Kraków 2018-05-21
Air Show 2018.
Ławica Poznań.
On 19-20 May 2018 (Saturday, Sunday), in the capital of Wielkopolska, in Poznań, at Ławica EPPO Airport, an international air show called Poznań Air Show 2018 was held. It was the third, third event of this type after AEROFESTIWAL 2016, and the fourth if we add to that the shows from 1991 (27 years ago).
This time, the shows took place on the occasion of:
100 years of regaining independence by the Republic of Poland,
100th anniversary of Polish Aviation,
100th anniversary of the armed Greater Poland Uprising.
The main organizer was the Poznań International Fair.
It is worth recalling that the Ławica Airport is one of the most important places for the revival of the Republic of Poland in 1918. It was here that the decisive fight for Greater Poland for Poland took place. Here is the monument to the Greater Poland Uprising. The first Polish aviation units were also organized here. The Wielkopolska Aircraft Factory "Samolot" operated here, which built very good Polish training and training planes.
The Poznań Air Show 2018 was organized in a professional manner and should be counted among the very successful air events, which opened the season of great shows for the 100th anniversary of Poland regaining independence after 123 years of partitions.
The event was extraordinary because it was connected with the first NATO aviation exercise, codenamed Tiger Meet 2018, conducted in Poland, based on the Krzesiny Airport near Poznań. These exercises began on May 14, 2018. These are exercises dedicated to aviation units having a tiger in their emblem or decorating their planes and helicopters with stylized tiger elements. F-16 fighters of various versions operated from Krzesin: EF2000 Typhoon, Gripeny, Hornety, Rafale and Tornado, and from Ławica - Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS early warning aircraft.
Returning to the Poznań Air Show 2018, the organizers once again managed to combine the show with commercial air traffic, which takes place at the civil Ławica Airport (although the Polish Army still uses this airport). It is worth noting that on both days the weather was good and it was just perfect.
Individual program blocks in the air received appropriate names:
Block I - the 100th anniversary of the Greater Poland Uprising. (10: 30-13: 30).
This block included: arrivals of NATO Tiger Meet military planes for the static exhibition. Skydiving group SkyMagic S3 WAT - Poland. 3AT3 Formation Flying Team - Poland. 57-my Team - Tercel RST x2, Xenon 2 RST - Poland. Yak-3UPW soviet & CAC-13 Australian Boomerang - Netherlands. Air battle simulation - Pterodactyl Flight - Czech Republic (performance 18:30). Yak-3U R2000 - Poland. "Żelazny" Aerobatic Group - Poland.
Block II - NATO TIGER MEET (14: 30-16: 00).
Saab 105 Austrian Air Force, JAS 39 Gripen Czech Republic Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon Spanish Air Force Rafale Solo Display French Navy, Mil Mi-24 - Czech Republic Air Force Demo Display.
Block III - 100th anniversary of regaining independence, 100th anniversary of military aviation. (16: 50-18: 20).
Extra 330LC individual acrobatics - Agata Nykaza - Poland from the "Żelazny" Aerobatic Group. Supermarine Spitfire XVIE - Stephen Stead - UK. MiG-15UTI - Czech Republic. PZL TS-11 Iskra - Poland. Individual aerobatics XA-41 - Artur Kielak - Poland.
A similar program was held on Sunday, May 20, 2018:
Block I - the 100th anniversary of the Greater Poland Uprising (10:30 - 13:30) (3:00 h).
Skydiving - SkyMagic S3 WAT group - Poland. 3AT3 Formation Flying Team - Poland.
57-my Team - Tercel RST x 2, Xenon 2 RST - Poland. Yak-3UPW & CAC-13 Boomerang - Netherlands.
Air battle simulation - Pterodactyl Flight - Czech Republic. Yak-3U R2000 - Poland. "Żelazny" Aerobatic Group - Poland. Individual aerobatics XA-41 - Artur Kielak - Poland.
Block II - NATO TIGER MEET (14: 30-16: 00).
Saab 105 Austrian Air Force Solo JAS 39 Gripen Czech Republic Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon. Spanish Air Force Mil Mi-24 - Czech Republic Air Force. Demo Display.
Block III - 100th anniversary of regaining independence 100th anniversary of military aviation (16: 50-18: 20).
Extra 330LC individual acrobatics - Agata Nykaza - Poland. from the "Żelazny" Aerobatic Group. Supermarine Spitfire XVIE - Stephen Stead - Great Britain. MiG-15UTI - Czech Republic PZL TS-11 Iskra - Poland. Polish Air Force MiG-29 Solo Display F-16 Tiger Demo Team Poland. F-16 Tiger Demo Team Poland.
The big attraction in the air were the F-16 combat planes of various versions, the EF2000 Typhoon, JAS Gripen, F-18 Hornet, Rafale and Tornado. They were complemented by: SAAB 105, MiG-15 UTI, PZL TS-11 Iskra and veterans: Jak-3 UPW, Jak-3 U, CAC-13 Boomerang, Supermarine Spitfire XVI E, as well as a large group of aerobatic and ultra-light aircraft. It was complemented by the solo performance of Mil Mi-24 - Czech Republic Air Force.
The solo show of the F-16 Hawk of the Polish Air Force with conformal tanks and tiger painting composed of shades of gray turned out to be excellent. The pilot used flares several times. The show was made more attractive by a comment by another pilot from the commentator's position.
The Polish PZL TS-11 Iskra nb 1214 SP-YBD aircraft is already being demonstrated at Ławica Airport in 2016. It is currently the only civilian TS-11 aircraft that is allowed to fly. Of course, not counting the military TS-11 Iskra in Dęblin. It is worth mentioning that the process of introducing Leonardo M-346 aircraft into service is currently underway, and the TS-11 Iskra machines will be phased out, and that is why it is worth keeping them for posterity, and not mindlessly sending them to the steelworks.
The performance of the SAAB-105 XT of the Austrian Military Aviation, practically withdrawn from service, was a big surprise. We could already admire the SAAB-105 airplane at Ławica Airport in 2016. That machine belonged to the Swedish Aviation.
There was no shortage of attractions at the static exhibition. There was great interest in combat aircraft with tiger painting elements, as well as the Boeing E-3A Sentry AWACS, which during the event was shifted from the southern parking plane to the northern part of Ławica Airport, closer to the viewers.
There were also stands of companies, teams and aviation schools, reconstruction groups, historical stands, and an exhibition of aviation equipment. There were delicatessen stalls and attractions for children.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman