CIAF 2002 Airshow Report

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ACIG Special Reports
CIAF 2002 Airshow Report
By Charlie Lopatic
Sep 16, 2003, 05:54

Czech International Air Festival's chronicle scored the ninth event. Initially, this show was started as joint Czech and Slovak air show, but, as a result to Czech and Slovak republics' parting, separate airshows were later organized in each of the republics. CIAF is generally known as 'the big brother of the SIAD' (Slovak International Air Display) for it is bigger and better attended. However, this year's SIAD and CIAF were more comparable; SIAD feautured more aerobatic teams while CIAF provided greater variety of solo performances and a better static display.

Austria, the only remaining operator of the Draken, participated with not only no less but three examples of J35OE, but also brought two Pilatus PC-7 trainers and a single Shorts Skyvan transport.

Unfortunately, the Ukrainians cancelled their participation due to Su-27 crash in Ukraine. Too bad, as they were to come with Ukrainian Falcons aerobatic group, which flies seven MiG-29s, then with an Su-27, and even an Su-24! Nevertheless, the public was delighted to see the Team 60, from Sweden, and Biele Albatrossy, from Slovakia. Both teams flew good, though not first-rate displays. Perhaps less anticipated, but the real thrill came from solo performances.

A pair of Slovak MiG-29s performed a mock dogfight. It is interesting that Slovaks brought only two MiG-29s without any 'spare' example they could use as backup in case there were troubles with getting any of the two 'dogfighters' airborne!

Biele Albartossy group showed a nice display indicating that group is recovering from troubles (training accident, financial cuts) it faced not long ago.

Team 60 flew a display equipped with smoke generators (for example, in Rivolto (2000) they preformed without). Formation flying was good, but performance as whole lacks more aggressive solo input.

Especially to be mentioned were: the Spanish Mirage F.1, British Tornado F.3, and Danish F-16. Their pilots showed a great deal of effort and creativity flying their machines - each of them in a different aspect; while F.1 proved it can be flown nearly as agile as Mirage 2000, F-16-pilot decided to cudgel his Dutch colleague topping it off with a 'stratosphere' vertical climb (there was a vapour trail caused by the engine!). Tornado F.3-pilot had a different philosophy, decorating his display with full-afterburner fly-bys and beautiful posing for the cameras!

Tornado F.3 shows its teeth! Its interceptor role presumably experienced some kind of metamorphosis at CIAF2002 - the performance was full of tight turns that would make many figher pilots envious.

Czech W-3 Sokol demonstrating its agility. The type was used, along Mi-17s, for SAR missions during flood crisis in autumn 2002.

CIAF2002 also surprised spectators with unique "Flying Circus", comprising Fokker Dr.1, Fokker E III, Curtiss N-4, Albatross C V, Sopwith Pup, Sopwith Morane and a SE V.

To conclude, this was a very nice and highly interesting airshow, which disappointed only the pessimists. The visitors were well awarded for attending, and could enjoy the aircraft to full extension. Lets hope there is enough kerosene left for the same show next year!

SERIAL NUMBERS (kindly provided by Arthur Hubers):
Participating aircraft of the Czech Armed Forces
4 ZTL 41 SLT Mig-21MFN 4405
42 SLT L-159A 6008
33 ZVL Mi-9 0001
33 ZVL Mi-17 0809, 0835
33 ZVL Mi-24V 0812, 0815
34 ZSL 341 VLT L-39C 0113
341 VLT L-29 3247
342 VLT Mi-2 0709
342 VLT Zlin 142 0556, 0566
343 DPzLT An-30 1107 L-410FG 1525
62VrLt W-3 0712
LtLPZS W-3 0713, 0719
Police Bell 412EP B-4363
Aero Vodochody L-159B 5831, 6073

Foreign participation
Austria: J.35OE 12, 13, 20 (Flrgt 2), PC-7 3H-FA, 3H-FN (Fliegerschule), Skyvan 5S-TB (Flrgt 1);

Denmark: F-16BM ET-199, ET-612;

France: Mirage 2000D 622/3-IV (EC 01.003), 616/3-JS (EC 02.003), Jaguar E E6/7-HR, E30/7-HW, E40/7-HX (EC 01.007), TBM.700 33/XA (ETEC 00.065);

Germany: Tornado 43+46 AKG 51, Tornado 4368 (JBG 32), Tornado ECR 46+32, 46+38 (JBG 32),
C.160D 5113 (LTG 61);

Italy: AMX MM7151/2-14, MM7177/2-22 (2° Stormo), MB.339A MM514515/61-65 (61° Stormo);

Netherlands: F-16AM J-016, J-866 (312 Sq), F-16AM J-057 (323 Sq), F-16BM J-885 (323 Sq),
Fk.60 U-04 (334 Sq);

Slovakia: MiG-29 6526, 6930 (1 SLK), An-26 3208 (2 LZ), Mi-24V 0708 (3 VLK), L-39C 0101/4, 0102/6, 0112/1, 0442/2, 0443/7 (VSL);

Slovenia: Bell 412SP H2-31 (15. Brigada), PC-9 L9-64 (15. Brigada);

Spain: Mirage F.1M C.14-16/14-10, C.14-21/14-14 ALA 14, CN.235 T.19B-05/35-23 ALA 35;

Sweden: JAS.39A 39186/186 (F.7), JAS.39B 9806/806 (F.7), Sk.60 60033, 60061, 60062, 60096, 60098,60125, 60139 ("Team 60"), Gulstream: IV 102004/024 (F.16M), C-130E 84001/841 (F.7);

UK: Hawk T.1 XX191/CC, XX325/CT (100 Sq), Jaguar GR.3 XZ392/PF (16(R) Sq), Jaguar T.4 XX139/PT (16(R) Sq), Jaguar GR.3 XZ366/FS (41 Sq), Jaguar GR.3 XZ364/GJ (54 Sq);

USA: C-20A 83-0500 (86 AW), KC-135R 62-3551 (100 ARW), F-16C 88-0413/AV pr "510 FS" (31 FW), 89-2001/AV mlti (31 FW);

French Air Force participated with two examples of Mirage 2000B on static and a pair of Jaguars in the flying display. Mirages came mostly for 'posing' purpose (009), but Jags(010) really put up a great show!

JAS-39A Gripen performed two times a day, showing its excellent low-speed maneuverability during a very attractive display.

This F-15E Strike Eagle is one of the USAF's jets that remained on the ground for static display only.

Also present were exYugoslav AF Galebs 23177/YU-YAE, 23187/YU-YAD, 23194/YU-YAG and ex German AF Do-28D 5889/D-ICDY.