A Historical Overflight of Berlin

This page simulates the one hour presentation  that many US Army Aviators gave  to
various passengers.  We both flew the helicopter and conducted the narration.
With apologies to the men and women who worked very hard at this endeavor, I
will recreate as far as my pictures will go, this one hour presentation.
If you would like to add some realism to this flight please sit on your washing machine (spin cycle is best) for the vibration effect and next to your car while someone is revving the engine.  This will be close to the noise associated with helicopters.
All set?
If you happen to notice that some of the pictures don't appear to have been taken from the air...
NOT TRUE...
I was just flying low...ok?
Previously only available to Heads of State, US Congressmen, Flag officers and some dog
catchers from Michigan... NOW you too can get a pretty accurate historical overflight of Berlin  before the fall of the wall.  Keep in mind I haven't done this in many years!  So here goes.
"Welcome aboard ladies and gentlemen. Are there any questions regarding the pre-flight safety
 briefing?
 No?
  Let's begin...
We are riding in the venerable UH-1 (Huey) it has a proven record of valiant service.
 We are departing Tempelhof Central Airport that had its  beginings as a parade field for the Prussian Military. Later,  Wilbur Wright brought his flying machine here.
From then on it has had an aviation history.
 
 
Tempelhof was the main airport during the Berlin airlift of 1948-49. Over 1.5 million tons of
                supplies were lifted into Berlin to feed and care for the cold and hungry city.
   The large building here was built and expanded by Hitler.  It was going to be the air terminal to all points
of the German Reich.
        We are flying over the City of Berlin, Germany. West Berlin to be exact.
                      As you can see, a very large city.  It is also one of the oldest cities in Europe. Berlin dates back to the 1400s.
 Next we come to the Brandenburg Gate.
Built in 1788 and 89, for Kaiser Freidrich Wilhelm II,   as a gate to the city, Napoleon  marched his troops through this gate to begin his two year occupation of Prussia.
Oh, some of you can't hear me very well,  so
I will talk a little louder...ok?
 The famous seat of German government, the Reichstag shown here from our very low altitude.
    oops! You can also see here in the garden that not many people wear clothes to sunbathe.
        Maybe we shouldn't look at that after all.
   Climbing up now...
 Moving on we pass the Charlottenburg Schloss.
It has very ornate gardens.  It was built in the 18th Century  as a Prussian Palace.
                  We will circle back now and pass the Soviet War Memorial.
 
 We can't hover here as it messes up the guard's hair and they complain so we look for the next
    point of interest.
    Next on the tour we drive, uh...fly past the Funktrum.
 This is a 1/4 scale Eiffel Tower! It was built in 1926 to broadcast for German Radio. Notice the
            odd building below the Funkturm. This is the Berlin Convention Center.
      And now just outside the bustling city but
 still within the limits of Berlin, is this quiet little cove.
Nice isn't it? Except...that residence just
  across the cove...that's where Hitler and his group came up with the "Final Solution" in which
                        was decided to put Jews thru the gas chambers.
Not so nice now.
 
     Now, just ahead is the "Castle in Ruins"
built for a Countess who was mistress to King   Ferdinand, it was actually constructed to look like a castle in ruin. It sits on Peacock   Island where many animals were left to roam.
These animals became the nucleus of the Berlin zoo.
      The famous Glenica bridge is just ahead.
 Separating West Berlin from the East German town of Pottsdam, this bridge has been the site of
 many spy exchanges. The most famous was the exchange of the Soviet master spy Rudolph Abel  for the American Pilot, Francis Gary Powers.
  Next is...well,
ladies and gentlemen we are being met by a Russian Aircraft. This is the Mi6, a
     helicopter that can carry troops as well as ordnance, making it very versitile and useful.
.             As we continue on, we are looking now to arrive back at TCA shortly.
  
 Here are two views of the cockpit of the UH1. Our pilot is both flying the helicopter and
 narrating the presentation. He relies on the safety pilot in the left seat to keep us clear of other
     aircraft and to make the necessary radio calls to clear us through the various controlled airspace.
         That concludes the presentation today. I hope everyone had an enjoyable time."
( now not to screw up the landing...oh! did I say that out loud?)
Ok folks you can get off the washing machine now.  You too, lady.
 
 
  © Copyright 1997 Mustang 21 Photo. All photographs except as noted are the property of the photographer and the text/html files are theproperty of Mustang 21 Photo.  The photographs are protected under United States and international copyright laws and may not be reproduced, stored, manipulated, and/or digitized without the written permission of Joe King or Mustang 21 Photo.
 
 Now back to the main page
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