Tactical Air Force Wing 51 ‘Immelmann’ in northern Germany has taken over the training of future Luftwaffe Tornado crews after disbandment of the German Air Force Flying Training Cente r in New Mexico, as Stefan Petersen found out.
Luftwaffe Tornado training
Yet another touch-and-go. Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant) Maximilian G puts the jet’s wheels carefully onto the runway at Jagel air base for the sixth time before taking off again. On the seventh approach, he finally lands the aircraft. For the 29-year-old, it is his first real flight in a Tornado, and instructor pilot (IP) Major Jens K in the rear seat is pleased with his student’s performance. For 70 minutes, Oberleutnant G has familiarised himself with the flying characteristics of the swing-wing fighter-bomber, having previously practised every aspect of the sortie in the simulator.
