German Tu-154s: 'Interflug' to Open Skies

Even though East Germany was an important member of the Warsaw Pact it's national airline, Interflug, never operated the Tu-154 trijet, basing its jet fleet around the smaller Tu-134 and larger Il-62 instead. That doesn't mean a couple of 154s didn't wear the Interflug scheme though, and these aircraft would serve beyond the German reunification with one being involved in a tragic mid-air collision. 

It wasn't until as late as 1989 that the East German Air Force took delivery of a pair of Tupolev Tu-154Ms configured as 'Salons' - the term used to designate private VIP interiors. In keeping with most of the rest of the EGAF's fleet the 154s wore full Interflug colours and had civilian registrations to facilitate them flying abroad. Plus, in a Socialist state like East Germany the head of state had to be seen to be flying the same as everyone else even when inside the aircraft they clearly were not. The 154s were registered DDR-SFA and SFB.

The Tu-154s were operated by TFG-44 'Arthur Pieck' tasked with operating governmental flights and technically based at Marxwalde Air Base in the Brandenburg District. In practice, along with the IL-62Ms operated by TFG-44, they were resident at Berlin-Schonefeld where a guarded hardstand was set aside for them. The aircraft of TFG-44 were nicknamed 'Honecker-Maschine' as they were used for the East German leader, Erich Honecker's flights abroad.

Ralf Manteufel (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2 ), via Wikimedia Commons

Upon the collapse of East Germany, and reunification with the West, TFG-44 was absorbed into the Luftwaffe. Most of the aircraft had short careers with the new German Air Force but the Tu-154s being almost new remained in service. Re-registered as 11+01 and 11+02 they joined the 65th Air Transport Wing (Lufttrasnportgeschwader 65) at the now renamed Neuhardenberg (ex-Marxwalde) Air Base. 

Steelhead 2010, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Initially operating in a basic Interflug scheme they were transferred to the 5th Air Division, known as the FBS (Flugbereitschaftstaffel) and moved to its base at Cologne-Wahn. With the FBS they took up the division's black, blue and white scheme.

The Treaty on Open Skies was signed on March 24, 1992 and established a program of unarmed aerial surveillance flights over the territories of signatory nations with the aim of decreasing tensions, avoiding misunderstandings and enabling accountability for nation's to feel comfortable treaty obligations are being followed. Signatory nations needed to identify aircraft they would use for the purpose of the overflights and the Germans decided upon using one of the Tu-154s - 11+02.

Steelhead 2010, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The aircraft was fitted out in 1994 for the purpose and gained a small '​Offener Himmel' (Open Skies) logo on the no2 engine intake. It also kept its VIP interior and was still used for transport flights. The conversion to what was called a Tu-154M-ON included the installation of various cameras and recording devices in baggage compartments and camera compartments just forward of the wing. Operator workstations were installed internally, but externally the aircraft appeared much as before.

11+02 flew sorties over Poland and Russia and it was also displayed at the ILA, 96 airshow. The Germans chose the Tu-154 due to its three engine configuration providing reliablity and the aircraft's 6,600km (4,100 mile) range. The conversion appears to have been a success as there were plans for the aircraft to be further modified in 1998. Unfortunately, fate would intervene before that could happen.

On Saturday 13 September , 1997 11+02 would find itself a long way from Germany, flying about 120km West of Namibia as part of a flight between Cologne and South Africa. Onboard were 10 crew and 14 passengers. Sadly, in exactly the same position was a USAF C-141 Starlifter that was returning from a humanitarian aid mission to Namibia. The two aircraft collided in mid-air killing all 24 onboard the Tu-154 and the 9 crew aboard the C-141. You can read more about the accident here:

Crash of 11+02 at the Aviation Safety Network

Wikipedia 1997 Namibia Mid-Air Collision

It was a sad end for an aircraft that had proven itself incredibly useful to the Luftwaffe, despite its Soviet origins. The other aircraft 11+01 remained in service with the Luftwaffe in its transport role until 2000 when it was sold to the Vnukovo aircraft repair plant and swiftly found itself in service with Iran Airtour Airlines as EP-MBL. The Tu-154 in Western service is something of a curiosity but clearly the aircraft's rugged reliability found it a successful niche in the new Luftwaffe and it was no fault of the aircraft itself that it was involved in a mid-air collision. 

References

Komissarov, D. Tupolev Tu-154: The USSR's Medium Range Jet Airliner. Aerofax
​Schmitz, S. Interflug: East Germany's Airline. Astral Press