photoreporter,^ Joe^ Ciliberti,Ourhas^ recently^ been^ on
athe^ tour^ of^ two^ of^ most^ important^ bases^ of^ the^
Ukrainian^ Force.^ AirCordially^ invited^ by^ the^ Ukrainian^ AF^ Command^ in^ Kiev,the^ tour^ consisted^ of^ a visit^ to^ Air^ Force^ Base^
in^ Vasylkiv,^ 30kms^ SouthA1789of^ the^ Capital^ and^ home
ofAviation^ 40th^ Fighter^ Brigade^ flying^ MiG29s.^
splendidwas^ followed^ by^ a^ This^ tour^ of^ UkAF^ base^ Starokostiantyniv,250kms^ SW^ of^ Kiev and^ home^ of^ the^(^) 7thFencer of the 24 Fighter^ Bomber^ Regiment.^ ‐Su Vasylkiv AB Aviation the day The no^ Magazine^ visited^ Vasylkiv^ On
flying^ was^ taking^ place as^ preparations^ were^ under‐
for^ a^ massive^ nationalwayaerial^ exercise^ due^ in^ the
followingwas^ days.^ However,^ Joe^ offered^ a^ tour^ of^
thembased^ aircraft,^ some^ of^ the^ very^ much^ at^ the^ ready
should^ there^ be^ need. One^ needs^ to^ remember^
lossUkraine^ suffered^ territorial^ that^ to^ the^ Russians^
24/7is^ therefore^ on^ alert^ and^ to^ defend^ its^ borders^
goodthere^ be^ need.^ A^ should^ number^ of^ the^ MiG‐29s
wereready^ fully^ armed^ and^ on^ QRA^ (Quick^ Reaction^
Alert)^ basis. Vasylkiv^ AB^ is^ under^ the^ command^ of^ Col^ Kravchenko
Volodymyrof^ who^ has^ plenty^ hours^ on^ different^ air‐
and^ over^ 1500hrs^ on^ thecraftMiG‐29.^ The^ base^ is^ quite
a^ large^ airfield^ with one^ massive^ aircraft^ parking^
ofequipped^ for^ all^ kinds^ ramp^ aircraft.^ The^ Mig‐29s^
spreadL‐39s^ however,^ are^ and^ around^ the^ airfield^ in^
that^ hold^ one^ or^ twopensfast^ jets^ at^ a^ time.^ Additionally,
there^ are^ also^ individual pens^ for^ different^ types^
sideaircraft^ on^ the^ south^ of^ of^ the^ field.^ Col^ Volodymyr’s
leadershipin^ could^ be^ seen^ the^ efficiency^ of^ offi‐
underand^ other^ personnel^ cers^ his^ command^ who^ certainly
have^ a^ lot^ of admiration^ for^ their^ commander.^
Ukrainian^ Air^ Force^ ismodein^ a^ continuous^ upgrading^ The
and^ the^ base^ showed both^ operational^ MiG‐29s^
preparedsome^ that^ were^ being^ and^ for^ a^ return^ to^ flight
status.^ Others^ were undergoing^ deep^ mainte‐
and^ the^ base^ alsonancehas^ its^ own^ simulator^ developed
andthe^ built^ by^ Ukrainians^ themselves.^ During^
theAviation^ Magazine^ visit,^ The^ simulator^ was^ being^ ‘flown’
byone^ a^ young^ pilot,^ of^ several^ whose^ willing‐
defendand^ determination^ to^ ness^ his^ country^ was^ very
evident.^
ramp^ in^ a^ medium‐sized^ recently^ were^ a^ number^ of^ Tucked
refurbishedare^ L‐39s^ that^ ‐^ used^ both^ for^ train‐
theas^ well^ as^ to^ keep^ ing^ based^ pilots’^ hours^ high^ to^ ensure
the^ best^ results.^
29s^ left^ topandand^ right^ middle^ MiG
bottom,‐^ with^ an^ L 39 on^ right^ top^