Saturday, September 5th, 1992, and Sunday, September 6th, were the dates of the very last Airshow hosted by a Country that, within a few months, would be part of history.
Having previously visited Czechoslovakia on many occasions and predominantly spent time in the beautiful City of Prague, it seemed a natural decision to visit Bratislava in the south of the Country for what promised to be an exciting airshow.
There was also one aircraft that I would be delighted to see if it appeared at the show. That aircraft, serial number 6102, an AV-14FG, took part in the static display.
Arriving from London at Vienna airport and, picking up a hire car, exiting the airport, we observed
a Cubana Airways IL-62 on the ramp (quite a rarity back then).
Further South, we crossed the border with only a short delay. We shortly afterwards arrived at Bratislava airport, where a complete practice of the opening flypast was taking place, low over the main runway, with Mig-29s, Mig-23s, SU-24s, and helicopters passing over us in brilliant sunshine. Above the flypast in a holding pattern were Britain's Red Arrows, Italy's Frecci Triccolori, and two French Mirage 2000s. This looked like the beginning of a great weekend.
As the sun set that Friday evening, two Russian airforce SU-27s burned into the balmy air, sending shockwaves of noise down the city's boulevards, rattling windows and sending bar drinkers into the streets to see what was happening. Brilliant!
Sadly, before daylight broke on Saturday, the six-week heatwave came to a crashing end with torrential rains that would continue off and on all the weekend.
Here are the images captured that weekend. Some have spores growing on them. I'm sure this is due to changing film in some of the most challenging conditions...
The show opened with 0420 TU-154 B-2 being flanked by 2x Mig-29s, pursued by 4xMig-23MLs, 4xMIG-23BNS 4xMig29s, 4x SU-22M-4Ks and 4xSU-24Ks.
The TU-154 0420 landed, joining 0601 on the ground at Bratislava, while the fast jets returned to the Malacky airbase North of Bratislava.
Sadly, there were no Mig-21s in the flypast. There was a reason, but age and time take their toll?
0805 Mi-17 + 3, carrying the flags, 0805 was passed onto the Chez Republic.
0243 and 8940 Mi-2 Hoplites are seen here. There were another two aircraft, 5434 and 8746.
0219 and 0215 Mi-24Ds are part of four flying in the flypast. There were also 4x Mi.24v-1s.
Yes, here she is...
6102 AV-14 FG FLS.
A product of the Avia factory was delivered to the Airforces 1 dlp in 1958.
During 1960 and 61, it was transferred to Czechoslovakian Airlines, becoming an AV-14-28 with the registration OK-MCB.
By late 1961, it had been returned to the Air Force.
6102 underwent a rebuild in 1967-68 to become an AV-14FG, as seen above and passed to the "Fotolet" at Hradec Kralove. The AV-14FGs were to have been used for Open Sky missions over the African continent, hence the fact that 6102 is seen sporting the Czechoslovakian National flag as the colour scheme.
Sadly, August 1968 saw Warsaw Pact troops enter the Country, occupying Czechoslovakia and ending any thoughts of the open sky mission.
6102 retired from service in April 1994, I have seen photographs of her languishing on the grounds of the Kbely aviation museum outside Prague.
1525 L410FG FLS passed to the Czech Republic.
1107 AN-30 FLS passed to the Czech Republic on January 1st, 1993.
0404 L410MA months later, it passed to the Slovakian Air Force.
0838 Mil-17 from 9333LK.
5434 Mil-2 Hoplite from 3970LK.
0003 L-39MS today on the civil register as N9016N.
Today, 1730 L-39ZA ZTR is preserved at the Sliac airbase.
2848 L-29 Delphin passed to the Czech Republic Air Force.
By 1992, the Mig-23s were visiting Western European airbases as seen by the foreign Squadron emblems.
I photographed Mig-23MF again at RN Yeovilton in 1994. Look here to see the amount of Squadron emblems just two years on.
https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2019/05/d-day-50th-anniversary-flypast.html
78-0717 MD A-10A Maryland ANG behind you can see static visitor 63-8003 KC-135R 351ARS and CCCP-65927 TU-134A, the Russian Air Force SU-27s support aircraft.
