Hi all,
Now that seeing aviation is slowing down for me this calendar year, I have turned my attention to catching up with some logging and photograph sorting. With Ostrava Nato Days approaching next weekend, I thought I’d share my experience of last year’s event. It was the first big European air show that I had attended post Covid 19 restrictions easing around the World and air shows coming back into the scene. I remember at the time that there was a little doubt that this show would go ahead so close to the full scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, but I needn’t have worried.
It was my first time to this show and I’ll definitely go back again. As is the normal nowadays, you will get quality over quantity, but the interest is boosted if you do civil as well as military as the log that follows will show. Given that this is a free air show, the people were bound to come in great numbers and that is what they did! We arrived within 5 miles of the airfield fairly early on but even then there were big traffic queues. We got lucky as Waze found me a round the villages route that got me much closer to the airfield via Mošnov village rather than sticking to the main road which just had stationary traffic on it.
We were then parked on the airfield and close to the stored airlines by the Southeastern Hangar area. Even this bit was chaotic as it was a fairly narrow road to that crash gate and all the public who chose to walk in having abandoned their cars off-site were also walking along this road and in amongst the cars, making the traffic queue slower and longer.
Now was time for a walk around the end of Runway 22 to get around to the Northern side of the airfield and enter the show after a security/bag check. It was possible to take people free photographs of most of the smaller stuff in the static, but forget it when it comes to the bigger stuff. The show area filled up very quickly with people and I have never seen so many food vendors in such a small space. You shouldn’t go hungry or thirsty here!
The airshow display line is not along the runway as you would naturally think but a right angle to it. As you are the North side of the airfield when doing the static, this means you are looking into the sun. A better plan would be to get parked up very early, do the static as quick as you can and then return to the car to the Southern side to watch/photograph the flying display from there. When we left around 2:30pm, people were still trying to get into the show and the people queue up to the security/bag check was huge – lots of people just gave up and watched the show from the South side. When we tried to depart, it became apparent that there was one way in and one way out. Given the size of the parking area and the amount of cars in it, that would be a problem later on……
When we finally escaped the airfield car park, we headed off towards the Southwestern (cargo) end and found some views of the flightlines there. You’ll miss stuff by not doing that as views of this area are very distant from the air show (runway 22) end. As we headed away from the airfield, we saw lots and lots of cars abandoned up to 5 miles away and still some people walking in. I hope that this info helps those of you going next week not to get stuck in any car or people jams – good luck!
Lastly does anybody have a msn for the rather lovely Latvian Air Force An-2? Thanks!
My many photographs can be seen at;
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums/72177720311101474
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Nato Days static:
PT-ZNG, EMBRAER KC-390, EMBRAER, Brazilian Air Force (39000003)
188791/791, McDonnell Douglas CF-18A, 433 Sqn, Royal Canadian Air Force (621/A524)
0476, Aero L-39NG Albatros, Aero, Czech Air Force (167004)
