Here is a picture of a Luftwaffe Tornado, painted up to look like a bird. Some of the paint jobs done by European Air Forces are absolutely fabulous. For those of you legally minded out there, I do not know source of these photos or if they are actually copyrighted. I did inquire of my source, but he knew nothing.
Note that is one is from the 33rd Wing (Jagdbombergeschwader 33), at Büchel.♠ Here is another view of the same aircraft, from the top:
And from the bottom:
An excellent job of aircraft painting. Once upon a time there was a NATO STANAG (Standardization Agreement) that defined aircraft paining requirements. In about 1984 someone wanted to cancel that STANAG, but the Norwegian representative at the AIr Doctrine meeting protested, saying that the STANAG was needed to justify to the Parliament the expense of paining aircraft.
The next two pictures are of an aircraft painted up to celebrate the unit's 50th Anniversary. Another excellent job.
My thanks to Richard for these photos.
Regards — Cliff
♠ The Wikipedia article mentions the 702nd MUNNS (or MUNSS, pronounced Monz). This would be a "Munitions Support Squadron" and consists of Air Force Security Police and weapons technicians. Per the Global Security web page:  "The mission of a MUNSS is to maintain custody and control of US munitions assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The normal authorized manning at a MUNSS is approximately 125-150 personnel. The MUNSS is tasked to receive, store, maintain, and account for US munitions and to provide those munitions to the NATO strike wing commander when directed. The MUNSS mission is one of the most critical within the USAFE theater of operations."
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that looks a lot like a Bald Eagle, which is indiginous to the United States.
ReplyDeleteEither way, it lends new meaning to "nose art". I seem to recall someone else pushing that envelope in 1986. I guess it just proves that there really is a slippery slope.