50^th Anniversary of an Air Force Base

March 17^th, 2001, Graf Ignatievo AFB celebrates its 50^th anniversary

Everything started in 1937 by edict #1294 clearing the path for expropriating land, building a hangar and military installations. The airfield itself was ready in 1940 and first air squads were formed. During WWII all planes and military personnel were relocated to Sofia and saw active action. First jet airplanes in 1951 were YAK-23, then in 1952 MIG-15, MIG-15bis came. In 1955 MIG-17 and MIG-17PF were adopted. First supersonic machines arrived in 1957 - MIG-19S, followed by MIG-19PM in 1959. Legendary MIG-21 started enrolling since 1963 - MIG-21M, MIG-21MF, and finally in 1983 MIG-21bis. Those last MIGs are still in active use. Most modern MIG-29 fighters and L-39 training planes came into the base in 2000. The long and glorious history of the airbase keeps many records: First flight of a jet fighter (YAK-23) on July 7^th, 1951; First night flights; First reconnaissance balloons were intercepted and first air-border breaking plane was downed; Bulgarian pilots first went supersonic in December 1957. Collapsing of the communism and breaking the Warsaw Pact marked new pages in the history of the airbase. Bulgaria became a NATO member and Graf Ignatievo part of the NATO Integrated Air Defense System, carrying a Quick Reaction Alert duty. Modernizing the runway and making it NATO compliant together with the navigation, communication and information systems made the airbase one of the most modern airbases on the Balkans. This provoked a strong interest and today 3^rd Fighter Air Base Graf Ignatievo hosts many international exercises as well as some public events, but doesn't forget its main duty - to defend the skies of Bulgaria.

Graf Ignatievo's 50^th birthday was a public day for the airbase, everyone was admitted. A short ceremony took place and most prominent servicemen were rewarded. Then pilots showed spectacular aerobatics with MIG-21bis and L-39. After landing those and other planes were at static display. Hangar party marked the end of the big day.

Official Part

The Opening. The Opening.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 10:19am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/11.3

Rewarding. Rewarding.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 10:47am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/6.7

March past. March past.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:04am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/9.5

Flights

L-39, Bulgarian Air Force 207. L-39, Bulgarian Air Force 207.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:11am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/6.7

MIG-21bis, Bulgarian Air Force 240. MIG-21bis, Bulgarian Air Force 240.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:19am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/6.7

Static Display

The airfield is now free for the crowd. The airfield is now free for the crowd.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:45am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/9.5		MIG-29, Bulgarian Air Force 22. MIG-29, Bulgarian Air Force 22.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:44am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 8.0mm   1/250s   f/8.0		The Son of the Pilot. The Son of the Pilot.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:43am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/9.5
MIG-29's instrument panel. MIG-29's instrument panel.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:42am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/125s   f/3.4		Afterburner. Afterburner.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:47am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/6.7		MIG-29's air brakes and parachute container.
Hydraulics near MIG-29's landing gear. Hydraulics near MIG-29's landing gear.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:23am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 8.0mm   1/125s   f/2.8		MIG-21bis just landed and is occupied by kids. Its jet nozzle emits great heat and parachute container is still open. MIG-21bis just landed and is occupied by kids. Its jet nozzle emits great heat and parachute container is still open.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:49am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/11.3		MIG-21bis, Bulgarian Air Force 240. MIG-21bis, Bulgarian Air Force 240.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:06am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/8.0
MIG-21's attack angle receptor. MIG-21's attack angle receptor.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:26am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 18.4mm   1/250s   f/5.7		One of MIG-21's hardpoints. One of MIG-21's hardpoints.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:08am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/5.7		What MIG-21's pilot sees. What MIG-21's pilot sees.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:35am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/4.8
What L-39's pilot sees. What L-39's pilot sees.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 12:48am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/5.7		AN-26 multi purpose plane. AN-26 multi purpose plane.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:59am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/8.0		AN-26's propeller blades with heating elements. AN-26's propeller blades with heating elements.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 11:55am   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   1/250s   f/8.0

Final Moments

Hangar party marked the end of a big day. Hangar party marked the end of a big day.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 1:18pm   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 8.0mm   1/15s   f/2.8

First jet fighter in the Air Base was the YAK-23. First jet fighter in the Air Base was the YAK-23.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 1:25pm   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 9.0mm   1/250s   f/6.7		One of world's first really useful jet fighters was MIG-15. One of world's first really useful jet fighters was MIG-15.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 1:26pm   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 16.0mm   1/250s   f/5.7		Notorious 'Elka' L-29 opened the way to the skies for several generations of pilots. Notorious 'Elka' L-29 opened the way to the skies for several generations of pilots.{sc1}17 Mar 2001 1:27pm   KODAK DC265 ZOOM DIGITAL CAMERA   F.length 10.4mm   1/250s   f/6.7

March 2001