Hi chaps,
Looking through my photo album recently from this trip, I realised there were loads of active and W+R photos I didn't include in my original post (a long time ago). Considering how often anything from this air force ventured abroad (next to never), you may find some of these interesting......
Dolna Mitropolyia.
Back then was only the Air Force Technical School, now the airfield has the training flight after moving from Kamanets.
L-29
IMG_7620 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Su-22M4
IMG_7621 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-24D
IMG_7618 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-2
IMG_7619 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23ML
IMG_7616 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-21
IMG_7617 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
L-29
IMG_7622 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-21PFM
IMG_7623 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-17
IMG_7624 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Another one on the gate
IMG_7627 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Kamenets. Training base with L-29/L-39. Apparently we were the only aviation group to visit there, closed in 2006.
Mig-17 preserved at gate.....bored of them yet ?
IMG_7628 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Preserved Mig-15UTI, Mig-17, L-29, Mig-21PFM and Mig-21UM.....all gone now
IMG_7629 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Active L-39 and retired L-29 (no ejection seat in it). There were lots of dumped L-29s elsewhere, but didn't get close
IMG_7631 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Taxying L-39
IMG_7633 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
'Preserved' Mig-17 amongst hedges in the village of Letnitsa
IMG_7634 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Preserved Mig-17 in the village of Sennik
IMG_7636 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Preserved Mig-17 in the village of Gorsko Slivovo
IMG_7637 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Bezmer, home of the attack aircraft Su-25 and Su-22 (of which only 4 remained active, retired in 2004)
Preserved Mig-17 and Mig-UTI in a wooded area
IMG_7638 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
L-29
IMG_7639 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Yak-23, Mig-15UTI, Mig-17
IMG_7640 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Taxying Su-25
IMG_7641 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Taxying Su-22M-4.....this one did a full-on aerobatic display for us, sadly miles too far away for a photo
IMG_7643 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Su-25 and Su-22M-4 positioned at the end of the ramp for our visit
IMG_7646 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Then the sun came out !!
IMG_7644 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7645 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Spent some time standing on the tower balcony, getting a distant shot of this landing Su-25 with retired ones behind
IMG_7647 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Preserved L-29 in the town square in nearby Yambol. I think it's now in a local museum
IMG_7648 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Stara Zagora. The only spot to get a piccie of the stored Mi-24Ds. Ironically, #109 is the only one left, preserved in the town
IMG_7649 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Graf Ignatievo, main fighter base. That week hosting the first exercise involving the RAF, who brought 8 Jaguars.
RAF Jaguar T2 on the ramp alongside Mig-21UM
IMG_7650 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
A few Mig-21bis's, if you can stand them......
IMG_7651 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7652 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7653 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Other active Mig-21bis/UM which I managed to photo from our moving minibus
IMG_7655 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
This retired Mig-21 was apparently used specifically for towing practice by the ground crews
IMG_7656 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Now for loads of retired Mig-21s (44, I think in total), here's a selection of schemes seen.....
IMG_7657 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7658 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7659 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7660 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7661 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7662 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7663 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7664 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
And now the preserved stuff......starting with Mig-19
IMG_7671 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-21
IMG_7672 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Yak-23
IMG_7674 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
L-29
IMG_7675 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-17
IMG_7676 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23BN
IMG_7678 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
And ending off with another Mig-19 near the gate
IMG_7679 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
On the far side by the Mig-29 HAS complex, were a pair of active Mig-21s covered up, here's 1
IMG_7665 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
And so to the exercise. Also taking part were AF Su-25s, including this Su-25UB
IMG_7666 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Plus 4 x Su-25Ks. This is the view from where we spent half the day (and it was my 30th birthday too)
IMG_7668 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
This one was taxying out for a mission
IMG_7670 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
And after they went in pairs, out came the Mig-21s......
IMG_7669 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7729 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7730 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7727 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7731 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Krumovo. Home of the Air Force Museum.
Starting with this Mig-23BN hiding beside the entrance road
IMG_7693 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Wrecked Mig-17 needing a little TLC
IMG_7686 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-21 in a non-standard colour scheme
IMG_7688 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-19 in a non-standard colour scheme
IMG_7687 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Let L-200C......cute
IMG_7689 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Yak-11
IMG_7690 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Knackered Tu-2, now restored
IMG_7691 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
An-14
IMG_7692 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Also home to the rotary element of the air force. Preserved stuff first.......
Mi-1
IMG_7680 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-2. Our female interpreter, seen in the background, looked strangely like Celine Dion......
IMG_7681 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-4
IMG_7682 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
and Mi-14. I think this one has now gone
IMG_7685 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
We were not allowed to go near the active helicopters on the field, due to having live weapons, but after a useful sit-down negotiation with the base commander, and the help of 'Celine Dion', they were happy to tow across 1 of all their types.
