Flugplatz Manching, located north of Munich, Germany, is not known as a heavily used air base. Having the German Defence unit “Bundeswehr Technical Center for Aircraft and Aeronautical Equipment” or so called “Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61” (WTD 61) and the civil test unit of the Bundeswehr on its premises, you will only see a few flights daily. Manching also hosts an Airbus Eurofighter production line and some factory maintenance facilities.
Unit and aircraft
WTD-61 test pilot Lieutenant-Colonel Rolf E., a former Luftwaffe Tornado pilot, explains that the unit has only few aircraft in its inventory. These differ from the normal air force aircraft and are recognised by their “98+” serials, the bright blue WTD-61 badge and/or test markings. In the past, the aircraft were also marked with an orange livery, stressing their unique test activities. Some of these aircraft are preserved at Manching, like an F-4F Phantom and Tornado. Depending on the test projects, additional aircraft can be temporary assigned to the unit according Lt.Col. Rolf. Current aircraft in use by WTD-61 are one Eurofighter, five Tornados, one Transall, one UH-1 MAT (Mission Ausrüstungs Träger or Mission Equipment Carrier), one normal UH-1D, two CH-53G’s and one Tiger. For future projects, it is expected that the latest Luftwaffe assets, the A-400M transporter and NH-90 helicopter will be added to the test unit. At Manching, some more aged and non-flying test aircraft can be found which are used for technical education purposes at the “WTD-61 Berufsausbildung”.
The single Eurofighter is Instrumented Production Aircraft (IPA) 3. In the future, two more IPAs are expected to be at WTD 61, namely IPA7 and IPA8. These two aircraft are in fact already at Manching however, they are being operated by Airbus itself. The IPA3 Eurofighter differs from normal production line aircraft by its advanced metrological flight test instrumentation on board, which can be recognised by the orange colored branding. To gain space for the test equipment, some operational systems have been taken out, like the board gun.
Test pilots
To know more about the work within WTD-61, Lieutenant-Colonel Rolf E. explains how recruitment is arranged to join the special unit. An applicant WTD-61 test pilot has to meet the basic profile towards required operational flying hours, technical study, preferably aviation or space orientated and age. Part of the test pilots selection process is the ability to adapt quickly the flight essentials of a new aircraft. In this case, the applicant has to study and prepare in a morning for an actual first flight later the same day. Test pilots have to act according the Qualitative Flight Testing (QFT) principle, determining the maximum amount of information in the minimum amount of flying time in order to evaluate an aircraft with respect to its entire mission or some specific area of interest. Therefore, the pilots opinion supported by measured data is primary. Lt. Col. Rolf continues that being a test pilot, you are certified to fly aircraft prototypes, including programme elements that go up to and over the aircrafts’ technical limits. Annually, they have to fly at least 70 hours to remain qualified and for test pilots there is the exception that it is not limited to a specific aircraft type, but it may be achieved by using all types of aircraft. WTD-61 employs about 30 test pilots where it can be difficult to achieve all required annual flying hours within the few aircraft of the unit and the test projects running. Therefore, the pilots regularly join normal Luftwaffe units, or make “flying hour” contracts within civil companies or organisations. Furthermore, exchange agreements are made with international test pilot schools like in the US, Edwards AFB as well as the US Naval Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River, the Empire Test Pilot School at Boscombe Down, UK and EPNER at Istres AFB in France.
Unit roles
Some of the recent running projects include a self defence protection system for the A-400, Eurofighter Operational Developments Intime for NATO (ODIN) project and the Tornado’s continuous upgrade programme “Avionics System Software Tornado Ada” (ASSTA) 3.1.
Lt.Col. Rolf also explains that WTD-61 gives input and advise to Luftwaffe procurement selection decisions. The recently ordered Airbus H-145 LUH SAR (Light Utility Helicopter Search and Rescue) helicopters to replace the Bell UH-1D, was also supported by the unit. Last but not least, the unit fulfills a large role in aircraft incident and accident investigation. If needed, WTD -61 can execute an identical flight by simulator for additional examination and assessment of root causes. The most recent example of such investigation can be found in the present airframe at Manching of the Norvenich Eurofighter which was involved in a mid air collision with a GFD Learjet in the summer of 2014, resulting in the dramatic loss of the GFD crew.
Text and photos: Peter ten Berg
Eurofighter IPA3 prepared for new test flight
Eurofighter IPA3 prepared for new test flight
Final WTD-61 testflight of F-4F Phantom in 2013
F-104G is one of the former test aircraft now in use for technical education
WTD-61 testpilot Lt.Col Rolf E.
Tornado used as testbed for software upgrades in continues project ASSTA 3.1
Retired test Tornado still in use at the technical school