Issue 16 March-April 2018
Romania Tour Airshow, Wrecks & Relics, Museums
Bringing a C-54 into the skies of Europe again. Not easy.
Follow our efforts on our website and please donate to make it happen!
welcome It is most encouraging to receive feedback after the comeback edition of Spotter Magazine! So we’re back with a new edition, full of great planespotting experiences. A number of exciting developments are in store. We will soon be enhancing our web presence and we’re looking forward to adding many new features to make the reading experience a far more enjoyable one. As for this issue, we once again have a number of outstanding contributions to offer. From an air-to-air sortie with Hellenic Air Force Vipers to the treasures hidden away in Krakow’s Aviation Museum, this is one issue that’s not to be missed. Enjoy!
Mark Zerafa Editor
EDITORIAL Editor:
Mark Zerafa
Design Assistant: Massimiliano Zammit
ADVERTISING AND COMMERCIAL: Email:
spottermagmalta@gmail.com
EDITORIAL ADDRESS: 238, ‘Morning Star’, Manuel Dimech Str., Sliema,
copyright notice All photos and articles remain the intellectual and artistic property of the respective credited persons. All unauthorised reproduction, by any means, both printed and digital, is considered an infringement of this copyright and all remedies available by law will be taken against any infringements of such copyright.
contents Malta International Airshow 2017
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Refuelling Vipers
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The Return of Black Mike
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Krakow Aviation Museum
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Roma Fiumicino Airport
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Dambusters on the Derwent
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SIAF 2017
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credits Graphic Design:
Massimiliano Zammit,
Contributors:
Westleigh Bushell Vangelis Antonakis Adrian Vines John Kendal David Butterfield Mark Zerafa Nicholas Carmassi Aldo Bidini Daniel Veronesi Mark Seabrook Massimiliano Zammit
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Malta Int’l Airshow Text: Westleigh Bushell Photos: Westleigh Bushell
The 25th annual Malta International Airshow was held during the weekend of the 23rd and 24th September 2017. The static display was held at Apron 4 at Malta International Airport, whilst the flying display was held over the coast of Smart City. Weather conditions prevented the opening of the static display on Sunday, but both flying displays proceeded as planned.
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SPOTTER MAGAZINE Organised by the Malta Aviation Society, the Malta International Airshow is indeed an airshow to enthusiasts for enthusiasts, offering unparalleled access and photographic opportunities usually impossible to achieve at major international events, including the night photoshoot on the apron and the opportunity to photograph arrivals and departures from the apron or the edge of the runway. For added effect, a nearby village hosts an annual firworks display which usually coincides with the airshow weekend, leading to some spectacular nightshot photography.
The 2017 offered plenty of variety in the Static Park. The highlight for most was probably the Ukranian Air Force Antonov An-30 which is employed in Open Skies missions. For the first time in the Airhow’s history, no less than three aerobatic teams were present, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by its Saudi Hawks team in their green Hawk Mk.65s, the Swiss with their PC-7 Team and Turkey with its Turkish Stars team bringing in some fast jet action with its Canadian-built Northrop NF-5 Freedom Fighters.
Besides being notable visitors in their own right, the aerobatic teams brought additional interest through their support aircraft, with the Turks flying in a brand new Airbus A400M Atlas and a Solo Turk– liveried C-130 Hercules, and the Saudis two desert-camouflaged C130s.
The Polish Air Force was represented by its latest fighter—the Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52, supported by a CASA CN-295. Also flying the Polish flag was an M-28 Bryza from the Polish Navy.
A number of maritime patrol aircraft contributed to the flying display, with a number of passes flown by the US Navy’s P-8 Poseidon and the French Navy’s Dassault Falcon, in addition to the AFM Air Wing’s King Air MPA. In the case of the P-8 and the King Air, the flying display gave the public the opportunity to better note the extensive modifications effected to the respective airframes in order to transition from their more mundane civilian roles to their new military missions.
Other highlights in the static park included a US Navy MH-60S from HSC-28 ‘Dragon Whales’ and an equally exotic Italian Guardia di Finanza Agusta-Westland AW-139. For foreign visitors, other rarities included most of the Armed Forces of Malta Air Wing types, including its King Air MPA, BN-2 Islander, Agusta-Westland AW-139 and its Alouette III.
Almost certainly paying their last visit to Malta was a pair of Royal Air Force Tornado GR.4s from IX(B) Squadron, stationed at RAF Marham. One of the Tornados seemed reluctant to return to England, developing a technical issue on departures day.
