Germany’s transport specialists

Flying politicians and military troops, evacuating wounded soldiers and providing air-to-air refuelling – the Flight Service of the German Ministry of Defence is widely tasked, as Dr Stefan Petersen discovers.

Flugbereitschaft

A White/Grey Airbus formation: examples of the A319, A310 and A340 operated by the Flugbereitschaft. Nearest the camera is A319-133X 15+01 (c/n 3897, ex 98+46), one of two of this type in service.
All photos Dr Stefan Petersen
The badge of the Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung.

When the German president, the chancellor and her ministers or other elected officials go on business trips they require special aircraft. With VIP interiors, black, red and gold fuselage cheatline and ‘Bundesrepublik Deutschland’ titles, the ‘White Fleet’ of the Flugbereitschaft des Bundesministeriums der Verteidigung (Flight Service of the German Ministry of Defence) stands ready to transport them.

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