NATO 1 – And the Mollis Loop
For Saturday, December 11, 2021

Today we fly over NATO's Western European central core. We connect through airfields that have been important military bases in the NATO alliance – along with a Swiss counterpart. The beginning and end, however, are former military bases that now host major international air shows.



We start at Duxford Aerodrome [EGSU], the former RAF station and now home to the Imperial War Museum. A long-time RAF station, it was here that No 19 Sqn introduced the Spitfire to service. During the war, British (and Czech and Polish) and American fighter squadrons flew out of Duxford. Early post-war, the RAF flew Gloster Javelins and Hawker Hunters but the base was closed in 1961. In 1977, it was acquired by the Imperial War Museum whose British collection and the American Air Museum together form Europe's largest air museum. And this is the site of major airshows, both on a regular basis (the Duxford Air Show) and on special occasions. (This scenery is well worth a very close look.) We depart to the north turning over King's College Chapel and Cambridge University [CAM], and then proceed to Wattisham [EGUW]. Now an Army helicopter base, during the long Cold War RAF Wattisham was a key fighter base hosting a series of Britain's legendary squadrons. (No 111 "Treble-One" Sqn, in the late 1950s, flew Hunters in the hallowed Black Arrows display team. And No 74 "Tiger" Sqn was instrumental in forming NATO's Tiger Association.) The front-line interceptor squadrons flew Hunters, Lightnings, and Phantoms.

We cross the Channel to Koksijde [EBFN], a helicopter base now but an operational fighter base at one time. Then over Belgium passing historic Bruges [BRUG] (built on canals), and the immense Port of Antwerp [ANT] (second in Europe). We stop at Volkel [EHVK] which hosts two Dutch F‑16 squadrons – including 313th squadron – a NATO "Tiger" squadron. We depart to the south and execute a quick high pass over Kleine Brogel [EBBL], a Belgian Air Force frontline F‑16 base. The Wing includes the 31st Strike Fighter squadron – another one of NATO's "Tiger" squadrons. Kleine Brogel is on the regular rotation for NATO's Tiger Meets and was the site of the 2021 event. As with the Volkel's Dutch F‑16s, these Belgian fighters are capable of delivering the US nuclear weapons stored on their home base. Turning to the southeast, we now fly a low-pass over NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen [ETNG] right on the Dutch-German border. This was built as an RAF fighter airfield but, since the 1980s, has become a multi-nationally staffed center for NATO's airborne early-warning-and-control operations in the theater. Fly low over the runway (or, with permission, inspect the tower) and look at the Boeing E-3A AWACS aircraft parked on the flight line.

We carry on to land at Nörvenich Air Base [ETNN], one of the post-war Luftwaffe's earliest fighter bases. It hosts the "Boelcke" tactical fighter wing who flew, for half a century, F‑84F Thunderstreaks, F‑104 Starfighters and Tornados. Since 2010, the wing has flown Eurofighter Typhoons.

Then south for a fairly short hop to Büchel Air Base [ETSB] which hosts the Luftwaffe's 33 Fighter Bomber wing. It has been operating Tornados since 1985 (after F-84Fs and F-104s before). These are capable of delivering (US-shared) nuclear weapons via a "dual key" authorization system. Post-2007, this is the only location in Germany with nuclear weapons. (Since 1960, the unit has regularly visited Decimomannu Air Base on Sardinia for NATO Combat Training exercises.)

Then over the foothills of the Eifel range. Here you might enjoy the lovely rolling hills while practicing low-level flight. We land at Ramstein Air Base (ETAR), headquarters for the USAF in Europe. Through most of the Cold War, Ramstein housed tactical fighter and reconnaissance wings (F‑4s and F‑16s). Since the 1990s, flying operations have been mainly airlift missions (C‑130s and smaller Learjets and Gulfstreams) as well as supporting longer range USAF flights into and through Europe.

On departure, we fly southeast to the forested mountains of the Black Forest (the Schwarzwald). We turn at the resort town Baden-Baden, using the mountainside Hohenbaden Castle [BAD] as a marker. Traveling south-by-southwest, we fly over the Hornisgrinde [HORN] – the highest mountain in the northern Black Forest – which was used from 1938 by German, French, and then NATO forces as an observation-listening point until the restricted area was released for civilian use in 1997. And then we fly over the Feldberg [FELD], the highest point in the southern Black Forest. In between the Hornisgrinde and the Feldberg, the terrain of the Black Forest rises and dips sharply with a number of cross-cutting valleys. This presents a good opportunity for spontaneous "nap-of-the-earth" (NOE) flight training.

