On a weekend in early July 2018, my colleagues from AKS-Aviation planned an air-to-air photoflight with a in Germany very well known Junkers Ju-52 "D-AQUI" (real registration D-CDLH), owned by Deutsche Lufthansa Berlin Stiftung.
It is one of three airworthy original Junkers JU-52/3m worldwide. Another four airworthy CASA 352L aircraft exist in flying condition in Switzerland France, the United States and in South Africa, however those airplanes were built by CASA under license in Spain.
The chosen day was a Saturday, the 7th of July to be exact. The weather forecast the day before promised sunshine and warm temperatures, perfect conditions for such an occasion.
So the next morning, I woke up at 7 a.m., had breakfast and departed right away with no time to lose, with destiantion Münster-Osnabrück airport.
So the next morning, I woke up at 7 a.m., had breakfast and departed right away with no time to lose, with destiantion Münster-Osnabrück airport.
Three and a half hour later, I left the highway and drove directly to a spot near the holding point of RWY23, to wait for the "Tante Ju" to arrive. Only 10 minutes after my arrival I could see the good old lady turning final. What a sound!
D-CDLH turning final just above the Ems river for a RWY25 visual approach.
"Tante Ju" over the keys.
After I was able to get some shots of this beautiful aircraft, it was time for me to head to the general aviation terminal.
A two minutes drive later, when I arrived at the GAT, a friendly security officer let me to the security check point and only seconds later I was already picked up by a ramp agent, who already knew my name - That is service :-)
Our photoship was directly parked in front of a hangar, so that I only had a few meters to walk from the terminal, where André and René already waited for me.
Our photoship was also one of its kind. A Reims C-172H, but completely rebuild by André and painted in a full original colourscheme of a "T-41B Moscalero", a basic training aircraft of the US Army.
Our very good looking photoship, D-EMZF Reims C-172H owned and flown by André.
Now it was time for us to meet the crew and do a briefing for the upcoming flight. We were discussing about the route, meeting and exit points, speeds and altitudes, frequency and flight times.
After the briefing was completed, we made our way to our aircraft, André did the pre-departure check, René and myself prepared our camera equipment and checked the last camera settings.
Our go to ask for start-up clearance was the start-up of the third engine of the old Junkers as briefed with the pilots, so that we were able to taxi right behind it for departure.
After a few minutes we got airborne and I was surprised that we had some strong winds that day, which made the ride a little bit bumpy and complicated to keep the camera calm and steady. We flew to our first meeting point with the Junkers, where it approached us from the left side over the town of Münster. Even with closed windows I was able to hear the three 9-cylinder BMW engines soaring next to us. What a feeling!
Then we broke up again, so that we were also able to shoot the beauty from the other side. The Junkers veered to the left, we to the right and we were crossing at a few hundred feet in altitude difference again, before the Junkers set itself again next to us.
Being satisfied with the photos, the Junkers decended for its visual approach to EDDG again. We asked clearance to fly 500 ft above the airfield during landing of the Junkers, so we were able to get a fantastic view on the Ju during its final approach.
After we landed again at Münster/Osnabrück airport, we were lucky enough to have a little tour through the Junkers with no other people in it, so we had plenty of time to set ourselves 80 years back in time while we were enjoying this fabolous machine.
Then it was time for me to leave again with destination Luxembourg, as I had to get up again early the next morning.
What an awesome experience, very special thanks to André and René from AKS Aviation, and of course to the friendly crew of D-AQUI!
