing of noise pollution - should be avoided by all means. These are:
Towns with more than 100000 population may not be overflown (highest point in town) below 2000 feet (jet und prop) and 1000 feet (Heli). Those towns are: Augsburg, Erlangen, Fürth, Ingolstadt, München, Nürnberg, Regensburg, Reutlingen, Stuttgart und Ulm.
Also, the chance to sight a AEW is equal to zero, because those orbit in the Baden-Baden, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg area in 29000 feet.
The same applies for the BREGUET ATLANTIQUE, which will in 21000 feet patrol the Black Forrest area up and down (North-South).
First of course in the area around Heuberg. Since all the villages north and south of the range are completely off limits, the main attack axis is East-West. A good place is at the eastern edge which is marked on the google map. From there it might be possible to watch the fighters even in lowest altitude within the range ring road. The second best place would be the church tower of Stetten a.k.M, but the official in charge would most probably deny any request from your side ;-))
Good places enroute you can find on the google map within the narrow corridor. The planes have not too many places there to go, and from a good point of view you can oversee the whole width of the corridor.
At the following times, the exercise area is published as 'restricted' to other air traffic. All times are GMT, which is Central European Summer Time minus 2 hours).
14 June 2007 06:15 - 10:15 UTC und 11:00 – 16:00 UTC
15 June 2007 06:15 – 12:00 UTC
18 June - 21 June 2007 daily 06:15 - 10:15 UTC and 11:00 – 16:00 UTC
22 June 2007 06:15 - 12:00 UTC
25 June – 28 June 2007 daily 06:15 - 10:15 UTC and 11:00 – 16:00 UTC
When the weather is shiddy the area will be approached (if at all) in medium altitude under ATC control, except for the Tornados which are cleared to fly the low route with help of the TFR (terrain following radar) in 1000 feet AGL. Chances to see somebody are highest in the Heuberg area.
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The whole exercise area plus Heuberg range in detail with depicted corridors, airfields, restricted areas and so on at maps.google