Mig-21bis Polish Navy displays at Gdynia Babie Doly Airshow 1995.

The Polish Navy's 34th Fighter Regiment (34 Pulk Lotnictwa Myśliwskiego) hosted its premiere airshow on the first weekend of July 1995. It was a memorable event, with the Navy displaying fascinating older aircraft types, such as the An-2 "Colt" and the Mi-2 "Hoplite." 

They were well supported by the Polish Air Force units, including an Iryda I-22 M-93K. The European Marine teams were Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK. Also displayed is a USA Marine Corps F/A-18C from VMFA-312 "Checkerboards" from Operation Deny Flight. They are part of an extensive flying program featuring aircraft from the "Cold War" era to modern-day jets and helicopters.

I had arrived earlier in the week to photograph the MiG-21 BIS aircraft from the 34th's two Fighter Squadrons (esk A/B). See the link below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/mig-21s-of-polish-navy-in-show-of.html

My photographs are taken from the Friday practice and Sunday's airshow. I hope you find them interesting.

8705 MiG-21bis Eskadra 'A' "Siuksow"(Sioux) 34th Aviation Regiment Polish Navy.

0511 W-3RM Anakonda 1DLMW/C esk

Eskadra 'C' was the third squadron based at Babie Doly with the W-3RM Anakonda, M28R "Bryza", Mil Mi-2, and An-2 transport aircraft.

0506 W-3RM 1DLMW/C esk demonstrating a SAR mission.

1005 Mil Mi-14PL, 40EZOPR from Darlowo.

0405 An-28R "Bryza" 1DLMW/C esk.

0404 An-28R "Bryza" 1DLMW/C esk.

Both are based at Babie Doly.

1242 Mil Mi-2RL NATO calling "Hoplite."

Today, it resides in the Lennundusmuuseum in Tartu, Estonia.

0615 Mil Mi-2P, they were mainly used for training and liaison.

Status: It is sadly withdrawn from use and is on the dump at Nadarzyce.

5338 Mil Mi-2R visiting from Dęblin. Today, this colourful aircraft is stored.

2950 Mil Mi-2RM. It had arrived from Darlowo and is believed to be stored there today.

2703 Mil Mi-2 RM 40EZOPR also from Darlowo. I was pleased to see that all these Mi-2s had different colour schemes. Behind is An-28 1022 1DLMW/C esk's third aircraft. 

 

New kid on the block 0209 W-3T Anakonda. A mere twenty-one years after this photo was taken, it was converted for the SAR role in 2006. I imagine it became a W-3RM. It also now features a stunning new grey and orange colour scheme.

 

7356 An-2T NATO calling "Colt." 

Passed to Olesnica as an Instructional airframe.

1317 An-2R.

Preserved at Rudzienice.

 

1465 An-2P

Stored at Random AB.

301 Iryda I-22 M-93K 58 training combat regiment (58 LPSzk-B) arriving from Dęblin.

The First of just 17 registered jets. The PZL-Mielec I-22 project is likely one of Poland's most controversial home-built aircraft.

It flew at Dęblin between 1992 through 96.

By early 2001, it was rumoured that the fleet of seventeen stored airframes would be passed to the Navy. Still, the financing of this aircraft project deteriorated, especially for the manufacturer PZL-Mielec.

 With a sad end in sight, aircraft were passed to museums. 

A dejected end for an aircraft, said by pilots who flew the jet to be a superior training aircraft. One test pilot marvelled that it could self-recover from a flat spin.

 Number 1 aircraft, ANA 003-01, was registered SP-PWI/301 in 2008. It was on display at the Air Force Institute of Technology in Warsaw, but it is no longer flying.

  

044 Yak-40 36SPLT Warszawa.

Today, it is preserved at the Wojska Polskiego Museum wearing the VIP Red and White paint scheme.

See more below.

http://www.muzeumwp.pl

045 Yak-40 36 SPLT.

Preserved at Dęblin museum Sil Powietrznych.

