On 2nd December 2024, the German Ministry of Defence officially disclosed the date and locations of the annual open-doors event of the German armed forces – Tag der Bundeswehr. In 2025, the event will be held on 28th June, at ten different military facilities across the country.
Traditionally, the Bundeswehr units participating in the event represent different branches of the German armed forces. And not only the traditional ones, but also the modern departments, such as Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Informationstechnologie u. Elektronik WTD 81 (Technical Center for Information Technology and Electronics).
The list of announced locations for the upcoming event includes two air bases – Fliegerhorst Schleswig/Jagel (Schleswig/Jagel Air Base) in Schleswig-Holstein and Internationale Hubschrauberausbildungszentrum (International Helicopter Training Centre) of the German Armed Forces in Bückeburg, Lower Saxony.
Both facilities already had the opportunity to host Tag der Bundeswehr in previous years. The air base in Jagel held the event in 2019 and the show was related to the 25th anniversary of the unit, as well as the 70th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The then open doors day attracted more than 24,000 visitors and was preceded by a spotter event.
It is also worth to add that in 2024, Fliegerhorst Schleswig/Jagel, which is the home of Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 51 ´Immelmann´ (51st Tactical Wing ´Immelmann´), operating the Panavia Tornado aircraft, hosted also the NATO Tiger Meet. During this event, two days for spotters were organised at the base.
Internationale Hubschrauberausbildungszentrum in Bückeburg was one of the locations of the 2023 edition of the German armed forces open day. It was the year Tag der Bundeswehr was held for the first time in its usual formula, after the three-year gap. Therefore, it was not surprising the International Helicopter Training Centre attracted more than 110,000 guests. And, similarly to the aforementioned event in Jagel, also the show in Bückeburg was preceded by a spotter day.
And, if you plan to go to Bückeburg next year, do not forget to visit one of the most interesting aviation museums in Central Europe located there. Hubschraubermuseum Bückeburg (Bückeburg Helicopter Museum) offers approximately 2,600 sqm of exhibition space, that accommodates a collection of about fifty rotorcraft, exposition of helicopter models, flight simulator and archival library (for more information, check our report from the museum, issued in August of 2023 – An incredible journey through rotorcraft history, from an aerial screw to the Mars Helicopter – Bückeburg Helicopter Museum).
Although visiting both the abovementioned air bases seems to be the greatest attraction for every aviation enthusiast, it should not be forgotten that dynamic aviation displays may be performed also at other locations, such as Stralsund at the Baltic Sea coast, where Marineflieger (Naval Aviation) presence is expected.
All photos from Tag der Bundeswehr 2024, Faßberg air base.