188923 CF-188B RCAF seen in the static line.
37+64 F-4F WGAF, later it became 72-1174 HO.
Behind the F-4F is RAF HS-125 CC.2 XX507 from 32 Sqn.
08 Mig-23MF HungAF from the Papa Regt.
02 Mig-23MF HungAF is seen taking off in appalling conditions. Aircraft status is now stored.
02 Mig-23MF HungAF lands back at Bratislava as the rain relents a little.
4809/29 SU-22M-4 Czechoslovakian Air Force landing at Bratislava.
595 SU-27P and 596 SU-27PU of the Russian airforce.
596 SU-27PU and 595 SU-27P commencing their display.
78-0694 MD A-10A Maryland ANG completes its display.
The French sent 2x Mirage 2000Bs as part of a large contingent.
The WGAF sent Tornados 45+83 (seen above) and 45+65 plus the two F4Fs and a Do.28D.
84-0002 BT F-15C USAF performed a scorching demonstration.
580 and 582 Mi.24Ds HungAF from Papa.
582 Mi.24D HungAF.
2409 Mig-23ML Czechoslovakian Air Force.
78-0717 MD A-10A taxiing for take-off on Monday morning. The rain may have stopped, but the wind was dreadful.
2848 L-29 Delphin lost its canopy on take-off. Half an hour later, it left again with the top back in place and no other problems.
4402 Mig-29UB departs.
7501 Mig-29 from the 11SLP/1LK.
0003 L.39MS departs for its home base at Cáslav.
2506 AN-26 departs for Preštany.
188926 and 1888923 CF-188Bs RCAF seen preparing for departure.
188926 CF-118B RCAF Taxiing for take-off.
58+59 Do.28D WGAF.
ZA144 (E) VC-10 K2 RAF prepares to depart Brataslava 1992.
Having previously visited Czechoslovakia on many occasions and predominantly spent time in the beautiful City of Prague, it seemed a natural decision to visit Bratislava in the south of the Country for what promised to be an exciting airshow.
There was also one aircraft that I would be delighted to see if it appeared at the show. That aircraft, serial number 6102, an AV-14FG, took part in the static display.
Arriving from London at Vienna airport and, picking up a hire car, exiting the airport, we observed
a Cubana Airways IL-62 on the ramp (quite a rarity back then).
Further South, we crossed the border with only a short delay. We shortly afterwards arrived at Bratislava airport, where a complete practice of the opening flypast was taking place, low over the main runway, with Mig-29s, Mig-23s, SU-24s, and helicopters passing over us in brilliant sunshine. Above the flypast in a holding pattern were Britain's Red Arrows, Italy's Frecci Triccolori, and two French Mirage 2000s. This looked like the beginning of a great weekend.
As the sun set that Friday evening, two Russian airforce SU-27s burned into the balmy air, sending shockwaves of noise down the city's boulevards, rattling windows and sending bar drinkers into the streets to see what was happening. Brilliant!
Sadly, before daylight broke on Saturday, the six-week heatwave came to a crashing end with torrential rains that would continue off and on all the weekend.
Here are the images captured that weekend. Some have spores growing on them. I'm sure this is due to changing film in some of the most challenging conditions...
The show opened with 0420 TU-154 B-2 being flanked by 2x Mig-29s, pursued by 4xMig-23MLs, 4xMIG-23BNS 4xMig29s, 4x SU-22M-4Ks and 4xSU-24Ks.
The TU-154 0420 landed, joining 0601 on the ground at Bratislava, while the fast jets returned to the Malacky airbase North of Bratislava.
Sadly, there were no Mig-21s in the flypast. There was a reason, but age and time take their toll?
0805 Mi-17 + 3, carrying the flags, 0805 was passed onto the Chez Republic.
0243 and 8940 Mi-2 Hoplites are seen here. There were another two aircraft, 5434 and 8746.
