One of the highlights of the Luftwaffenmuseum.

The Tower at Gatow has undoubtedly looked down on many C-47s over the years. This one had spent 32 years as a gate guard in front of the barracks at Gatow before being refurbished and placed on display to commemorate the Aussie participation in the Berlin Airlift. Based at RAAF Butterworth (Malaysia) from 23 Feb 1967 to 3 Jun 1980. Departed for West Germany 06 Jun 1980 and arrived there 11 days later. Placed on RAF registry as ZD215 for the final delivery flight to Gatow on 18 Jun 1980, because only British, US and French aircraft were allowed to pass through the Berlin air corridors up to 1989.

This aircraft is in an off-display area at the Luftwaffe Museum. It is presumably awaiting restoration. I did not get as far as the Pembroke that is just visible in this shot before I got turned back by staff.

This Bundesgrenzschutz (Federal Border Protection) helicopter is just one of many interesting exhibits to be seen (and photoraphed!) at the super Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr.

This is the line up of ex-NVA (apart from the first in line obviously), Soviet era aircraft to be seen at the super Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr at Gatow.

The Thunderflash was the first jet to be developed specifically to fill a reconaissance role. The Luftwaffe received 102 examples that served until 1965-66 when they were replaced by the RF-104G Starfighter. This particular example served with the USAF 66th TRW as 52-7436 at Sembach before being transferred to the Luftwaffe AG-52 and ending up at the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr at Gatow.

Now on display at the excellent Luftwaffemuseum at Gatow. This aircraft served with the 10 Escadron de Chasse (Fighter Squadron) based at Creil but arrived at Gatow via the Technical School in Perpignan.

This Gina served with Waffenschule 50 and then with the Zieldarstellungsstaffel (target simulation flight) des Condor-Flugdiensts hence the logo on the tail. Now she is one of many inteesting exhibits at the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr at Gatow.

This aircraft served with the NVA in JG-2 'Juri Gargarin' before being allocated the GAF serial 2377 (23+77) upon reunification. She is now one of many super exhibits at the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr Gatow.

This Fogger-B flew with JG-9 'Heinrich Rau' based at Peenemunde. After unification she was allocated the GAF serial 2002 (20+02) and is now preserved at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Berlin-Gatow.

Just one of many interesting exhibits to be seen at the superb Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr at Gatow.

Old photos of MiGs and Sukhois often look like this. I now realize that this is simply because these aircraft, with their very long pitot tubes, are difficult to photograph on a flightline.

Allocated the GAF serial 2511 (25+11) after unification.

This was one of sixty-six T3 weapon system trainers built under licence by Dornier at Oberpfaffenhofen for the Luftwaffe and the type remained in service until 1982. Now she is one of the exhibits at the super Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr Gatow.

The accident rate of the F-104 was rather high, especially in GAF service where it acquired the moniker 'Widowmaker'. Many of the problems could be overcome by better training of the pilots, understandable as they were flying a plane with almost no wing. Of the 158 examples built of the two-seat, training TF-104G version 104 were operated by the GAF. Fortunately one of these is now preserved at the Luftwaffenmuseum at Gatow.

Now looking resplendent in her refurbished NVA scheme. Just one of many interesting planes to be seen at the Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr Berlin-Gatow

This replica of the DR1 is seen in the colours of the Rad Baron, Baron von Richthofen, probably the most famous German pilot of WWI. The markings are the same as a similar replica displayed at Speyer. Only 320 of these aircraft were built as a response to the Sopwith Triplane and they were beset with problems due to high wing loading.