Next Wednesday afternoon it can “get really loud” around Hörsching Airport, warns the Upper Austria Military Command. Because the Eurofighter pilots, who are normally stationed in Zeltweg, train a so-called “alarm start” at Hörsching Airport. Specifically, it is about intercepting maneuvers by unidentified aircraft to ensure the pilots’ operational readiness.
This alarm start also uses the afterburner, which gives the Eurofighter more thrust. This also increases noise pollution, says Lieutenant Colonel Markus Oppitz. “Simply explained: There is a loud bang because more horsepower is switched on.” However, the Eurofighters do not reach the supersonic range (1200 km/h). Several starts will be practiced on Wednesday afternoon, which “will be clearly noticeable” in the Hörsching area, says Major Martin Baierer.
“On the Edge of Safety”
However, because the weather conditions will not be stable in the coming week, the exercise can also take place on Wednesday morning or on Thursday, August 25th. “Of course, an alarm start in an emergency is independent of the weather, but bad weather can limit training. After all, the pilots reach the limits of safety, and as long as it’s just a matter of training, we don’t exhaust safety,” says Baierer.
After takeoff, the Eurofighters quickly climb to around 5,000 meters and then return to the airport to repeat the maneuver. There are also exercises on the runway.
Next week, Eurofighters will not only be in the air in Hörsching, but also in the Salzkammergut in the area of Lake Wolfgang: Because that is when the Eurofighter pilots will start their training flights for Airpower, Europe’s largest air show, which will take place on September 2nd and 3rd at the Hinterstoisser air base takes place in Zeltweg. In addition to a demonstration by the Austrian Air Force, international military aerobatic teams and participants from civil aviation will also be on display. “The Airpower has training value for our army and at the same time is an exercise that shows how professional our air force is and that they are able to help and support,” says Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner.
Source: Nachrichten