0219 and 0215 Mi-24Ds are part of four flying in the flypast. There were also 4x Mi.24v-1s.
Yes, here she is...
6102 AV-14 FG FLS.
A product of the Avia factory was delivered to the Airforces 1 dlp in 1958.
During 1960 and 61, it was transferred to Czechoslovakian Airlines, becoming an AV-14-28 with the registration OK-MCB.
By late 1961, it had been returned to the Air Force.
6102 underwent a rebuild in 1967-68 to become an AV-14FG, as seen above and passed to the "Fotolet" at Hradec Kralove. The AV-14FGs were to have been used for Open Sky missions over the African continent, hence the fact that 6102 is seen sporting the Czechoslovakian National flag as the colour scheme.
Sadly, August 1968 saw Warsaw Pact troops enter the Country, occupying Czechoslovakia and ending any thoughts of the open sky mission.
6102 retired from service in April 1994, I have seen photographs of her languishing on the grounds of the Kbely aviation museum outside Prague.
1525 L410FG FLS passed to the Czech Republic.
1107 AN-30 FLS passed to the Czech Republic on January 1st, 1993.
0404 L410MA months later, it passed to the Slovakian Air Force.
0838 Mil-17 from 9333LK.
0789 Mil-24V-1 from 11VRP.
5434 Mil-2 Hoplite from 3970LK.
0003 L-39MS today on the civil register as N9016N.
Today, 1730 L-39ZA ZTR is preserved at the Sliac airbase.
2848 L-29 Delphin passed to the Czech Republic Air Force.
By 1992, the Mig-23s were visiting Western European airbases as seen by the foreign Squadron emblems.
I photographed Mig-23MF again at RN Yeovilton in 1994. Look here to see the amount of Squadron emblems just two years on.
https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2019/05/d-day-50th-anniversary-flypast.html
9548 Mig-23BN 28/1SBLP later transferred to the Czech Republic.
78-0717 MD A-10A Maryland ANG behind you can see static visitor 63-8003 KC-135R 351ARS and CCCP-65927 TU-134A, the Russian Air Force SU-27s support aircraft.
188923 CF-188B RCAF seen in the static line.
37+64 F-4F WGAF, later it became 72-1174 HO.
Behind the F-4F is RAF HS-125 CC.2 XX507 from 32 Sqn.
08 Mig-23MF HungAF from the Papa Regt.
Sadly, Eastern block aircraft were often left covered at airshows.
577 Mil-24D HungAF, one of three at the show. 577 was later put into storage.
02 Mig-23MF HungAF is seen taking off in appalling conditions. Aircraft status is now stored.
02 Mig-23MF HungAF lands back at Bratislava as the rain relents a little.
4809/29 SU-22M-4 Czechoslovakian Air Force landing at Bratislava.
595 SU-27P and 596 SU-27PU of the Russian airforce.
596 SU-27PU and 595 SU-27P commencing their display.
78-0694 MD A-10A Maryland ANG completes its display.
The French sent 2x Mirage 2000Bs as part of a large contingent.
The WGAF sent Tornados 45+83 (seen above) and 45+65 plus the two F4Fs and a Do.28D.
84-0002 BT F-15C USAF performed a scorching demonstration.
580 and 582 Mi.24Ds HungAF from Papa.
582 Mi.24D HungAF.
2409 Mig-23ML Czechoslovakian Air Force.
2848 L-29 Delphin lost its canopy on take-off. Half an hour later, it left again with the top back in place and no other problems.
4402 Mig-29UB departs.
7501 Mig-29 from the 11SLP/1LK.
0003 L.39MS departs for its home base at Cáslav.
2506 AN-26 departs for Preštany.
188926 and 1888923 CF-188Bs RCAF seen preparing for departure.
188926 CF-118B RCAF Taxiing for take-off.
58+59 Do.28D WGAF.
ZA144 (E) VC-10 K2 RAF prepares to depart Brataslava 1992.
Happy Days!
