STOL

Airmen from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, out of the Royal Air Force Station in Suffolk, England and Soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, conduct fast-paced landing and take-off maneuvers for several hours, refining their timing, efficiency, and communication, for Saber Junction 16. SJ16 is the U.S. Army Europe’s 173rd Airborne Brigade’s combat training center certification exercise, taking place at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, March 31-April 24, 2016. The exercise is designed to evaluate the readiness of the Army’s Europe-based combat brigades to conduct unified land operations and promote interoperability in a joint, multinational environment. SJ16 includes nearly 5,000 participants from 16 NATO and European partner nations. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Sarah K. Anwar)

STOL

Army, Air Force train for short take-off and landing

Published April 15, 2016
By Spc. Sarah K. Anwar
304st Public Affairs Detachement

HOHENFELS, Germany -- Soldiers from the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade out of Vicenza, Italy, and Airmen from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron, out of the Royal Air Force Station in Suffolk, England, secured the Hohenfels Training Area short take-off and landing strip (STOL) April 13, as part of their certification at Saber Junction 16.

The air field team from the 321st Special Tactics Squadron practiced seizing the STOL and assessing it for suitability by looking for obstacles and barriers that would be in the way of aircraft, explained Master Sgt. Christopher B. Sones, who is with the squadron. Sones is the air field team leader for the crew accessing the STOL. They then conducted fast-paced landing and take-off maneuvers for several hours, refining their timing, efficiency, and communication.

Sones, from Narvarre, Florida, added that the STOL here differs from other military landing strips.

"It's unique because it's right at 3000 feet which is our bare minimum for C-130s," said Sones. "The composition is something we call "rhino-slide;" it's a dirt aggregate kind of concrete mix."

Sones added that even the concrete mix is still tough enough for aircraft to land.

Saber Junction 16 is a multinational exercise for U.S. Army Europe's 173rd Airborne Brigade, where they will be evaluated on the readiness of their combat units to conduct unified land operations and promote interoperability. The STOL supports this effort because is it the only semi-prepared, dirt landing zone in Germany, distinguishing it from other landing zones.

Sones says it is essential for his team be able to work in joint operations and share best practices, just as they are doing with the 173rd Airborne.

C-130s usually land on an average of a 4,600 foot strip. The STOL is 3,600 feet, but only 3,000 feet are usable for take-off and landing, due to the requirement for 300 unused feet to be on either end of a strip for safety.

Saber Junction 16 lasts from Mar. 31 until Apr. 24, during which the STOL will be in constant use for the best training opportunities in one of the best environments, Sones added.

"This is perfect; this would be an ideal location," said Sones. "You got clear visibility, there no real restrictions to the incoming aircraft and departing aircraft so it's a good sight."