Day of Aviation at Plovdiv airport

April 12^th, 2009, a remarkable day for Plovdiv/Krumovo airfield and thousands of visitors

On April 12^th, 2009, the World Day of Aviation and Astronautics was celebrated at Plovdiv airport. Not only the next airshow took place, but a real great performance, which made the day of aviators and enthusiasts.

12^th of April was the day of first manned space flight, performed by Yuri Gagarin (Юрий Гагарин) in 1961 with the Vostok (Восток) space ship. First anniversary of the event was officially celebrated in the URSS (СССР), and several years later, in 1969, the day became a World Day of Aviation and Astronautics as decided by Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI).

Huge crowd gathered at the Aviation Day, organized by Plovdiv Airport and Club Young Eagle. The sponsor took the chance to show their new terminal, which is in construction. Visitors were welcomed by a giant veteran An-12BP (Ан-12БП), dominating the static display. On display were helicopters Robinson R22 and R44, Air Force Mi-17 (Ми-17) and Mi-24V (Ми-24В), new Eurocopter AS 532AL Cougar and Bell-206B3 JetRanger III. First and foremost were placed a MiG-29 (МиГ-29) fighter and the "eternal" MiG-21bis (МиГ-21бис). A number of lighter planes were displayed as well. Distinctive among them were the DAR-1 (ДАР-1) replica (first Bulgarian plane to be built in series), which arrived in the last moment, the aerobatic Pitts S-2B, and the unprecedented motorglider Pipistrel Sinus. Cessna 550 Citation II brought a flavor of luxury.

Giant veteran An-12BP (Ан-12БП) welcomes visitors and dominates the static display{sc1}12 Apr 2009 09:56am   NIKON D80   F.length 70.0mm (35mm eq. 105.0mm)   1/500s   f/5.6   ISO 100 An-12BP (Ан-12БП)

DAR-1 (ДАР-1) replica comes last{sc1}12 Apr 2009 10:00am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/500s   f/5.6   ISO 100 DAR-1 (ДАР-1) replica

Mi-24V (Ми-24В) on static display{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:22am   NIKON D80   F.length 18.0mm (35mm eq. 27.0mm)   1/250s   f/8.0   ISO 100 Mi-24V (Ми-24В)

Exactly at 11:30 am a Mi-17 (Ми-17) helicopter, carrying the National Flag, opened demonstration flights. Bell-206B3 performed, followed by an airborne landing of special ops troops from Mi-17 (Ми-17). At that time the sky was guarded by a frightening machine Mi-24V. Cougar AS 532AL carried out a medical evacuation (of Guntcho, a popular name for dummies). A fire, set during the airborne landing, created huge plumes of smoke, and rose spirits. That was a chance for the fire-brigade of Plovdiv airport to show their skills.

Mi-17 (Ми-17), carrying the National Flag, opens demonstration flights{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:30am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/125s   f/11.0   ISO 100 Mi-17 (Ми-17) carrying the National Flag		Bell-206B3 in flight{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:31am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/80s   f/18.0   ISO 100 Bell-206B3		Special ops troops landing from Mi-17 (Ми-17){sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:35am   NIKON D80   F.length 210.0mm (35mm eq. 315.0mm)   1/80s   f/14.0   ISO 100 Special ops troops landing from Mi-17 (Ми-17)
Mi-24V (Ми-24В) covers the landing zone{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:36am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/80s   f/18.0   ISO 100 Mi-24V (Ми-24В) covers the landing zone		Guntcho is safe!{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:38am   NIKON D80   F.length 270.0mm (35mm eq. 405.0mm)   1/80s   f/18.0   ISO 100 Guntcho is safe!		Plovdiv airport fire-brigade in action{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:46am   NIKON D80   F.length 220.0mm (35mm eq. 330.0mm)   1/800s   f/5.6   ISO 100 Plovdiv airport fire-brigade in action

Fighter aviation, represented by MiG-21UM (МиГ-21УМ) and MiG-29UB (МиГ-29УБ), demonstrated aerial acrobatics, which in many aspects appeared better than those of others making noise in the world. Participation of the two-seater MiG-29UB (Миг-29УБ) became an advantage, as to spectators' great joy, pilots performed all figures twice. Remarkable were the low-speed/low-altitude pass over the smoking fire, and high-G vertical manoeuvres.

MiG-21UM (МиГ-21УМ) in flight{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:45am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/640s   f/5.6   ISO 100 Mig-21UM (МиГ-21УМ)		MiG-29UB (МиГ-29УБ) at low-speed/low-altitude over the smoking fire{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:50am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/800s   f/5.6   ISO 100 MiG-29UB (МиГ-29УБ) at low-speed/low-altitude over the smoking fire		MiG-29UB (МиГ-29УБ) starts gaining altitude{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:50am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/1250s   f/5.6   ISO 100 MiG-29UB (МиГ-29УБ) starts gaining altitude
A high-G climb{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:55am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/500s   f/5.6   ISO 100 A high-G climb		And even higher{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:58am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/1250s   f/5.6   ISO 100 And even higher

Fighters gave way to light planes. The Pipistrel Sinus motorglider, and Technam P2002 JF, and P92-JС performed in group.

Pipistrel Sinus{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:07am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/125s   f/13.0   ISO 100 Pipistrel Sinus

Tecnam P2002 JF{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:08am   NIKON D80   F.length 240.0mm (35mm eq. 360.0mm)   1/125s   f/18.0   ISO 100 Tecnam P2002 JF

Pipistrel Sinus, andTecnam P92-JS, and P2002 JF in group{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:07am   NIKON D80   AF-S VR Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G IF-ED at 220.0mm (35mm eq. 330.0mm)   1/125s   f/20.0   ISO 100 Pipistrel Sinus, and Tecnam P92-JS, and P2002 JF in group

Great as usual, the performance of ret. col. Svilen Ivanov, who is the soul of any recent airshow, was a culmination of the day.

Ret. col Svilen Ivanov performs with Pitts S-2B{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:18am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/250s   f/10.0   ISO 100		Ret. col Svilen Ivanov performs with Pitts S-2B{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:24am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/250s   f/9.0   ISO 100		Ret. col Svilen Ivanov performs with Pitts S-2B{sc1}12 Apr 2009 12:33am   NIKON D80   F.length 300.0mm (35mm eq. 450.0mm)   1/250s   f/9.0   ISO 100
Instructor pilot Svilen Ivanov and Pitts S-2B show what a small, but equipped with a 260 h.p. engine plane can do in hands of a great pilot

Kids are always enchanted by Aviation.

Kids are always enchanted by Aviation{sc1}12 Apr 2009 11:06am   NIKON D80   F.length 44.0mm (35mm eq. 66.0mm)   1/80s   f/4.5   ISO 100

Kids are always enchanted by Aviation{sc1}12 Apr 2009 1:10pm   NIKON D80   AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED [II] or AF-S DX VR Zoom-Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED at 200.0mm (35mm eq. 300.0mm)   1/160s   f/5.6   -1/3eV   ISO 100

The Aviation Day at Plovdiv airport was an unforgettable experience both for participants and spectators and once again showed that the spirit of Aviation is alive, and success comes, if the will is there.