6052, Aero L-159A, 212.tl, Czech Air Force (156052)
3365, Mil Mi-35, 221.vrl, Czech Air Force (203365/30-03)
9806, Mil Mi-171Sh, 222.vrl, Czech Air Force (59489619806)
125/30-GD, Dassault Rafale C, EC 03.030, French Air Force (unknown)
43+38, Panavia Tornado IDS, TLG 33, German Air Force (103/GS016/4038)
82+64, Eurocopter EC.135T1, IHAz, German Army (0117)
78+32, NH Industries NH90-TTH, THR 10, German Army (1122/TGEA32/GEAR32)
60+03, Lockheed P-3C CUP Orion, MFG 3, German Navy (5745)
83+19, Westland Super Lynx Mk.88A, MFG 5, German Navy (413)
030, Antonov An-2R, Transporta Posms, Latvian Air Force (unknown)
43 blue, Airbus Helicopters AS.365N3+ Dauphin 2, Sraigtasparniu Eskadrile, Lithuanian Air Force (7015)
0723, PZL-Mielec M-28TD Bryza-1, 43.BLotM, Polish Navy (1AJBP1-01)
7642, Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, 51. Kridlo Presov, Slovak Air Force (unknown)
73-1023, McDonnell F-4E Phantom II 2020, 111 Filo/1 AJU, Turkish Air Force (4576)
77-0288, McDonnell F-4E Phantom II 2020, 111 Filo/1 AJU, Turkish Air Force (4997)
60-0034/MT red, Boeing B-52H Stratofortress, 23rd BS/5th BW, United States Air Force (464399)
98-0057, Boeing C-17A Globemaster III, 137th AS/105th AW/New York ANG, United States Air Force (50061/F60/P-57)
63-8018, Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker, 173rd AS/155th ARW/Nebraska ANG, United States Air Force (18635/T0674)
11-4120/TX, General Atomics MQ-9A-1 Reaper UAV, 111th ATKS/174th AW/Texas ANG, United States Air Force (PB-120)
86-0013, Lockheed C-5M Super Galaxy, 68th AS/443rd AW, United States Air Force (500-99)
08-07049, McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache, 1-3rd Avn Rgt, United States Army (DUS049)
09-05591, McDonnell Douglas AH-64D Apache, 1-3rd Avn Rgt, United States Army (PVD591)
169271/MM-11, Bell AH-1Z Super Cobra, HMLA-773 Det.A, United States Marine Corps (unknown)
169108/MM-38, Bell UH-1Y Venom, HMLA-773 Det.A, United States Marine Corps (55220/Y132)
D-ETPJ, Grob G.120TP-A (11160)
D-HMFC, Bell 206B Jet Ranger III (3067)
OK-NGB, LET L.410NG (5002)
OK-PKS, McDonnell Douglas Helicopters 369 E (0191E)
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Stored close to static area:
(OK-CCG), SAAB-Fairchild 340 A, Central Connect Airlines (340A-104)
OK-LFC, Piper PA-34 200 Seneca (34-7250312)
(OM-ASE), Boeing 737 306 (23545)
XA-VSC, Airbus A321 271NXSL, Volaris (10789)
XA-YAA, Airbus A321 271NXSL, Volaris (10809)
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Southeastern Hangar areas:
678, Grumman Gulfstream 5, 352 MMYP, Hellenic Air Force (678)
83-0499, Beechcraft C-12D Huron, USE Budapest, United States Air Force (BP-45)
2-WZIE, Airbus A320 214, all white (3626)
D-ACLX, Boeing 737 45DSF, CargoLogic Germany (28752)
EI-EVW, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, (Ryanair) (40318)
EI-FGE, Airbus A319 133, Ellinair (3705)
EI-GBB, Boeing 737-86N, all white (36809)
EI-NSA, Airbus A320 271NSL, Aer Lingus (10712)
N226WG, Airbus A321 211SL, all white (7833)
N800AJ, Bombardier Challenger 601 3A (5065)
(OE-)IIC, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, Ukraine International Airlines (35005)
(OE-)IMA, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, Ukraine International Airlines (37542)
(OE-)LDU, Boeing 737NG 8AS/W, all white (36571)
SE-RMT, Bombardier Global 6000 (9624)
T7-CTA, Boeing 737 5L9 (28996)
VP-BQY, Boeing 737NG 800/W, Pobeda (64870)
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Southwestern Flightlines:
7L-WC, Eurofighter EF.2000, Überwachungsgeschwader, Austrian Air Force (143/AS003)
7L-WM, Eurofighter EF.2000, Überwachungsgeschwader, Austrian Air Force (068/GS010)
FA-87, General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon, 10 Wing, Belgian Air Component (6H-87)
FA-127, General Dynamics F-16AM Fighting Falcon, 10 Wing, Belgian Air Component (6H-127)
