LTU is an airline that has always caught my attention since my earliest days in this hobby. I distinctly recall flying the LTU 757s, L-1011s, and MD-11s in the earlier SIMs. So, as I was looking through the (base) pack of liveries that came with this (nice) Just Flight F-28 add-on, I came across this striking (red & white) LTU livery for the F.28 Mk 1000 (F28-1000) variant (please also see my earlier post where I'd flown the (larger) F28-4000 variant).

The rise and fall of LTU International Airways (usually shortened to LTU) is a most fascinating segment of Germany's (modern) aviation history. First of all, for over 50 years, the iconic (bold) red and white livery of LTU (airways), along with the large "LTU" print on the tail (see images below), was unmistakable in the sky...in the real (and virtual) world of aviation.  LTU was the original (and pioneering) spirit of German leisure travel (with the tagline, "The Red Spirit of Leisure Aviation"), transporting millions of holiday travelers of the country to far-off (sunny) destinations such as Spain, Italy, the Caribbean, and even Asia. Indeed, for decades, it was the symbol of German Leisure Travel, while effectively competing, as underdog, alongside the giant, Lufthansa; offering affordable rates, with catchy slogans such as, "Fliegen ist für alle da" aka "Flying is for everybody".

Originating as a miniscule charter carrier union, in 1955, during the post-War years, it grew and expanded rapidly, specializing in sun-and-fun destinations across the world, operating out of its HQ, Düsseldorf (to which airport I'm flying today). 

Unfortunately, after 54 years of continuous service, the market pressures and financial struggles of rising fuel costs, and tough competition from low-cost carriers, eventually forced its merger with Air Berlin in 2009, and the airline would be fully dissolved in 2011, marking the end of its legacy. It's significant to note that the other famous German leisure airline "Condor" (once owned by Lufthansa) was founded also in 1955, exactly in the same year that LTU was founded; so, LTU and Condor were direct (and fierce) competitors in the German leisure and charter travel sector. LTU is now gone, but Condor still survives today, after 70 years of existence.

For this post, I fly a short trip, in the golden glow of the evening light, between 2 key hubs of one-time LTU (airways), from Munich (EDDM) to Düsseldorf (EDDL), across a flight distance of about 300 miles, overflying an interesting topography of a mix of plains, rolling hills, forests, and river landscapes. You will spot the famous "Rhine River" in a couple of my images below, on the final approach to ILS Runway 23L of Düsseldorf (EDDL). I happen to recall now from many moons ago, my only (domestic) flight in Germany, from Frankfurt to Düsseldorf, in a Lufthansa A320.

For this flight, I've strictly followed the SimBrief OFP and Flight Plan (see the uploaded (identical) route string in the overlay shot #2, below, on both the F28 EFB and the MSFS EFB). 

Hope, you enjoy this collection of images of this Fokker (Flying Dutchman) F28-1000 Fellowship (see Fellowship marking on the engine nacelles), flying at the command of yours truly...🙂..., in the (bygone) colors of LTU International Airways, that (once) dominated the German Leisure market for over half-a-century...

Thanks for viewing... and best wishes for a Happy New Year...!

Great set of shots - HAPPY NEW YEAR !

cheers 😉

4 minutes ago, pmplayer said:

Great set of shots - HAPPY NEW YEAR !

cheers 😉

Thank you, pmplayer...🙂...!

Cheers...!

John, UrgentS:

Many thanks for your reactions...and I'm glad you liked this F28 Flying Dutchman...🙂...

Cheers and Happy New Year...!

Very nice set P_7878 and a Happy New Year! 🙂

24 minutes ago, andiflyit said:

Very nice set P_7878 and a Happy New Year! 🙂

Thank you much for the comment, Andreas.

All the very best to you…🙂…for the New Year…!