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Very few e Dassault Fa now in serv Lann-Bihou tronic syste The avionic infra-red, a computeris in a range piracy, traffi and maritim launch up t
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external differences distinguish the French Navy’s alcon 50 Surmar from its biz-jet brethren. With eight vice with the French Navy’s 24F Squadron, based at ue, the aircraft are extensively modified with an opem, a new cockpit and large observation windows. cs suite features a Thales-built Chlio forward-looking a Thales Ocean Master 100 search radar and a three sed mission stations in the cabin. They are operated of maritime surveillance missions, including antifficking and pollution operations, fisheries control me search and rescue. In the latter guise, it can to eight 25-man inflatable liferafts.
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German Navy Aviation P-3 Orion. The Germans purchased the former-Dutch P3s as a replacement for their Dassault-Breguet Atlantiques.
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Polish Air Force F-16D Block 52. Poland was the first former Eastern Block country to order the F-16
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The Turkish Stars are one of the few aerobatic teams in the world to still fly their routine in supersonic fighter jets.
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Boeing KC-135R from the 100ARW based at RAF Mildenhall.
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The Saudi Hawks were formed in 1998. Based at King Faisal Air Base, the team flies seven Hawk Mk.65s, modified for the team’s requirements by BAE Systems.
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Turkish Air Force C-130 63-13187 in special ‘Solo Turk’ markings denoting it as the support aircraft for the TAF’s F-16 solo display.
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Polish Air Force CASA CN-295 Royal Saudi Air Force C-130 Hercules
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Hellenic Air Force T-6 Texan II, based at Kalamata AB
Italian Guardia Di Finanza AW-139
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Dassault-Dornier Alpha Jet, Armee de l’Air
23 Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet
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Representing the m Armed Forces of Malt the King Air MPA an 139. The Alouettes ha overhaul recently, wit improved avionics an these workhorses an i
modernisation efforts of the ta’s Air Wing, the Alouette III, nd the Agusta-Westland AWave been subjected to a major th completely new wiring and nd overhauled engines, giving important new lease of life.
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Three King Air MPAs are now in service, featuring a number of modifications for the maritime patrol role, most prominent of which are the blister windows at the rear and the under-fuselage canoe housing the maritime radar.
The introduction of three AW-139s has allowed the Air Wing to attain self-sufficiency in maritime SAR even in IFR conditions, a role in which it was previously assisted by the Italian Military Mission with its Agusta-Bell AB-212s.
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Refuelling Vipers Text: Mark Zerafa Photos: Vangelis Antonakis
Between January and February 2017, the USAF’s 555th Fighter Squadron was depoloyed to Souda Bay, Crete, supported by a Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker from the Arizona Air National Guard’s 161st Air Refuelling Wing. Besides practicing operations when deployed, the unit made use of the ranges in the vicinity and practice joint operations with the Hellenic Air Force.’s 115th Combat Wing.
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MAR-APR 2018 For the Hellenic Air Force, this was a valuable opportunity to gain experience on air-to-air refuelling, which formed part of most sorties flown. The Hellenic Air Force does not have an inflight-refuelling capability, mainly because in its perceived threat scenario, it would not have sufficient secure airspace to conduct inflightrefuelling operations. Thus, the opportunity to practice this tricky art of airmanship was welcomed. Mission profiles were predominantly linked to the air-to-ground support role, practicing co-ordination with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, a scenario which is very common in the current conflicts in the Middle East. In addition, some air-to-aor training sorties were also flown. Pilots practiced weapons delivery on the ranges, and inflightrefuelling with realistic weapons loans.
The KC-135R is by far the most populous inflightrefuelling platform in NATO, also serving in the air arms of France and Turkey, within NATO, as well as the air arms of Singapore and Chile. Unlike the probe-and drogue system favoured by other air arms, the KC-135R uses the ‘flying boom’ method. Through this system, the pilot of the recipient aircraft formates under the tanker and it is the responsibility of the tanker’s boom operator to guide the boom into the other aircraft’s refuelling receptacle. This system offers higher fuel flow rates, which is especially important when refuelling larger aircraft like the C-5 or B-52. The Hellenic Air Force operates two American-built combat types, namely the F-4 Phantom and the F-16, both of which are equipped for this type of air-to-air refuelling. The HAF’s other front-line fighter, the Mirage 2000, does not have such a capability.
