Thursday, April 7, 2011

Spang

The mighty Canadian military machine conveyed me to Spangdahlem Air Force Base, located about 3 hours by car south of Frankfurt. "Spang" is an American hold-over from the Cold War. It sports a genuine fake runway and fake F-16s to fool the Ruskies.

Our Canadian Airbus was full of military personnel going on leave. After an overnight flight we landed at Spang in early morning mist. Massive C-17 transport planes  were lined up along the runway like great grey whales. And then the warning came over the PA system as we taxied to our ramp, "no flight-line photography" - denied! There are just two things I have to be careful not to do here - get caught taking a picture of an airplane and having more than the allowed two beers.

It was absolutely stunning to see the green fields and woodlands of Germany. There are white and pink blossoms on the trees and flowers in the tidy gardens. I drank in the green on the bus ride to my quarters and I drank my two German beers with supper with some friends.

I have to get up tonight at 1:30 AM to catch my bus to Frankfurt Airport, and from there to Paris.

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