See more in the link.

https://muzeumsp.pl

043 Yak-40 36 SPLT.

Sold to the civil market as 9L-LDI

039 Yak-40 36 SPLT.

Sold to the civil market as 9L-LDY

728 Mil Mi-24V Polish Army.

728 Mil Mi-24V 

 The good news for this aircraft is that it still flies with the 56 Blot.

The 3617 SU-22-M4 unit has yet to be discovered but is presumed to be 6PLM at Swidwin AB, arriving for the airshow static display.

It is preserved at Swidwin AB and carries the 6 PLM markings.

3911 Su-22M4 6PLM, one of the three flying, makes a late afternoon low pass.

Today, it is stored in Bydgoszcz.

3811 and 3812 Su-22M4 from 7PLM lead 3911 of the 6PLM as seen above.

455,456, and 459 MiG-23MF  28PLM, scorching the air above Babie Doly AB.

016 PZL-130TC-1 "Orlik" 60 LPS.

013 was the spare aircraft.

016 made a spirited display. Status is no longer flying, but fate is unknown.

728,742, 956, and 737 Mi-24V's, 56 Blot, arriving to display from their home in Inowroclaw/Latkowo.

As 728,742, 956, and 737 swept in, I was reminded of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now and the "Ride of the Valkyries." 

A Mil Mi-24V was shot down in Afghanistan in July 2009 while operating with the SGPsz (Independent Air Group) on night missions. Also damaged was the 737 Mil Mi-24V, which was again flying here in the overhead transparencies.

 

728 Mil Mi-24V from 56 Blot's 3rd Escadra arrives for their display's fantastic climax. 

 728,742, 956, and 737 Mi-24s are performing an incredible manoeuvre, one I have never witnessed again, sadly.

956 and 737 Mil Mi-24 job done and move out. Aircraft 737 wound up in Afghanistan, and Aircraft 956 is still flying.

633 Mil Mi-8Ps today, the remaining MiL Mi-8Ps are part of 1BLTR, and their aircraft bear the red and white VIP colour scheme. 

164274/AJ-340 F/A-18C VMFA (AW)-312 "The Checkerboards".

164274/AJ-340 F/A-18C VMFA (AW)-312  with the motto "The Fight's on"

XZ921/CU-587 HAS6 Seaking 706 Squadron RN participating from RNAS Culdrose.

XV661/CU-824 HAS5 Seaking 771Sqn "Ace of Clubs" also from RNAS Culdrose.

30 Super Etendard 11F FN participating from its base at Landivisiau in Brittany. 

 Preserved at Montélimar airport.

45+36 Tornado IDS MFG-2 GN  from Eggebek.

Status scrapped. 

For me, the 45+36 Tornado IDS was the best fast jet of the flying display.

From fast passes to touch and goes.

Tornado IDS 45+36 finally makes a landing to applause.

89+59 MK41 Seaking GN and beyond S-142 Lynx Mk80 Søv Fl.

Challenging with the cloud as 11 TS-11 Navy Trainers form the "Anchor" flypast.

 

In the typical Baltic weather, they are back in the Blue for a few minutes before the rain sets in to end the day.

8552 An-2T in the early evening light.

1320 An-2T, rain, fumes, and noise, wow! The An-2s depart Sunday's airshow. 

It was a fabulous few days, for sure, and I have great memories of them.

More Polish Navy MiG-21BIS Photos Are Available at the link below.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/mig-21s-of-polish-navy-in-show-of.html

Polish Navy Museum of Aviation at Gdynia.

A short walk along the seafront promenade at Gdynia, passing the beach bars and restaurants all sitting on the sand and looking out across the blue Baltic Sea, brings you to what in 1995 was a lovely treat: the Polish Navy Aviation Museum. If you arrive before the museum opens, as I did, I recommend enjoying a local beer with fabulous views of the Hel Peninsula in the distance while sitting on the beach, "Cheers."