The KC-135 is one of the longest-serving military types in aviation history, having entered service in 1957. With its replacement, the KC-46 finally entering service after a protracted acquisition process, the venerable tanker might still be flying for a further twenty years.
As expected in such a long service life, the airframe has had a considerable amount of upgrades, including two engine replacement programmes. The original Pratt & Whitney J-57s were first replaced with TF-33 turbofans, mostly cannibalised from retired Boeing 707 airliners. When even these engines started showing their obsolescence, a second programme saw their replacement with a military version of the civilian CFM-56 engine, designated the F-108. This reduced fuel burn to such a degree that the re-engined KC-135Rs had 100% more thrust than the original KC-135A, could provide 50% more fuel and had a range 60% greater than that of the KC-135E.
Another area which has seen a considerable number of upgrades is the cockpit, with new instrumentation rendering the flight engineer’s position redundant. Upgrades in the navigation and cockpit instrumentation, as well as the autopilot, have allowed the USAF’s KC-135s to comply with global air traffic management standards.
Besides having an inflight-refuelling capability, the KC135R can carry cargo in its main fuselage hold, loading through a door in the forward fuselage. Numerous cargopassenger configurations can be used, up to a maximum of 38,000kgs, but the overall cargo capacity will also depend on the fuel load.
Although still within its designed airframe life, with its age now being more than apparent, the main issue with the KC-135 is its ever-increasing maintenance costs. However, the sole factor that it is the only aircraft in its role which is available in such considerable numbers, ensures that the KC-135 will remain a common sight wherever the USAF will be deployed for the foreseeable future.
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The Hellenic Air Force has a total of 170 F-16s, split between Block 30, 50 and 52 aircraft. Block 52 aircraft are fitted with conformal fuel tanks to give extended range in order to provide air protection over Cyprus. The Greeks have opted for a comprehensive weapons fit, including JDAM, JSOM and WCMD munitions for the ground-attack role, and IRIS-T and AMRAAM missiles for the air-to-air role.
The ghost insignia on the tailplane indicates these F-16 Block 52s belong to 337 Mira ‘Fantasma’ squadron, based at Larisa AB. Units normally based at Chania/Souda Bay are 340 Mira ‘Aleppou’ and 343 Mira ‘Asteri’, both also equipped with F-16 Block 52s.
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Text: Andy Vines Photos: as credited
2017 was a busy year for the British Phantom Aviation Group. Despite being made up entirely of volunteers, undertaking work in whatever free time they could spare, the group completed the challenging and complex task of dismantling and transporting XV582 ‘Black Mike’ to a temporary new home at RAF Cosford.
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As 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force, a commemorative static line up is being prepared for this year’s airshow and the BPAG were delighted to receive an invitation from the RAF to participate with XV582. It will be part of a special QRA display alongside other aircraft that have performed the same role through the years. So, in October 2017, the aircraft, in its major constituent parts, was moved 350 miles south into safe storage at Cosford where the BPAG engineering team began the process of putting the aircraft back together. As of January 2018, the re-assembly is complete and ‘Black Mike’ has been washed, scrubbed and polished and is ready for its first static display since 2013 and its first appearance outside the confines of RAF Leuchars since 1990. This takes place on 10th June 2018 at the RAF100 Airshow at RAF Cosford.
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At the behest of Wing Commander Terry Hanlon, the RAF’s 111 Squadron repainted one of its Phantom FG.1s in an all-black scheme t mark the 30th Anniversary since the squadron had been tasked with forming the ‘Black Arrows’ aerobatic team, predecessor to the Re Arrows. Prior to the formation of the official RAF aerobatic team, it had been customary for a fighter squadron to set up an aerobatic tea to represent the RAF for that year. XV582 was chosen as it had been the first RAF Phantom to exceed 5,000 flying hours, which lapse during a record-breaking 46-minute, 44 second dash from the Southernmost tip of the UK, Land’s End in Cornwall, to the Northernmo point, John O’Groats in Scotland. The aircraft retained its scheme until retirement and was preserved at RAF Leuchars thereafter. Howeve with the closure of the base, the aircraft was saved from the scrapheap by the British Phantom Aviatoin Group.
to ed am ed ost er,
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Polish
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h Aviation Museum Text: Mark Zerafa Photos: Mark Zerafa
Located in one of the world’s oldest airfields, Krakow Rakowice-Czyzyny Airport, the Polish Aviation Museum is widely held to be one of the top ten aviation museums in the world. Opened in 1964, the museum houses over 200 aircraft, a number of which are sole survivors of their type. The Museum owes its wealth to circumstances dictated by Poland’s history, its local aviation industry and the exploits of Polish airmen through the years.