After the Feldberg, pilots may descend sharply and fly down the remaining 15 miles of the southern Black Forest through the glacially-formed Wiese Valley (Wiesental) [LOW1, LOW2, LOW3, LOW4]. (No requirements here. But if you are not seeing trees through the top of your canopy, you are not doing this right.)

Afterwards, we relax and cross into Switzerland to Emmen [LSME] is one of the Swiss Air Force's main bases. Historically, it hosted fighter squadrons that flew Vampires, Venoms, Hunters, and Mirages. It is now home to the Patrouille Suisse display team (Northrop F-5) and to the Air Force pilot's school (PC-7 and PC21). In addition, the other Swiss fighter squadrons (now F-5s and F/A‑18s) routinely conduct training and operational missions out of Emmen.

We depart to execute a very-low-pass down the runway at Mollis [LSMF]. Mollis was an air base from 1936 and a jet fighter base from 1958-1999. Aircraft were housed in hardened mountain caverns and pulled out to use the runway. Nowadays, this is mainly a small GA airfield. The military facilities are used only for the regular Zigermeet Mollis Air Show – an event that ranks high for its intimate setting and the spectacular mountain backdrop that frames the displays.

We cap off the day with one or two runs through the Mollis Loop. (This was developed by Into the Blue Simulations. See this run through the loop [12:01-22:00] to get an idea of what is involved.) The twists and turns, combined with the dramatic changes in elevation, will provide good fun for all. Afterwards, we shall land and enjoy a barbeque at Mollis [LSMF].



Documentation
The flightplan can be found here. (For convenience, included is an additional separate flightplan for the Mollis Loop.)

Aircraft
This flightplan is designed for subsonic jets and can be enjoyed by any aircraft capable of a fast cruise of about 350-370kts. The favorites might include the IndiaFoxtEcho Aermacchi MB-339 and IndiaFoxtEcho T-45 Goshawk as well as the Just Flight BAE Hawk T.1. If you have the "Reno Racers", you might like an Aero L-39 Albatros. Also excellent would be the Sim Skunk Works Fiat G.91. A bit faster but useful if you don't mind waiting would be the Sim Skunk Works TF-104G. A great fast turboprop alternative with modern avionics would be the GotGravel Vertigo. Fans of early jets might like Rob Richardson's freeware Hawker Sea Hawk and Gloster Meteor. I shall fly the Just Flight Hawk T.1 in the display livery of RAF No 74 "Tiger" Squadron.

Additional Scenery

Required downloads for this flight are Koksijde [EBFN] and Volkel [EVHK]. These are NOT in the default simulator.

While not required, we have attractive addons for Duxford [EGSU], Geilenkirchen [ETNG], and Ramstein [ETAR]. In addition, we have a small payware for Mollis [LSMF] which is fine but not really necessary.

Time and Weather
For takeoff on Saturday, set the simulator at 11:00 am local for September 4, 2021. (Note the change to September.)
While we typically prefer real weather, this time we recommend the "Scattered Clouds" or "Few Clouds" preset. We shall be flying fast jets into unfamiliar airports as well as a mountain flying in the Swiss Alps. European wintertime is not dependably good for aviation.

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Saturday, December 11, 2021. 1800 UTC
Where: AVSIM RTWR Teamspeak - Casual Flights Channel
Teamspeak Server Address: ts.teamavsim.com
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

So looking forward to this. I can safely say I have the Mollis loop NAILED!

I know, you can't wait to see that come apart at the seams. 😄

For Hawk pilots ... we have talked about a couple of quality videos by cgaviator (a 2,000-hour flight instructor and former Hawk pilot) on his YouTube channel. The first presents an excellent Simple Cold & Dart startup following a condensed checklist. It has the essentials to get the aircraft into the air, without the extra testing, so you can enjoy the flying part of the exercise. (Recommended by Nick. Ditto.) And the second is cgaviator flying the Hawk on the Mach Loop. Lessons on low-level navigation and the art of flying the valleys. We are all familiar with this event, so cgaviator's perspective is especially meaningful. And add a third: Navigating Scotland, a considerably longer low-level navigation flight through the Scottish Highlands to Inverness.

The first is particularly good for new Hawk owners. The second and third will be interesting to anyone doing low-level jet flight through terrain.

Simple Cold & Dark (14.49)

Mach Loop – Low Level Navigation (20:28)

Navigating Scotland (35:48)

Brilliant ride last night. You have hidden talents. 😉