Wonsan International Air festival, North Korea

[P.Terlouw]

I just returned from the Wonsan International Air Festival held in North Korea at Wonsan/Kalma Airport on the eastcoast of North Korea. And what a trip it was!! Although it was mentioned the North Korean Air Force would attend, I was still sceptical about that. But to our surprise 2 MiG-29's, 3 MiG-21's , 5 Su-25's, 3 An-2, 5 MD500 and 4 Mil Mi8/17 were present and most of them flew!!! Also blessed with superb weather and all freedom in photo opportunities I came back with a memory card full of awesome shots.

Here the first "teasers" (can I call it that?)

1. My highlight: MiG-21 Bis and flown by female pilot Jo Kum Hyang


2. MiG-29 pulling some vortex


3. MD500 in front of the new Wonsan/Kalma Airport tower


4. Su-25 flyby with airbrakes extended


5. Air Koryo still flies the awesome Ilyushin Il-62


6. MiG-21 high speed pass


7. Antonov An-2


8. Su-25 taxiing


9. Ilyushin Il-76 taking off

[capercaillie]

Dear RIAT.............

No, seriously, fabulous shots, your photos look like the photographic opportunities were far better than the videos posted so far suggest.

[PeterR]

Looks like they gave the Air Koryo fleet a fresh lick of paint for the event. Lovely shots!

[Maisie]

I am trying to do everything to go next year. That An-2 looks rather tasty too with the lumps and bumps.

Great photos, thanks for sharing!

[st24]

Wow, just look at those '21s.. outstanding. Looks to have been a great trip!

[Skyflash]

Congratulations on bagging some pretty much unbeatable rarity points!

Oh and, lovely shots too.

[P.Terlouw]

and a few more:

10. MiG-29 at the static line up


11. Air Koryo Il-62 turning onto the platform with Tu-134 and Il-18 already waiting


12. The two female fight pilots Jo Kum Hyang (right) and Rim Sol (left)


13. Mil Mi-8 turning onto the runway


14. Antonov An-24 taxiing after landing


15. MiG-29 landing


16. Su-25 pilot proudly standing in front of his airplane

[bigcrow]

Awesome Peter...

[st24]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

[P.Terlouw]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

[st24]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

21 and at the controls of one of the hottest ships ever made!?! I really respect a culture that allows girls and ladies to fully integrate into all forms of society....

[nellis6]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

Is the one on the left doing the vacuuming?

[capercaillie]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

Is the one on the left doing the vacuuming?

All I'll say is that visual humour sucks!

[P.Terlouw]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

Is the one on the left doing the vacuuming?

If you put on your glasses you see it is a microphone, but if you want me to PS it out.......

[Maisie]

How many North Korean aircraft logged during the airshow?

[nellis6]

More loveliness. Those female Fishbed jocks look about 12?!?!

close!! they are both 21 years old.

Is the one on the left doing the vacuuming?

If you put on your glasses you see it is a microphone, but if you want me to PS it out.......

It wasn't meant as a criticism Peter and apologies if it came across that way. Your images are wonderfully sharp and the lighting looks great.

[SPLAT]

I can't look at photo 18 with singing YMCA or the CHiPs theme tune
I know a lot of people have whinged at over pricing etc but would love to have taken those shots myself

[r.e.hendriks]

Speechless...........

[P.Terlouw]

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[st24]

Okay stop it now, enough already....!

[steved]

Fantastic. Thanks for posting.

[Stagger2]

Microphone, you say? Phew! I figured flying a Mig must be enough fun for any girl
(Great shots from a historic event.)

[Talldan76]

Great shots, not sure it is a place that I'd like to visit (for various reasons) but you certainly made the most of it!

Is it me though, or do the aircraft look almost brand new - almost as if they have never flown apart from the odd occasion where they have managed to get hold of enough fuel for them...

Dan

[harkins]

Fantastic photos. Despite the nature of the regime there and that I'd be a bit nervous to go myself, I am extremely jealous.

I do agree that they are suspiciously clean. It is almost as if they can't afford to fly them too often and save them for state occasions and the like. Having said that, North Korea (for all it's issues) is in a part of the world where pride in appearance seems a way of life.

[P.Terlouw]

The aircraft were polished to the extreme which is no surprise considering the importance of this first ever airshow held in North Korea. A lot is riding on this so as well as the military as the Air Koryo fleet has received a nice new coat of paint. Also the flying display was done very careful with no high G's or much use of afterburners. For me something noteworthy was that all servicing texts on the military jets were in Russian.

But the opportunities we got was a very welcome surprise. Even mingling with the 15000 locals at the airshow was something I did not expect. The static show with meeting the pilots were for foreigners only as it was held near the terminal building.

a few more "civil":

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