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Warbirds do not get much rarer than this. The Caudron-Renault CR.714 was a lightweight French fighter plane. Deemed unsuitable for combat, it was nonetheless flown by Polish pilots in the defence of France after the fall of Poland. This is the sole surviving example, on loan from the Finnish Army.
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Besides the traditional post-war Soviet-era aircraft found in most former Eastern Block countries, the Museum boasts a number of aircraft from World War II. The Amiot Toucan was a French-built Junkers Ju-52. This particular example was built in 1946 and served with the French Air Force until 1960, when it was sold to the Portuguese Air Force. Retired in 1971, the aircraft was donated to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford, where it was repaired and repainted in Luftwaffe markings. The aircraft was sold to the Polish Aviation Museun in 2012 and arrived in Krakow in May 2013.
Messerschmitt Bf-109G-6 ‘Red Three’ c/n 163306 was built in Regensburg on May 11th, 1944. Assigned to the Jagdgruppe West training unit, the aircraft was lost just 17 days later, when it crashed into lake Trzebun shortly after take-off, killing Feldwebel Ernst Plein. The aircraft was recovered in 2000 and subsequently restored.
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At the heart of the Museum’s collection is a treasure-trove of World War I-era fighters. Sopwith F.1 Camel B7280 was built in Lincoln and saw service with the Royal Navy Aeronautical Air Service, and later the Royal Air Force, amassing a total of 11 confirmed aerial victories. Force-landing behind enemy lines on September 5th, 1918, the aircraft was extensivelt tested by the Germans and later displayed at the aeronautical exhibition in Berlin. Evacuated to Krakow during World War II, the aircraft has now been restored to its wartime colours, one of only five surviving Camels in the World.
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Captured by the North Vietnamese after the fall of Saigon, and evaluated by the Russians, this F-5A found its way to Krakow in 1992. De Havilland Sea Venom XG613 was a trials aircraft at Boscombe Down from 1958 till it was transferred to the Royal Aircraft Experimental Establishment in 1960. Donated to the Imperial War Museum upon retirement in 1969, it was acquired by the Polish Aviation Museum in May 2013
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Fouga CM.170 Magister formerly operated by the French Air Force. Republic F-15D Thunderchief 59-1822 is also a veteran of the Vietnam War. Flown by Major Donald Kutyna while assigned to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing at Takhli, Thailand, the aircraft was nicknamed ‘The Polish Glider’ due to Kutyna’s Polish ancestry. After some time on display at Duxford, the aircraft was loaned to the Polish Air Force Museum at Kutyna’s personal request.
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Some of the several Soviet types operated by the Polish Air Force during the Warsaw Pact era. Red-120 was one of 26 MiG-23MFs operated between 1979 and 1999.
The Polish Air Force received the first of 96 Ilyushin Il-28s in 1952. The type remained in service until 1977.
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The WSK Lim-1 was a license-built MiG-15. Red-712 was built in 1952 and served with the Polish Air Force until 1967.
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TS.11 Iskra ‘1409’ is one of a number of Iskras present in the Museum. Built in 1975, it swerved with a number of units, including the 28th Fighter Regiment at Slupsk-Redzikowo. With the fall of Communism, it becamse one of the first Polish Air Force aircraft to be painted in a special scheme, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Regiment. In 1995, the aircraft was transferred to the 58th Air Training regiment in Deblin. However, when it was donated to the Museum, it was decided to repaint it in the special scheme it had worn earlier.
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The PZL Iryda was a trainer, developed as a replacement for the TS.11 Iskra. Entering service in 1992. The aircraft was far from satisfactory, and was retired from Polish Air Force in 1996 following a fatal crash.
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The Polish Air Force operated 17 Mi-4As in the transport helicopter role.
Kiowa 71-20920 was donated by Canada in 2010
PZL-Swidnik SM-1W was a licence-bu sion of the Mil Mi-1
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uilt ver-
This Mi-2 was configured for the crop-dusting role, equipped with two 600litre hoppers on the fuselage sides.
