Search and Rescue - Vintage Style

This flight is meant to commemorate the use of the Grumman HU-16 Albatross by the German Navy.

The first aircraft was ferried from Long Beach, New York, to Kiel-Holtenau in 1959 by a retired US Air Force colonel. A total of eight aircraft were commissioned. They were replaced in 1975 by the MK 41 Sea King. The Albatross was primarily used for search and rescue operations over water, where helicopters could not operate due to their limited range. It had a four-person crew and could carry up to 12 people on stretchers. The German Navy flew a total of about 15,000 accident-free flight hours with these aircraft.

We will begin our flight in Borkum (EDWR), where the Naval Air Wing 5 had a detachment. We'll fly over the Wadden Sea and land in Norden (EDWS). Next, we'll fly along the East Frisian Islands, performing some water landings in front of the island airfields. Before heading to Helgoland, we'll land in Wangerooge (EDWG). In Helgoland, we'll land in front of the Düne airfield, circle the island, and then turn east. Helgoland also had and still has a detachment for search and rescue services. Back on the mainland, we'll land in St. Peter-Ording (EDXO) and then in Schwesing (EDXJ). Schwesing was a German Air Force airfield, just like our next destination, Hohn (ETNH). For over 50 years, Hohn was the home of Air Transport Wing 63, which operated the C-160 Transall and, before that, the Nord 2501 Noratlas. A target-towing company is also based in Hohn. Now, Hohn is an alternate airfield for the German Air Force.

We will end the flight in Kiel-Holtenau (EDHK) after a scenic flight over the city and the Kiel Fjord. Kiel was the home base for MFG 5 (Naval Air Wing 5) until it was relocated to Nordholz. The view and the tremendous noise that the Albatross made when operating from the Kieler Förde are (well) remembered in Kiel.

This historic video depicts an Albatross flight from Helgoland to Kiel.

The flight is 160 miles long and has 5 hard surfaces and about 4 water landings. The Albatross cruises at about 140 knots; any other airplane in that speed range could be used. I will be in the MSFS 2024 HU16E Albatross in the German Marineflieger livery. Please fly what you like.

The flight plans are here.

Additional scenery:

East Frisian Islands

Helgoland Upgrade

Hohn AB

Kiel has been upgraded with SU3, the previously used freeware is no longer required. The Helgoland scenery is optional; the default depiction is pretty good. The freeware East Frisian Islands is not compatible with the Aerosoft version.

Please set your simulator for a 10 am local departure. We try real weather.

Multiplayer Particulars:

Date and time: Sunday, September 21, 2025. 1600 UTC

Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: United States East server.

These flights are events posted at DigitalThemePark and use DTP's Teamspeak Channel for communication.

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!