0454, CASA/EADS C.295M, 242.tsl, Czech Air Force (S-074)
1525, LET L-410FG Turbolet, 242.tsl, Czech Air Force (851525)
9767, Mil Mi-171Sh, 222.vrl, Czech Air Force (59489619767)
9926, Mil Mi-171Sh, 222.vrl, Czech Air Force (59489619926)
3366, Mil Mi-35, 221.vrl, Czech Air Force (203366/30-06)
3371, Mil Mi-35, 221.vrl, Czech Air Force (203371/31-01)
0711, PZL-Świdnik W-3A Sokol, 243.vrl, Czech Air Force (370711)
0717, PZL-Świdnik W-3A Sokol, 243.vrl, Czech Air Force (370717)
0558, Zlin Z.142C-AF, CLV LOM Pardubice, Czech Air Force (0558)
CC-3, CASA-IPTN C.295M, TukiLLv , Finnish Air Force (086)
HN-421/21, McDonnell Douglas F-18C Hornet, HävLLv 11, Finnish Air Force (1412/FNC021)
HN-427/27, McDonnell Douglas F-18C Hornet, HävLLv 11, Finnish Air Force (1427/FNC027)
54+28, Airbus A400M, LTG 62, German Air Force (088)
82+55, Eurocopter EC.135T1, IHAz, German Army (0102)
78+34, NH Industries NH90-TTH, THR 10, German Army (1124/TGEA34/GEAR34)
331, Mil Mi-24P Hind-F, MH 86.HE, Hungarian Air Force (340331)
31, SAAB JAS 39C Gripen, MH 59. Szentgyörgyi Dezső repülőbázis, Hungarian Air Force (39-302)
7639, Sikorsky UH-60M Black Hawk, 51. Kridlo Presov, Slovak Air Force (70-4682)
396003/6003, SAAB JAS 39E Gripen, SAAB, Swedish Air Force (39-6003)
J-3082, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1082)
J-3085, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1085)
J-3087, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1087)
J-3088, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1088)
J-3090, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1090)
J-3091, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1091)
J-3092, Northrop F-5E Tiger II, Patrouille Suisse, Swiss Air Force (L1092)
77-22734, Bell TAH-1 P Huey Cobra, OK-AHC, United States (24072)
N280TR, Sikorsky S-76 B (760344)
N4041H, Mooney M.20K Model 231 (25-0396)
OK-SLI, Beech Baron 58 (TH-1757)
OK-TKN, Cessna P210R Pressurized Centurion (P21000862)
OK-UHE, Cirrus Design SR22 (3863)
OK-VFR, Cessna 172N Skyhawk (17270725)
OK-WIA, Cessna 172L Skyhawk (17259253)
OK-WUS 20, Tecnam P.96 Golf 100S (140)
SP-MRF, Boeing 767 281BDSF, SkyTaxi (23021)
UR-ALG, SAAB 340 B, AeroJet Ukraine (340B-233)
VQ-BGC, SAAB 340 B, Polet Airlines (340B-232)
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Flying only:
6051, Aero L-159A, 212.tl/21.Ztl, Czech Air Force (156051)
6058, Aero L-159A, 212.tl/21.Ztl, Czech Air Force (156058)
6063, Aero L-159A, 212.tl/21.Ztl, Czech Air Force (156063)
9240, SAAB JAS-39C Gripen, 211.tl/21.zTL, Czech Air Force (39-240)
9244, SAAB JAS-39C Gripen, 211.tl/21.zTL, Czech Air Force (39-244)
T-060, Airbus A330-243MRTT, Multinational MRTT Fleet, NATO (1989)
F-013, Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, 322 Sqn, Royal Netherlands Air Force (AN-13)
OK-BYR, Bell 412 EP (36271)
OK-JRP, LET L-410 NG (5001)
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Visiting:
2710, LET L-410UVP-E20C Turbolet, 242.tsl, Czech Air Force (912710)
021, CASA/EADS C.295M, 13.eltr, Polish Air Force (S-051)
0481, CASA/EADS C.295W, 242.tsl, Czech Air Force (S-172)
9H-LMH, Airbus A320 214, , Lauda Europe (5015)
OK-BUR 26, BRM Bristell NG5 LSA (608/2022)
OK-BYD, Eurocopter EC135 T2 (0424)
OK-ERO, Cessna 172S Skyhawk SP (172S8112)
OK-GUT 08, Dallach Fascination (unknown)
OK-HTM, Robinson R66 Turbine (0863)
OK-PUR 09, Evektor-Aerotechnik EV-97 Eurostar (unknown)
OK-STA, Cirrus Design SR22T (8687)
OK-STK, Robinson R44 Raven II (11576)
OK-SWA, Boeing 737MAX 8, Smartwings (43555)
OK-TVY, Boeing 737NG 8Q8/W, Smartwings (30724)
OM-GTI, Boeing 737NG 8K5/W, Go2Sky (34684)
SP-EQE, Bombardier DHC-8 402 NG, LOT Polish Airlines (4417)
Photograph credits: Grant Robinson
Best regards,
Grant Robinson
https://www.facebook.com/groups/oxfordaviationgroup
https://www.flickr.com/photos/62861611@N08/albums