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NICHOLAS CARMASSI
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Roma Fiumicino Text: Nicolas Carmassi Photos: as credited
Located 30km to the West of the Italian capital, Aeroperto Intercontinentale Leonardo da Vinci handles around 40 million passengers annually. Around one hundred airlines operate from this airport. It is the main hub for Alitalia, but is served by airlines from all continents, thus offering spotters a wealth of airlines and different aircraft types. With three runways used daily, the airport has a number of spotting points, even if there are absolutely no official facilities for spotting. However, there are a number of vantage points to allow enthusiasts to capture aircraft movements.
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Dambus
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sters on the Derwent Text: Mark Zerafa Photos: Mark Seabrook
16th May 2013. To mark the 70th anniversary of the legendary Dambuster Raid, the Battle of Britain Memorial flight staged an event over the Derwent Reservoir with its Avro Lancaster. This was followed by Tornados from No.617 Squadron, linking the past to the present.. The Derwent Dam is of particular historical significance in this occasion as it was used by the Dambusters in their training prior to their mission.
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One of only two airwor mid-1945, too late to se reconnaissance duties, at Cranfield, for use as a Historical Branch for d Operation Crossbow and Britain Memorial Flight i
It has been repainted to cluding this guise repres assigned to No.617 ’Dam
rthy Avro Lancasters in the world, PA474 was built in ee action in World War II. Initially modified for aerial it was then transferred to the College of Aeronautics a testbed. In 1964, the aircraft was adopted by the Air display purposes, including appearances in the films d The Guns of Navarone. Transferred to the Battle of in 1973.
MAR-APR 2018 the famoud Dams Raid. Delivered to the unit in November 1943, Thumper III would fly four missions from Coningsby before the No. 617 moved to Woodhall Spa. It flew a total of 50 missions, including a mission to launch chaff to confuse German radar during the D-Day landings, 15 ‘Tallboy’ earthquake bomb launches, including the raid against the Saumur railway tunnel, numerous raids on V-weapons launch sites, and two raids on the battleship Tirpitz in Tromso Fjord, Norway.
o represent a number of aircraft during its career, insenting DV385, ‘Thumper Mk.III’, an aircraft originally mbusters’ Squadron as an attrition replacement after
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No.617 Squadron Tornado GR.4s, one of which in special markings to commemorate the occasion, made a pass over the dam as well. Formed on March 21st, 1943, with the sole objective of conducting special operations, the unit has remained active for most of the post-war period, flying combat missions in both Gulf Wars. It disbanded in April 1st, 2014 and is reforming with the F-35 Lightning II 75
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national Air Fest 2017 Text: Mark Zerafa Photos: Massimiliano Zammit
The annual SIAF is an ever-growing event, with more and more interesting participants joining the display every year. The 2017 edition was particularly interesting, marking the introduction of two types in the Slovak Air Force inventory and the gradual retirement of older aircraft.
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Held at Sliac Air Base in Slovsakia, the 2017 edition of SIAF marked the final appearance of the Slovak Air Force’s Tupolev Tu-154 government transport, which would retire to the museum in Kosice one month later. The aircraft’s replacements, the Airbus A-319CJ and the Fokker 100, were both present.
Also present was the Slovak Air Force’s new helicopter workhorse, the UH-60M Blackhawk, nine of which which will slowly start replacing the current fleet of thirteen Mil Mi17s. Also present were its support types, including a rare Let-410FG aerial photography platform variant of the Turbolet, and its fast jet fleet composed of L-39s and MiG-29s.
The pending issue of a MiG-29 replacement has resulted in some interesting participants, including an Austrian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, and a Czech Air Force Saab Gripen. With the maintenance contract for the MiG-29 expiring in 2019, and a political situation which throws doubt on whether such an agreement can be extended further, the Slovak government will soon have to make its decision sooner rather than later.
The runway orientation at Sliac is unfortunately not the ideal for photography, with the sun being opposite the crowdline for most of the day. Photography from outside the airfield is difficult due to rather hostile farmers and thick vegetation in the area.
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With the partition of forces upon the dissolution of Czechoslovakia, the Slovak Air Force received 12 MiG29s, including three MiG-29UB two-seaters. With the retirement of the MiG-21, Su-22 and Su-25, the Fulcrum is the only supersonic combat aircraft in the Slovak Air Force inventory. It is supplemented by seven L-39s, which have a dual trainer and light attack tasking. Both types are based at Sliac AB.
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The Mi-17 remains a very capable and dependable helicopter, having proved its worth in operations in very hostile conditions. Although the fleet has been reduced, with a number in open storage at Presov AB, thirteen Mi-17s remain in service with the SAF, although numbers are expected to decrease as deliveries of UH-60s continue.
