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For more than 10 years, Wings-Aviation is now reporting from airshows in France, England, South Africa, Malaysia, Thailand and Switzerland.
2016 we visited Germany for the first time to see Europe’s biggest Oldtimer meeting and report about it.
Upon arrival on Friday we noticed the already high number of participating aircraft and were looking forward to three interesting days. However, we also quickly discovered some disadvantages from a photographer’s point of view. To be able to accommodate as many aircraft as possible near the hangar area, they were parked so densely together that it was impossible to take pictures of most of them.
The weather at least was extraordinary, with hot temperatures and not a single cloud. These are normally perfect conditions for good pictures. Unfortunately, the display axis was in an east-west direction and we had the sun opposite us the whole day. From around midday on it was possible to take pictures of the aircraft during their landing approach. This is the reason most pictures display the aircraft from this direction.
It was also not possible to cross to the opposite side due to the forest and all paths being closed. This can of course also be caused by german over regulation of everything.
The meeting is actually an event where pilots form different countries meet, with hangar dances and other events. Some An-2 pilots from the Czech Republic actually put up their tents next to the aircraft and started a barbecue. This is also how the whole thing started. The flying sequences for the public were only added after some time when it was realized that the event attracts a lot of people.
However, it can’t be compared with something like Duxford in England or La Ferte in France. The flying is more like take off, fly circles and land. In that sense it isn’t an airshow but a pilots meeting.
Die Air Show
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Béleriot IX (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Béleriot IX (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Béleriot IX (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader
Fokker Eindecker (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder
Passagierflugzeuge
Hahnweide is an old historical airfield whose history goes back to before the war. Most of the time it is used for gliding. Therefore there were also some displays of this type of aircraft like a three ship tow.
There were rather few warbirds. Most of the aircraft are trainers or general aviation types from different countries and different decades of the past. A unique sight were the 3 Junkers Ju 52 of Ju Air that were in the air together. From Sweden came a Bleriot replica owned by Mr. Carlsson. Another replica was a Fokker Eindecker.
There were about 7 An-2 present and a considerable number of german trainers from the 40’s like Focke Wulf 44 or Bücker Jungmanns. There were of course dozens of piper cubs. Besides the Ju 52 the biggest aircraft that landed at the airstrip were two Dassault Flamant from France. One of which was still wearing the paint job from a film, where it masqueraded as a Douglas Boston.
Antonov AN-2 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Antonov AN-2 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Antonov AN-2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Junker Ju-52 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Antonov AN-2 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Antonov AN-2 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
The announced stars of the meeting were the Me 262 and Me 109 of the Messerschmitt Stiftung. Unfortunately the Me 109 was unserviceable. The Me 262 did show up but it was displaying so far away and always in front of the sun. It was therefore not possible go get any decent pictures. What a pity.
There are some unique photo opportunities in the early morning however. As it is already quite cool in September during the night, fog tends to form and there is condensation on the parked aircraft that make for attractive pictures.
During the whole day there are passenger flights by An-2 and Ju 52 that take off and land in between the arrival of the visitors.
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder )
Pilatus-P-2 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Poilatus P-3 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Tiger Moth (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
De Havilland Tiger Moth (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Bücker Jungmeister (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Dornier Do-26 (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
(Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Helio Courier (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Hawker Hurricane (Picture courtesy Michael E. Fader)
Douglas Skyraider (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
North American Mustang & Yakovlev Yak-11 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
Supermarinbe Spitfire & Yakovlev Yak-9 (Picture courtesy Urs Schnyder)
At Hahnweide you have the chance to see some unique aircraft that are never or seldom seen anywhere else. However, as to take good pictures of them that is another matter.