Submit your comments on this article |
Europe |
U.S. Turns Air Base Over to Germans |
2005-10-11 |
The United States formally handed Rhein-Main Air Base over to the German government Monday, ending a 60-year stay during which the sprawling field was a hub of activity for American forces facing Soviet bloc troops and Mideast tensions. Gen. Robert Foglesong, commander of the U.S. Air Force in Europe, called it "a grand old base with a lot of history," but said moving operations to other bases in Germany was necessary to save money. Instead of the constant landings and takeoffs of C-130s, F-16 Fighting Falcons and the gargantuan C-17s ferrying tons of supplies and thousands of troops worldwide, Rhein-Main Air Base has gone quiet, nearly devoid of activity as it prepares to shut down. The handover, based on a 1999 U.S.-German agreement, will take until the end of the year. Fraport AG, which operates the adjacent Frankfurt International Airport, plans to use the additional space as it prepares to house a new maintenance and supply facility for the new Airbus super-jumbo A380, the world's largest passenger jet. Construction began last month on the new hangar, part of a $124 million effort to get ready for the plane. |
Posted by:Fred |
#12 I second that CS. At least not bearing arms and needing to employ the grand attitude adjusters of democracy. |
Posted by: MunkarKat 2005-10-11 10:51 |
#11 tw say "our feet are the same" real fast. Kind of like Harry Fraderchie is good bye in Italian and jeetjet means "did you eat yet" in South Alabama. |
Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-10-11 10:37 |
#10 I'm not familiar with that phrase, DB. |
Posted by: trailing wife 2005-10-11 09:39 |
#9 Don't make us have to come back... |
Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2005-10-11 09:39 |
#8 Arfeetarethesame. (goodbye in German) |
Posted by: Deacon Blues 2005-10-11 07:14 |
#7 So long, farewell, auf Wiedersehen, goodbye ... |
Posted by: 2b 2005-10-11 06:01 |
#6 So long, and thanks for all the |
Posted by: Seafarious 2005-10-11 03:01 |
#5 C ya, wouldn't wanna be ya. |
Posted by: Captain America 2005-10-11 02:26 |
#4 Bye. *sniff* |
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2005-10-11 01:48 |
#3 Fraport AG, which operates the adjacent Frankfurt International Airport, plans to use the additional space as it prepares to house a new maintenance and supply facility for the new Airbus super-jumbo A380, the world's largest passenger jet. Construction began last month on the new hangar, part of a $124 million effort to get ready for the plane. new maintenance and supply facility. Gotta factor in the buzz off quotient rule. |
Posted by: Red Dog 2005-10-11 01:07 |
#2 Faster please. |
Posted by: Sock Puppet O´ Doom 2005-10-11 00:11 |
#1 buh-bye! |
Posted by: Frank G 2005-10-11 00:04 |