Two Mi-171s are in service with the Slovak Government Flying Service, tasked with a multitude of roles from VIP transport to policing duties. So far, there have been no plans to replace the pair.
The Czech Air Force’s Mi-171SHs entered service in 2004, supplementing and eventually replacing earlier Mi-8 variants. Older aircraft were deployed to Afghanistan and, after refurbishment, were donated to the Afghan Air Force. The latest-model of Mi-171SH can be easily identified with its rear loading ramp replacing the earlier clamshell-door design.
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The first of an eventual fleet of nine UH-60M Blackhawks was present at Sliac. Delivered on August 3rd, the helicopters mark another step by the Slovaks to transition from equipment of Russian origin to aircraft of Western origin. The Blackhawks are expected to be tasked with the support of ground forces, special forces as well as civil protection duties. It is envisaged that deliveries will be completed by the end of 2019.
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A favourite to replace Slovakia’s MiG-29s, the Saab JAS-39 Gripen was demonstrated by the Czech Air Force. The Swedish fighter offers an attractive proposition, including favourable delivery timeframes and a relatively lower entry cost into the weapons system.
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SPOTTER MAGAZINE Rotary-wing enthusiasts were certainly not disappointed at SIAF 2017. The Czech Air Force Mi-35 Hind , presented in its amazing colour scheme. Complete with smoke dispensers for added effect, the noise, speed and agility of the Hind make for one impressive spectacle. Ten remain in service with the Czech Air Force.
Another helicopter display was provided by the Belgian Air Component and it’s Agusta A-109. Unlike most A-109s, Belgian examples have fixed landing gear.
On the static park, the German Army presented its CH-53G. These potent helicopters provide massive battlefield airlift capability, but having been in service since the seventies, the Bundeswehr is actively seeking a replacement.
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Fighters at Sliac. Aviano-based USAF F-16s share the ramp with Spanish Air Force F-18s.
The Austrian Air Force mounted a rare flying display with its Eurofigher Typhoon. The acquisition of these fighters remains the subject of much political controversy, and it might be possible that the Austrians may be seeking to dispose of the system.
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SPOTTER MAGAZINE Formed in 2010 , the Al Fursan Aerobatic Team is the national team of the United Arab Emirates Air Force. With the arrival of more modern training aircraft, such as the Pilatus PC-21, the UAE decided to dedicate its fleet of six MB.339s to form a national aerobatic team. A further four MB.339s were purchased from the Italian air Force, and all airframes were converted to Aermacchi MB-339NAT standard, which is similar to the MB339PAN aircraft flown by the Italian Freccie Tricolori, with the wingtip fuel tanks removed and a smoke generation system fitted. The team’s first public appearance was in January 20th, 2010, with a flypast at a graduation ceremony at the Khalifa Bin Zayed Air College. In July of that year, eight pilots were sent to Rivolto Air Base in Italy for training under the supervision of the Italian ‘Freccie Tricolori’ team, and indeed, much of the team’s display bears a close resemblance to the Italian team’s display sequence. The team produces smoke in four colours—white, black green and red, the national colours of the UAE.
The team performed its first public aerobatic demonstration on November 13th, 2011 on the first day of the Dubai Air Show. This was followed by the team’s international debut at the 2012 Bahrain International Airshow, followed by the prestigious Royal International Air Tattoo the following July.
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Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter 85%-scale replica OK-NUP represented the World War I era. Four were used by the Czechoslovak Legion in Russia, with at least a fifth aircraft captured from the Bolshevik Forces.
First flown in December 1915, the aircraft was unusual in having the pilot and gunner in well-separated positions, with the objective of giving the gunner the best field of view possible. The aircraft was one of the first to be fitted with airbrakes under the lower wings, intended to reduce landing distance.
Spitfire Mk. XVIe TE184 was a welcome appearance. Built in May 1945, the aircraft did not see action in WW II and eventually ended up as a static display airframe. Restored to flying condition in 2009, it is normally based at Biggin Hill.
Zlin 52 put th
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26 of the Slovak Aero Club being hrough its paces.
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In a display of global reach, the USAF effected flybys by both its B-1B Lancer and B-52 strategic bombers over both Sliac and Radom.
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Bringing in a little civilian twist, Airbus brought Airbus A380 prototype F-WWOW to perform a flyby over SIAF.
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100 Year Polish AF Airshow, Wrecks & Relics, Museums