'German Navy-4904' takes to the air from the mobile helicopter platform. The HTM helicopter is under contract by the Bundeswehr and is operated by MFG-5 from the civil air terminal's apron.
'499' (BuAerNo.152853) was built as a TA-4F and served USN units VA-125, VX-4 and VX-5. Converted to TA-4J, she served the IDF/AF as '748' and possibly '250'. Returned to the US in 2001 (N250WL), '499' became C-FGWT in January 2021.
'Striker-2' returning from a two-ship sortie with '038' C-GFTO. After 18 years in British service as ZJ648, flying from Boscombe Down, former Luftwaffe 40+09 was sold to Top Aces and became C-GVTA in June 2019.
'Skyhawk-7' leaving the Top Aces platform for a sortie to northern Schleswig Holstein. On the return leg, '499' made two rollers at Jagel Air Base. The TA-4J is the only two-seater in the Top Aces A-4 fleet at Nordholz.
The Aeronauticum's former MFG-2 Tornado 43+55 has recently been relocated closer to the museum buildings and in the process her markings, commemorating the 90th Anniversary of the Marineflieger in 2003, have been refreshed as well.
During refurbishment, commenced in March 2020, the correct identity of the MFG-5 gate guard was restored. For years the machine had been on display at Kiel-Holtenau and here at Nordholz as '80+52'. The Choctaw returned to the gate on 1 October 2021.
The fin of Top Aces Skyhawk '542' celebrates 70 Years of NATO on this side and the 60th Anniversary of Jagdgeschwader 71 (Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71) on the port side.
Skyhawk '532' (BuAerNo 159534) is ex Israeli IDF/AF and was registered in the USA as N266WL before transferring to the Canadian register as C-FGZO in February 2015.