Airshow Report – Croatian International Airshow Varaždin, 11-12.07.2009 … PART 2

Posted in Airshow Report

Continuing on…

The guys are back! The CroAF aerobatic team - the Krila Oluje - were normally invited and put on an excellent show in their new (several months old) six-ship routine
The guys are back! The CroAF aerobatic team - the Krila Oluje - were normally invited and put on an excellent show in their new (several months old) six-ship routine
Despite flying "regular" PC-9Ms used for flight training when the team's not flying, the Krila Oluje have quickly risen to become one of the regions best teams. If only the AF would stick a couple of smoke generators on them...
Despite flying "regular" PC-9Ms used for flight training when the team's not flying, the Krila Oluje have quickly risen to become one of the region's best teams. If only the AF would stick a couple of smoke generators on them...
The traditional "wow" maneuver, the mirror flight. This one keeps getting tighter and tighter with each show :)
The traditional "wow" maneuver, the mirror flight. This one keeps getting tighter and tighter with each show 🙂
Flying follow the leader in perfect symmetry. At various points during their mass maneuvers, the aircraft are less than 2 meters apart
Flying follow the leader in perfect symmetry. At various points during their mass maneuvers, the aircraft are less than 2 meters apart - which in the propwash from the aircraft in front takes considerable skill
And the "coup de gras" - the triple mirror!
And the "coup de gras" - the triple mirror!
The final break, as attractive as always! Not as glamorous as the jets used by the world's big teams, the PC-9 more than makes up for it in agility
The final break, as attractive as always! Not as glamorous as the jets used by the world's big teams, the PC-9 more than makes up for it in agility at low speeds
062 ticks itself cool under a dramatic sky as Damir Barišić, the Krila Oluje lead, packs the plane up
062 ticks itself cool under a dramatic sky as Damir Barišić, the Krila Oluje lead, packs the plane up
Thanks to whoever turned on the Sun at that moment! :)
Thanks to whoever turned on the Sun at that moment! 🙂
A special treat at the end of day two - a formation display by the previously pictured CitationJet and the Krila Oluje
A special treat at the end of day two - a formation display by the previously pictured CitationJet and the Krila Oluje
Heading out for a flyby above the "Radar festival" music event being held nearby. Don't know what was better - listening to Santana or watching this lot fly low overhead :)
Heading out for a flyby above the "Radar festival" music event being held nearby. Don't know what was better - listening to Santana or watching this lot fly low overhead 🙂
Mother CitationJet leading her flock of PC-9s :)
Mother CitationJet leading her flock of PC-9s 🙂
One of the stars of the show, the CroAF Antonov An-32B, firing off flares during a low pass
One of the stars of the show, the CroAF Antonov An-32B, firing off flares during a low pass
Normally, flares burn up completely about a dozen or so seconds after they're fired. But given the how low the big Anushka was, one near-expired flar almost hit me in the head :).
Normally, flares burn up completely about a dozen or so seconds after they're fired. But given how low the big Anushka came in, one near-expired flare almost hit me in the head 🙂
Though not part of the aircraft's standard equipment, flare packs have been retrofitted to the CroAF's two An-32s during maintenance a couple of years back
Though not part of the aircraft's standard equipment, flare packs have been retrofitted to the CroAF's two An-32s during maintenance a couple of years back
The two 5110 HP AI-20DM turboprops on the An-32 are very efficient - at turning fuel to smoke :). Honestly, I don't see why the AF bothered painting them in air superiority grey... you can see the smoke trail for miles away!
The two 5110 HP AI-20DM turboprops on the An-32 are very efficient - at turning fuel to smoke :). Honestly, I don't see why the AF bothered painting them in air superiority gray... you can see the smoke trail for miles away!
With its high.mounted engines, the An-32 is certainly a powerful sight. The navigator seems to be having fun :)
With its high-mounted engines, the An-32 is certainly a powerful sight. The navigator seems to be having fun 🙂
Okay, concussion and loss of hearing in 3, 2, 1...
Okay, concussion and loss of hearing in 3, 2, 1...
The most aggressive -21 display I've ever seen. Usually - given the age of the jets - they fly relatively timid displays of mostly passes with the reheat and landing gear and flaps down. This time, they've outdone themselves - a sprint down the runway on full reheat at 20 meters height, pulling up into the vertical and rolling all the way up to commercial flight levels :). W-O-W
The most aggressive -21 display I've ever seen. Usually - given the age of the jets - they fly relatively timid displays of mostly passes with the reheat and landing gear and flaps down. This time, they've outdone themselves - a sprint down the runway on full reheat at 20 meters height, pulling up into the vertical and rolling all the way up to commercial flight levels :). W-O-W
108, pictured here, is a frequent guest at airshows. Originally a MiG-21bis, a couple of years ago it was upgraded to the MiG-21bis D standard by Aerostar of Romania
108, pictured here, is a frequent guest at airshows. Originally a MiG-21bis, a couple of years ago it was upgraded to the MiG-21bis D standard by Aerostar of Romania

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