60 Jahre israelische Luftstreitkräfte

Die neueste Errungenschaft, die Lockheed Martin F-16I, wird in Israel “Sufa” (Sturm) genannt. Im Februar 2004 landeten die ersten von insgesamt 102 bestellten Exemplaren in Ramon, wobei die letzte von vier Staffeln erst im Sommer 2008 mit dem neuen Muster aufgestellt wurde. Beeindruckend: Insgesamt besaß Israel zu diesem Zeitpunkt mit 362 Fighting Falcons die größte F-16-Flotte außerhalb der USA. Dahinter rangierte mit rund 90 Jets in verschiedenen Versionen die F-15 Eagle. Das Flaggschiff bildet die für Luftangriffe optimierte F-15I „Ra’am“ (Donner), von der man aufgrund des hohen Stückpreises nur 25 Maschinen gekauft hatte. Sie fliegen seit Januar 1998 bei der „Hammer“ genannten Staffel in Hatzerim. Sowohl F-15I als auch F-16I sind ausschließlich Doppelsitzer, da die Heyl Ha’avir zum Einsatz von Präzisionswaffen Zwei-Mann-Besatzungen bevorzugt.

Ein runder Geburtstag ohne Feuerwerk? Undenkbar! Und so ließen zwei Kampfhubschrauber vom Typ AH-1 „Tzefa“ (Viper) es mit TOW-Flugkörpern richtig krachen, während zwei AH-64D-I Longbow-Apache mit ihren Bordkanonen alte Panzer und Lastwagen durchsiebten. Vier F-16C „Barak“ (Blitz) traktierten die ausgedienten Fahrzeuge mit Übungsbomben. Weitere Höhepunkte der Vorführung waren zum Beispiel das Display der CH-53 „Ya’sur“ (Sturmvogel), die mit ihrer Wendigkeit verblüffte, oder der seltene Raketenstart einer C-130 Hercules „Karnaf“ (Nashorn) und die Kunstflug-Performance der in Hatzerim stationierten Tzukits (in Lizenz gebaute Fouga Magister).

Dagegen ist die legendäre F-4 Phantom aus dem Inventar verschwunden. In der statischen Ausstellung fand sich aber eine der drei mit einer speziellen Kamera ausgestatteten RF-4E(S), die bis 2004 flogen. Sie kam vom benachbarten Museum auf die Basis. „The-One-Squadron“ hatte als letzte israelische Einheit bis zum 12. Mai 2004 die Phantom geflogen und war danach deaktiviert worden.

Dafür war die A-4N Skyhawk “Ayit” (Adler) noch in der Luft zu sehen, die jedoch ausschließlich bei einer Staffel in Hatzerim im Einsatz ist und zur Ausbildung von Piloten verwendet wurde. Noch mehr Jahre auf dem Buckel haben die schwarze Spitfire, die auf Wunsch der israelischen Jagdfliegerlegende und späteren Staatspräsidenten Ezer Weizman in Israel blieb, und heute – wie die ebenfalls im Museum in Hatzerim beheimatete Stearman – nur noch bei besonderen Anlässen vorgeflogen wird.

Israeli air force celebrates its 60th birthday

Heyl Ha’avir, one of the world’s most modern air forces in constant readiness is Israel’s pride and joy. Compared to their present-day high tech the commencement of the Israeli air and space force was more or less adventurous. A flight division named Sherut Ha’avir which was founded by the paramilitary organization Haganah on November 10th 1947 started service with only two de Havilland Tiger Moths. At top secrecy various aircraft, mostly civil types, found their obscure trails to Palestine. Two days after the proclamation of the state of Israel on May 14th 1948 the Sherut Ha’avir became the Heyl Ha’avir which was later presented as the air force after the official armed forces of young Israel were established on May 28th. The first fighters – Avia S-199s on basis of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 – were bought in Czechoslovakia and had to be smuggled in the country as agricultural appliances. This led to a change in their independence war, because the Egyptians were just 20 miles away from Tel Aviv when four Avias attacked their troups on a bridge near today’s Ashdod. They were so surprised about the existence of combat aircraft that they backed out. Since the air forces have a high priority in Israel.

Therefore it was no surprise that many people went to Hatzerim air base near Beersheba to celebrate the graduation of the current pilot class and, of course, the 60th anniversary of the air force in June 2008. For their invited guests women as well as men of the Heyl Ha’avir performed an extraordinary demonstration of air power. Heyl Ha’avir’s high importance was strengthened by the visit of Defence Secretrary Ehud Barak and President Schimon Perez who attended the awards cermony of the around 50 new pilots getting their wings.

The Israelis displayed almost their whole range of aircraft and helicopters in Hatzerim/Beersheba. The newest purchase is the Lockheed Martin F-16I , called “Sufa” (Storm) in Israel. In February 2004 the first of totaling 102 aircraft landed in Ramon whereas the last of four squadrons converted to the type in summer 2008. Quite impressively, at that time Israel owned the biggest F-16 fleet outside the US with 362 Fighting Falcons all in all. Second most numerous aircraft continued to be the F-15 Eagle with around 90 jets in different versions. Representing the flagship of the fleet the F-15I “Ra’am” (Thunder) is optimized for air strikes, but due to high piece prices merely 25 machines were bought. Since January 1998 they have been flying with the “Hammer” squadron in Hatzerim. Both F-15I and F-16I exclusively are twin seaters, because the Heyl Ha’avir prefers two-men crews for the operation of precision weapons.

A milestone birthday without fireworks? Impossible! So firing their TOW missiles two AH-1 “Tzefa” (Viper) combat helicopters let it rip, while two AH-64D-I Longbow Apache riddled old tanks and trucks with their guns. Additionally, the disused vehicles were mauled by exercise bombs of four F-16C “Barak” (Lightning). Other show highlights are also worth to be mentioned, such as the display of the CH-53 “Ya’sur” (Petrel) which baffled the audience with its manoeuvrability, or the rarely seen rocket-assisted take-off of a C-130 Hercules “Karnaf” (Rhinozeros) as well as the great aerobatics performance of the Hatzerim based Tzukits (license-build examples of the Fouga Magister).

The F-4 Phantom then again has vanished from stock, but in the static display you could find one of three RF-4E(S) which were flown until 2004. The jet equipped with a special camera was brought over from the adjacent museum. “The-One-Squadron” was the last Israeli unit which flew the Phantom until May 12th 2004 and was disbanded thereafter. In contrast the A-4N Skyhawk “Ayit” (Eagle) was still active, but it is only operated by a squadron in Hatzerim for pilot training. Much older are both the black Spitfire, which was kept in the country at the request of Israeli pilot legend and later President Ezer Weizman, and the Stearman which is also based in the museum in Hatzerim. These warbirds are only flown on special events.