Back in 1995, four aircraft were exhibited in the museum's garden; I can see that today, at least two more aircraft have joined them. Fortunately for me, both these new arrivals, a MiG-21 and a TS-11, were still flying at the Babie Doly airshow in 1995. 

316 (cn 382-3940)  PZL-Lim-6 BIS Polish Navy, a licence-built  MiG-17, NATO reporting name "Fresco".

Its manoeuvrability was perfect in low-altitude assault missions, outclassing the MiG-21 and SU-7s. 

The PZL-Lim-6 BIS varied slightly from its predecessor, the Lim-5, and carried underwing pylons, seen here embellished with the Polish-made Mars-2 rocket launchers, capable of discharging 16 unguided 57mm rockets. It was also fitted with a new braking parachute housing under the rudder, as seen in the top photograph. 

1717 Mil Mi-4ME (cn 02177) Polish Navy.

Used by the Navy as an anti-submarine warfare helicopter.

1717 Mil Mi-4 NATO calling the name "Hound B." 

Fitted with the searching radar station SPRS-1 ("KURS-M"), the hydroacoustic station "BAKU."

Behind the radar, an additional fuel tank and a rescue boat were provided in the gun turret.

69 Ilyushin IL-28R (cn 41302) Polish Navy.

NATO called the name "Beagle".

4028 PZL-Swidnik SM-2 (cn S1-04017), a License Mil Mi-1, NATO calling "Hare", with its enlarged cockpit to allow one pilot and four passengers. It was operated as a light utility helicopter, also in the SAR role. 

2 Yakovlev Yak-9P Polish Navy.

The Yak-9 held the title of the Soviet Union's most mass-produced aircraft, produced from 1942 to 1948, with a total of 17,000 aircraft constructed.

It was said to perform better than the Messerschmitt Bf 109G and the Focke-Wulf Fw190A.

 Overall, it is highly recommended, and the local Polish beer is excellent.

 

MiG-21's of the Polish Navy in show of strength over the Baltic coast.

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 sending and receiving frantic letters to and from the Polish embassy, I was granted access to all areas for photography.

Heathrow Airport was a good place to start my journey, with a Sabena flight to Brussels. However, I had reservations due to my old days spotting civil airliners, when we had a saying for Sabena (Such A Bloody Experience Never Again) to Brussels, where I connected to an onward flight bound for Warsaw. I then took a five-hour train journey to Gdansk, followed by a short trip to Gdynia. 

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 Main Street; 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.

 

View Babie Doly's 1995 airshow photos by clicking the link below. 

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-aviation-eye-opener-1995.html

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 climb in and taxi for takeoff. 

8870 MiG-21BIS taxis for runway 32. 8971 is being cleared to taxi, and just before it did, I took the following photograph.

This 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 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'B' (Chinezyków) The MiG-21 was in service with the Navy from 1979 through 2003.

8870 MiG-21 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 MiG-21 BIS was photographed as it launched, with a couple of classic Polish Fiat cars, similar to the iconic Trabant, parked beyond. 

8870, 8971, and 8861 MiG-21 BIS are in a fiery three-ship launch.

8870, 8861, leading 1029 and 8971 Polish Navy MiG-21 BIS.

What a pass!

Just love that incredible shape!

A superb break for landing.

8705 MiG-21 BIS took off for a solo practice display and passed the continuity. Polish Fiat cars were parked alongside the runway.

8705 MiG-21 BIS Eskadra 'A' (Siuksów) Polish Navy.

8861, taxiing back to the flight line. As all the aircraft seen were MiG-21 BIS, I presume that the two-seat MiG-21UM, 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 for 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.

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-aviation-eye-opener-1995.html

https://legendarymilavia.blogspot.com/2021/01/polish-navy-museum-of-aviation-at-gdynia.html

http://www.narrowrail.net/hel/

All in all, a great trip.