Annual Report 2004 by the Friends of the VFW 614

Dear friends of the VFW 614,

in 2003 our aircraft had an eventful time. All three aircraft G14, G18 and G19 have reached their final site at Nordholz, Lemwerder and Wales for their use as museum exhibit or technical ground trainer. In our annual report 2003 we mentioned this matter.

The passed year 2004 was calmer concerning owner change of the existing VFW 614. As a reminder – there are 6 existing aircraft: the G4 at the "Technik Museum Speyer", at Braunschweig at the German Aerospace Center DLR there is the G17 still flying in research operations. The G14 is located at Lemwerder Airfield, Hangar 17 in complete assembled conditions, waiting for her use as a ground simulator of the Oldenburg University. The G18 at the "Aeronauticum" Nordholz is a popular museum exhibit. At Lufthansa's training facility in Wales/St. Athan (Lufthansa Resource Technical Training LRTT) the G19 is in use for maintenance personnel training.

G15 at Bremen Airport, still in use as static display, can celebrate a little jubilee this year. Five years ago the aircraft made its maiden flight as Advanced Technologies Demonstrator ATD, equipped with an ultra modern Fly-by-wire Electronic Flight Control System EFCS. The 5th anniversary of the maiden flight, the 13. August gave Sylvia Mentzen and Günter Behrens the opportunity for an emotional review circular letter to all persons involved in this project. "One moment in time ..."

As a matter of fact the maiden flight of ATD at 13. August 1999 was a memorable date because the builders of the EFCS at DaimlerChrysler Aerospace DASA have demonstrated a high tech control system in Bremen. They also demonstrated proof of competence in taking independent systems and managerial responsibility for new flight control systems, including ground and flight tests for high complex systems in airline transport aircraft.

We can celebrate another jubilee in 2004. This is the 30. anniversary of the VFW 614 certification! On 23. August 1974 our aircraft got its type certificate No. 2509 from the german LBA. After three eventful years with 1100 hours of flight testing we reached the goal. The VFW 614 marked the beginning of a new chapter of the German aerospace industry and a vital milestone in German history of civil aircraft construction. A young Bremen crew of aircraft builders with enthusiasm and proudness delivered the first german jet short-haul transport aircraft to its series-production readiness. And they placed the cornerstone for the Bremen Airbus location.

We keep in mind that years before the "HFB 320 Hansa" got its certification No. 2506 in Hamburg. This aircraft was certificated according to the same FAR-regulations by the LBA. Also the 320 demonstrated modern civil aviation technology after world war II in northern Germany. Like our 614 the 320 became a part of aviation history. We in northern Germany are proud of that. Some aircraft designers and test pilots joined our 614 program in Bremen. We hope that the association "Ein Hansa Jet für Hamburg e.V."will be successful and can preserve the only flying 320 from Turkey as her tradition aircraft (see www.hansajet.de).

On 24th november, 2004 the Type Certificate of the VFW 614 was withdrawn by the German Luftfahrt-Bundesamt LBA. The still flying G17/ATTAS will be operated with an approval for specific use by the German Aerospace Center DLR in Braunschweig.

Also in the virtual world the VFW 614 will continue to exist. Flight simulation software for the Microsoft FS 2004 will be created by two groups (Bremen and Berlin). PC-simulation will make sure that our aircraft gets acceptance at flight simulation enthusiasts from various parts of the world. A VFW 614 with jet engines as model aircraft is in progress in Ahlhorn/Germany by an experienced hand model-maker.

Our union „Friends of the VFW 614“ got some more members this year and is growing. Fine that more colleagues found our web site while we hadn't their home address. Our Bremen group meets every 3 months to engross the thoughts. Excursions e.g. to Airbus site Finkenwerder or to DLR/ATTAS Braunschweig are completing the opportunity for some presentations during the meetings.

Our public relations work this year took place at 3 events in order to attract interest for the VFW 614 – with an information stand at Diepholz Airfield, exhibition "Historic Aviation", at Nordholz "Museums Night" and at Bremen Airport with the "Hafenkonzert" of "Radio Bremen"“ radio station. Thanks to Bremen Airport, to Radio Bremen and the Aeronauticum and others for their friendly support.

Dear friends of the VFW 614, we wish you a merry christmas and a happy new year 2005. Special greetings again to our friends Leif Nielsen in Denmark, Knud Bartels und Graham Reddin in Australia, Juergen Hammer in France and Bill Mellberg in the USA. Many greetings also to Rolf Stuessel and Udo Draeger.

Joachim Kruth

March 2005