Ddr migs

[jkeegen]

I took a day off work today and am watching a program on the Military Channel titled "Red October". I don't yet know what year it was filmed, but it is about a training exercise in which F/A-18 Hornet pilots flew to Germany to fly against GAF Fulcrums that were aquired in 1990 from the Luftstreitkrafte. As I sit watching it, I've been wondering if any of the German MIG pilots were former GDR. I know that the majority of GDR Offiziers were dismissed from service during reunification and were not incorporated in the FDR's forces but, I thought that officers with specialized training (such as the Fulcrum pilots)surely were integrated into the Luftwaffe. My thoughts were confirmed when they showed a portion of an interview with one of the MIG pilots. He never mentioned the LSK but he was identified as a pilot of the MIG-29 since 1988. I would think that he would have to have been a GDR pilot is that is the case.

Interesting to think that there is the possibility that you have two pilots, one FGR and one US, that are currently allies engaged in mock dogfights using aircraft from the Cold War, when just 20 years ago they were "enemies" and never had the opportunity to spar against their opponents hardware.

[eastgermansks]

Did the program care to mention how they performed against each other?

[Jonatan]

The german airforce has nowadays a Mig-29 aggressor unit, who acts aggressors for all NATO units.

Saw it on discovery, jikes, thats was a good reference

Regards

Jonatan

[RamJet]

The MiG-29 squadron of the Luftwaffe never was an aggressor squadron. But it quite often was visited by fighters from other NATO air forces for DACT. And we handed over our Fulcrums to Poland in 2003/04. Only one remaining in the museum.

Anywhere in this forum I posted a pic of a F/A-18 flying beside a MiG-29 which I shot in 1995 on one of the respective missions. Don't know if You find it in the DDR or Bundesrepublik part of the forum. Just look for a MiG photo thread.

[jkeegen]

Did the program care to mention how they performed against each other?

From what I saw, the F/A-18s took out some of the MIGS, but the Fulcrums also got some of the Hornets.

[jkeegen]

And we handed over our Fulcrums to Poland in 2003/04

Was it felt that there was no longer a use for them or was it a budget issue?

Also, anyone know when the LSK received it's Fulcrums?

[Dag]

From what I saw, the F/A-18s took out some of the MIGS, but the Fulcrums also got some of the Hornets.

From the brochure "Die Mig-29 in der Bundeswehr":

"The American F-15 and F-16 pilots were often shocked when they heard via radio that they were 'killed' by the Mig' missiles long before they even had the Mig's on the radar."

This follows a short sentence about the Bundeswehr Test centre in Maching (near Munich) were the testers where (literal translatione) delighted about the radar: Very robust against countermeasures and much better then expected.

[RamJet]

LSK/LV got the first MiG-29 in 1988.

The aircraft was a very good dogfighter, but had a bull**** radar system and not much endurance. Nevertheless, with well trained pilots they stand very well against Western fighters of their generation.

They were given to Poland as most of them had reached a point where they needed a complete overhaul. Just before the last MiGs were transferred, the wing got its first Eurofighters.

[RamJet]

Found my pic:

[STEBALIN]

What a gorgeous picture!

[Christophe]

Even if it is not directly related to DDR MIGs, it is about MIGs in DDR : this DVD "MIG-29 uber Deutschland" is very worth to be viewed.

Here is the text on the jacket of this DVD :
"The historical existence of the German Democratic Republic ended on 2 October 1990, at the same time terminating the Cold War in Central Europe. However, there are still Soviet occupation troops on German soil. In December 1990, uncensored footage of the 33rd Fighter Squadron in Wittstock is shot for the very first time, within the scope of Glasnost. These are impressive pictures of life at a Soviet 
garrison. Pictures that will inspire both those 
interested in history as well as in flying."

Ch.