Spotterstrip Ramstein AFB

My recent spotting trip to Ramstein Air Base (ETAR/RMS) provided an excellent opportunity to observe the airlift activity associated with one of the most important U.S. military airfields in Europe. Ramstein remains a major hub for U.S. Air Forces in Europe and is particularly interesting for aviation enthusiasts because of the constant mixture of locally based aircraft, visiting U.S. Air Force units and occasional NATO, government and contracted transport aircraft.

Unlike many European military bases, Ramstein is dominated by transport and support operations rather than fighter activity. The movements during the trip therefore consisted primarily of C-130 Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III and C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft, supplemented by tankers,  and civilian-contracted transports.

The main attraction was, as expected, the variety of transport aircraft operating through Ramstein. The base continues to provide an almost continuous stream of strategic and tactical airlift movements, making it possible to see aircraft from numerous Air Force units during a relatively short spotting session.

The C-17 fleet was particularly well represented. Visiting aircraft from different bases could be distinguished by their tail markings and individual serial numbers, providing a good illustration of how frequently aircraft from across the United States Air Force pass through Ramstein.

The presence of C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft added another dimension to the trip. The large strategic airlifters are a regular and impressive sight at Ramstein, particularly during periods of intensive logistical activity.

One of the most noticeable developments during the trip was the number of transport aircraft appearing with very few, or in some cases apparently no, external identification markings.

More pictures can be found here.