Poland 1995! Gdynia Babie Doly, Polish Navy MiG-21s.
"What's not to like"?
Just one little problem: I was located in Dorset, Southern England. After frantic letters to and from the Polish embassy, I was given access to all areas access for photography.
Heathrow airport was a good place to start out on my journey, flying SABENA (Such A Bloody Experience Never Again) to Brussels, connecting to an onward flight bound for Warsaw and a continuing five-hour train journey to Gdansk and a little while later Gydnia.
Stepping out of the rail station at Gdynia, I found no available taxis, and whilst walking into town, I was rewarded with the immense roar and thunder as no less than Four MiG-21 BIS flew over the Mainstreet; I watched in awe as they passed low over the promenade and out across the Blue Baltic Sea.
Gdynia Babie Doly was home to the Polish Navy's 34th Fighter Regiment (34 Pulk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego) with two squadrons (Eskadra) operating the awesome MiG-21 BIS.
Early morning on the flight line with a mix of seven MiG-21BIS from Eskadra's A and B. Beyond them, a pair of visiting French Navy Etendards are in attendance for the coming weekend's air show.
See Babie Doly's airshow 1995 photos by pressing on the link below.
8910 MiG-21 BIS of Eskadra A "Siuksow" (Sioux). Behind, you can see Eskadra 'B' "Chinezyków" (Chinese people).
0798 Mig-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' Chinezyców.
1007 Mig-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' Chinezyców. Not on the flight but outside of a HAS.
8705 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) taxis from the flight line. It has always been a wonder to me on my travels at the speed with which pilots flying Russian-designed jets climbed in and taxied for taking off.
8870 MiG-21BIS taxis for runway 32. 8971 is being cleared to taxi, and just before it did, I took the following photograph.
Which shows some lovely individual markings of the 34 Pulk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego.
8861 MiG-21BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) leads, with 1029 about to follow.
8705 MiG-21BIS Eskadra 'A' (Sioux) far beyond are two of the based W-3RM Anacondas and the blue Baltic Sea.
0798 MiG21 BIS Eskadra 'B' (Chinezyków) The Mig 21 was in service with the Navy from 1979 through 2003.
8870 MiG21 BIS leads a four-ship launch in an early evening airshow formation practice.
1029 MiG21 BIS passing emergency vehicles and local residents who have congregated along the runway's village side.
8971 MiG21 BIS was photographed as it launched with a couple of classic Polshi Fiat cars similar to the iconic Trabant parked beyond.
8870, 8971, and 8861 MiG21 BIS are in a fiery three-ship launch.
8870, 8861 leading 1029 and 8971 Polish Navy MiG21 BIS.
What a pass?
Just love that incredible shape!
A superb break for landing.
8705 MiG21 BIS took off for a solo practice display and passed the continuity Polshi Fiat cars parked alongside the runway.
8705 MiG21 BIS Eskadra 'A' (Siuksów) Polish Navy.
8861, taxiing back to the flight line. As all the aircraft seen were MiG21 BIS, I presume that the two-seat MiG21UM NATO code name Mongol was withdrawn from use or sadly tucked away in the shelters.
1029 brings a lovely end to a fantastic visit.
I had just a couple of days to wait for the Polish Navy airshow, which allowed a visit to the fascinating Navy aviation museum in Gdynia and a trip to the village of Hel on an old military narrow gauge railway.
See Links below.
All in all, a great trip.
Awsome photos! I've spent my childhood at the Baltic coast 50km up north from Gdynia and rember those flying low and loud as we played football in the Summer. Ahhh happy days :)
ReplyDeleteNice pics. I was lucky enough to visit the airshow, and yes: the MiG-21UM was operational at that time but just not parked outside. And no; these are not Trabant cars in the background but Polski Fiat....
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, they as always are very appreciated. As you will know there were two parts to the show. The Friday was like practice and setting up of the static display. In my photos 1007 is being made ready for the static exhibition and 0880 was to be seen siting in its HAS with the doors open, both 1DLMW/B Eskadra. I was informed that is how the public would see them on Sunday. I was on the flight line so cannot comment.
DeleteThank you for the correction on the Polshi Fiat cars, I have now updated that!