Cerklje AB Open Day 2017

Selection of photos from the annual Open Day at Cerklje air base, Slovenia.

Montenegro SA341 Gazelle

Montenegro SA341 Gazelle

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Austrian Army OH-58A Kiowa

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159A ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159T1 ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159T1 ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159T1 ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159T1 ALCA

Czech Air Force L-159T1 ALCA

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Simulated 2-ship low level attack – low level ingress

Simulated 2-ship low level attack – pop-up

Simulated 2-ship low level attack – attack run

Simulated 2-ship low level attack – safe escape manuever

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Army PC-9M Swift

 

 

Adriatic Strike 2016 – Open Day

I was not able to make a lot of photos today, due to working commitments. Here a selection of few that I managed to snatch.

Slovenian PC-9M Swift

Slovenian PC-9M Swift

Slovenian Cougar starting up.

A quartet of PC-9Ms.

Slovenian Cougar starting up with a quartet of PC-9Ms in the background.

Slovenian Cougar departing

Mixed formation of 2 Slovenian PC-9M Swifts and 4 Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Mixed formation of 2 Slovenian PC-9M Swifts and 4 Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Mixed formation of 2 Slovenian PC-9M Swifts and 4 Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Scene on a normal Slovenian road 😀

Mixed formation of 2 Slovenian PC-9M Swifts and 4 Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Mixed formation of 2 Slovenian PC-9M Swifts and 4 Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Slovenian PC-9M Swifts

Slovenian PC-9M Swift

A quartet of Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

A quartet of Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

A quartet of Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

A quartet of Slovak L-39 Albatroses.

Window to the end.

Adriatic Strike 2016 arrivals

Multinational NATO exercise Adriatic Strike starts on Monday, 6th of June, it’s center being the Cerklje ob Krki airport, where I work. Friday was the main arrivals day. Check the gallery and the comments to the photos for more info.

Morning demo flight practice of a Slovenian Pilatus PC-9M Swift.

Morning demo flight practice of a Slovenian Pilatus PC-9M Swift.

Morning demo flight practice of a Slovenian Pilatus PC-9M Swift.

A rather dramatic arrival of the Slovak AF Mi-17.

A rather dramatic arrival of the Slovak AF Mi-17.

A rather dramatic arrival of the Slovak AF Mi-17.

A rather dramatic arrival of the Slovak AF Mi-17.

A rather dramatic arrival of the Slovak AF Mi-17.

Arrival of the first of two pairs of Slovak AF L-39C Albatroses.

Arrival of the first of two pairs of Slovak AF L-39C Albatroses.

Arrival of the first of two pairs of Slovak AF L-39C Albatroses.

Arrival of the first of two pairs of Slovak AF L-39C Albatroses.

A quartet of Slovak Albatroses.

Ooops moment. 😉

Czech AF L-159 ALCAs low over the town of Brežice.

L-159 ALCAs.

L-159 ALCAs.

Head to head with PC-9M!

Head to head with PC-9M!

Head to head with PC-9M!

Departing ALCA

Departing ALCAs

Departing ALCAs

Axalp bits and pieces

Axalp is so much more than an airshow. Axalp is experience!

Not only do you have to climb the mountain, to attend it, you must also expect the unexpected – especially the sudden changes of weather. And the weather was the culprit this year as well. Tuesday’s afternoon airshow was cancelled because of incoming rain. Wednesday’s airshow was already cancelled the night before and while we woke up to a starry night on Thursday’s early morning at 3AM, the show was eventually cancelled because of the low cloud cover.

Below photos were taken on Tuesday, waiting for the to-be cancelled afternoon practice on Tschingel and Thursday’s hike up to sunlit Wildgärst.

The people of Tschingel

Hike up the mountain always wets the appetite – forget the power bars; there’s nothing better than a piece of bread and sausage enjoyed in fresh Alpine air.

Damn, this thing is heavy!

When visiting such an event, don’t forget to document everything! By any means necessary.

Sharp, Soft, Out of Focus, Delete, Sharp, Soft, Out of Focus, Delete,…

While most of the photographers feel sorry for themselves, carrying the heavy camera equipment up the hill, the award goes to this guy – carrying two kids!

The attack on Wildgärst

While we started in pitch black night, crossing alpine streams and our paths lit only by headlamps, the dawn up in the Alps always look amazing.

Panorama of the area below the Schwarzhorn, looking towards the West. Click on the photo for bigger resolution.