Bell 206B with unique Bell 430. This only flew within Bulgaria between 2000-2004. Rare as hen's teeth.
IMG_7695 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-17 with Mi-24
IMG_7694 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Pointed the camera across to the others on the field, this distant shot was the best one
IMG_7698 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Another Bell 206B flew by, would be considered rude to ignore
IMG_7697 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Also on the heli-pads was this Mi-17, although oddly was not allowed to go near it or photo, so this is a sneaky one
IMG_7696 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Two ex-AF Mi-2s stored in a yard........not a clue about the location, sorry
IMG_7699 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-17F 'preserved' in the village of Orizari
IMG_7700 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-19 preserved outside Air Force HQ in Sofia
IMG_7701 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Sofia Military Museum. There's many more frames there now, but back then just a few.......
Mi-2
IMG_7717 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-24D
IMG_7718 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-21bis
IMG_7719 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mi-8T
IMG_7720 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23ML
IMG_7721 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
This was another museum outside Sofia, looks like the airframes have gone to the Military Museum in town
Mig-21bis
IMG_7722 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Except this Mi-24, don't know where this is now......
IMG_7723 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23ML and UB
IMG_7724 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Dobroslavci Air Base, the cherry on the cake, home of the last Floggers active in Europe.....for another 3 months
Preserved Mig-15UTI, Mig-17 and Mig-19
IMG_7702 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Il-14 hiding in the trees, making it a nightmare to photo !!
IMG_7703 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Stored Mig-23 line-up
IMG_7704 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7705 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7706 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7708 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
IMG_7709 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
These 2 stored Mig-23s were positioned for us to give a close inspection
IMG_7710 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Another angle
IMG_7711 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
We thought we were not allowed to get the active ones, only glimpsing the tops of their tails along the taxiway.
However, one of the generals stated it was permitted, as flying was cancelled for the day due to bad weather.
Best 10 minutes ever......
The last 5 active Mig-23s plus the base flight L-29. Weren't allowed any closer, but didn't bother me
IMG_7712 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23UB with sharks mouth. These were the first Bulgarian AF aircraft to sport these
IMG_7713 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Mig-23ML, the only one without a sharks mouth
IMG_7714 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Another Mig-23ML
IMG_7750 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Base flight L-29 sporting the 'Flogger team' logo
IMG_7715 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Was good to get photos of just one active L-29 before they retired too
IMG_7716 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
Finally, we all received one of these base stickers. Mine adorns the rear of the photo album
IMG_7725 by Rupert Kelley, on Flickr
That's all folks.......hope you enjoyed this one as much as I did compiling it. Stop dribbling now.......
Happy snapping, chaps,
Rupe
Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
Name someone who loves you enough to die for you. I can only think of 1.......there is only 1
Re: Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
Thanks for the feedback Mr Varkman.
Yes, those old Russian types are virtually gone nowadays from Europe.
Rupe
Yes, those old Russian types are virtually gone nowadays from Europe.
Rupe
Name someone who loves you enough to die for you. I can only think of 1.......there is only 1
- capercaillie
- Posts: 9372
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Re: Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
planenuts wrote:
We were not allowed to go near the active helicopters on the field, due to having live weapons
Why on earth did you have live weapons?
Interesting stuff, as you say Bell 430 was an odd acquisition.
Re: Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
planenuts wrote:
We were not allowed to go near the active helicopters on the field, due to having live weapons
Why on earth did you have live weapons?
Interesting stuff, as you say Bell 430 was an odd acquisition.
Ha Ha, very funny !! After their initial reaction ("NO"), I felt like having a live weapon on me as a 'persuasion tool'
That really was a scrapbook week.....especially when these days we barely see any of these types around.
Rupe
Name someone who loves you enough to die for you. I can only think of 1.......there is only 1
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Re: Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
Hi chaps, quick question : does anyone know the current whereabouts of that one-off Bell 430 serial '430' ? It's now long retired, but is it still in Bulgaria ? Still flying somehow, static, or gone ? Any ideas welcome thanks.
Cheers, Rupe
Cheers, Rupe
Name someone who loves you enough to die for you. I can only think of 1.......there is only 1
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Re: Uncle Bulgaria 2002 Pt.2
Rupe - 2 mins on Google suggest it was re-registered as TC-HAD, and Rotorspot.nl has it listed as still active, but couldnt find out where.
Scott
Canon EOS7D, with 30D Back-up
Canon 100-400MM IS, 70-200MM plus some wide-angle/macro stuff
Canon EOS7D, with 30D Back-up
Canon 100-400MM IS, 70-200MM plus some wide-angle/macro stuff