One of the most amazing things in the Alps – sunrise!

My two Swiss guides, Grimmi and Adrian with our destination, Wildgärst in the background.

Finally on top! Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains bask in the morning sunlight!

NE to SW panorama from the Wildgärst. Click on the photo for bigger resolution.

F-5E Tigers flew in to check for the weather…

…but while we were enjoying the sunshine, targets on the range were covered by low clouds, as was most of the Switzerland.

Next visitor was this Pilatus PC-21.

While the pilot couldn’t perform his display on the range, he did make a few inverted low passed for the people gathered on Wildgärst…

…and disappeared behind the mountains again.

In the meantime, we could at least feed and observe the feisty Alpine Choughs.

Watchbird.

The poser!

Later, F/A-18 Hornets tried their luck to no avail.

And all we could do, before returning down the mountain, was to observe Hornet intercepts above our heads.

F/A-18C Hornet at Axalp 2015

Swiss Air Force uses Hornets for main air-defense duty. Based at Payerne (FS17 and FS18) and Meiringen (FS11), they constitute the backbone of aerial defense of Switzerland. Although designed as a carrier-borne aircraft and a reliable multi-role platform, Hornet’s short reaction time and good performance make it ideal for the diverse Swiss terrain.

The following photos were taken on Tuesday, October 6th 2015.

Video clip shot with Samsung S5 Active.

 

 

Pilatus PC-21 at Axalp 2015

Pilatus PC-21 follows a long line of light advanced prop-driven trainer aircraft coming from this Swiss manufacturer. Swiss Air Force uses 8 of these modern aircraft. Powered by a 1.600shp version of PT6 engine and equipped with glass-cockpit, HOTAS and 0-0 ejection seats, it enables the new pilots to transfer to jet fighters without the need to train in jet trainers first. On practice day, PC-21 flew a few of the display routines.

The following photos were taken on Tuesday, October 6th 2015.

Super Puma display at Axalp 2015

Swiss Air Force uses 11 AS532UL Cougars (military designation for Super Puma) for troop and cargo transport. Despite being a fairly large transport helicopter, Swiss Air Force display team year after year shows the versatility and agility of this helicopters on airshows home and abroad. On this practice day, they made a couple of routines though unfortunately only the first one involved their signature flare drop.

The following photos were taken on Tuesday, October 6th 2015.

EC-635 at Axalp 2015

Eurocopter EC-635 (now Airbus Helicopters H135M) is a military version of the popular EC-135 helicopter. Swiss Air Force is the only European user of this variant. It is a multi-role helicopter used for anything from troop transport and reconnaissance to search and rescue ops and cargo transport. EC635s replaced Alouette IIIs in Swiss Air Force and most of them were built at RUAG plant at Alpnach.

EC-635’s role at Axalp fliegerschissen is surveillance of the shooting range as well as search and rescue.

The following photos were taken on Tuesday, October 6th 2015.

Prague by air

Bird’s eye view is always spectacular and when our friend Jakub told us, that he’ll take us for a flight over downtown Prague, we got even more excited. Especially since overflights are normally not allowed, so this was indeed a special occasion. And off we went to the Letnany airfield, located to the north of the city.

Instrument panel of our aircraft of the day.

Taxiing towards the runway – although the tower is present at the field, this is uncontrolled airfield.

Numerous derelict MiGs are standing by the hangars – the airfield lies just across of military Kbely airfield.

On our way, we passed this German Cessna – the pilot sounded a bit lost on frequency.

and we goooooo

Northern Prague suburbs.

Trojsky Most (Troja bridge) is just one of many bridges across Vltava river. It’s quite infamous with major cost overruns. It opened in October 2014, several months after this photo was taken.

Prague Ruzyne International airport surrounded by bright yellow rapeseed fields.

Downtown Prague – Vaslavske Namesti (Wenceslas Square) with Museum and central railway station.

Old Town with Charles’ Bridge and Prague Castle.

Close up view of the Charles Bridge and Old Town.

216m high TV tower which also houses restaurant and viewing platform.

A view toewards the downtown Prague from the North-East.

Military airfield Kbely.

Part of the outdoor museum exhibit at Kbely.

Apron of doom – derelict Cold War era fighters, trainers and attack aircraft wait for the better times.

And last but not least – our ride of the day – Czech built Morava L-200.

Kecskemet 2013, Part VII

RUSSIAN KNIGHTS

Su-27 ‘FLANKER’