Starokostiantyniv^ AB This^ is^ the^ only^ known^ base^ of^ all^ Su‐^24 Fencer,^ mediumrangethe^ bomber^ of^ ‐^ Ukrainian^ Air^ Force.^
the^ day^ The^ AviationallMagazine^ visited^ the^ base^ Onflyingand^ started^ at^0900 continued^ for^6 whole^
with^ Su‐24M/MR^ andhours,L‐39s^ launching^ and^ recovering
without^ a^ break.^
active^ huge^ base^ was^ very^ with^ during^ the^2014 war^ ThisRussia‐^ and^ one^ of^ its^ Su 24MR^ was^ hit^ by^ a^ MAN‐
tobut^ recovered^ safely^ PAD^ a^ forward^ operating^ base
withon^ one^ engine^ fiercely^ fire.^ During^ that^ mission^
July^ 1st,^ 2014,^ the^ Fenceronwas^ being^ flown^ by^ then^
Lt^ Col^ Bulatsyk^ Yevhen.^
AB^ houses^ bothbomberthe^ Su‐24M^ StarokostiantynivasSu^ well^ as^ the^ ‐24MR^ reconnaissance^ version^ of^
aging^ but^ still^ verythisformidable^ jet.^ The^ 7th^ Fighter
Bomber^ Regiment^ flies^ two squadrons^ of^ Su‐24M^
whilea^ squadron^ of^ Su‐24MRs^ and^ L‐39s^ are^ used^ by^
proficiencythree^ squadrons^ for^ pilot^ all^ and^ also^ as^ a^(^) forfuel saving (^) of training^ purposes.^ way The base is commanded^ by^ Col^ Kovalenko^ Mykola^ who
wasthe^ very^ proud^ of^ achievements^ of^ his^ person‐
maintaining^ and^ flying^ thenelSu‐24s.^ Indeed,^ the^ steady
flow^ of^ movements^ on^ the day^ kept^ the^ Col^ busy^
some^ of^ his^ pilots^ flewasup^ to^ three^ missions^ on^ that
particularnumber^ day^ and^ a^ of^ pilots^ received^ their^
(^) day’sthe (^) during missions.^ qualifications Starokostiantyniv AB is a typical^ Soviet‐era^ style^ base
with^ two^ large^ ramps^ that house^ most^ of^ the^ Su‐
and^ L‐39s^ while24MRsthe^ other^ two^ squadrons^ were
dispersed^ in^ pens^ dotting^ the south^ side^ of^ the^ air‐
veryThe^ field^ houses^ a^ field.^ good^ number^ of^ active^
‐^ 24s^ as^ well^ as^ othersSuthat^ will^ be^ made^ airworthy^
again^ in^ the^ near^ future.^
tolatter^ were^ all^ nesting^ The^ the^ East^ of^ the^ airfield
but^ one^ could^ tell^ that they^ could^ easily^ be^ worked^
to^ airworthy^ status.backAdditionally,^ a^ good^ number
of^ Su‐24s^ were undergoing^ maintenance^ both^ inside^
inoutside^ the^ hanger^ situated^ and^ the^ SW^ corner^ of^ the
field,^ just^ short of^ runway^ end.^
a^ medium‐bomber^ basetheand^ housing^ one^ of^ Being
meanest^ jets^ in^ Ukrainian AF^ inventory,^ security^ is^
tight^ both^ outside^ andveryon^ the^ base,^ however,^ our
reporterthe^ found^ some^ of^ most^ friendly^ and^ highly^
personnel^ as^ theyappreciativetruly^ wanted^ to^ show
someaircraft^ of^ their^ best^ and^ what^ the^ servicemen
women^ stand^ for^ asandthey^ strive^ to^ continue^ with
the^ success^ story^ of Ukraine’s^ independence^ on^ Au‐
gust^ 1991.^ 24, Joe^ Ciliberti^ would^ like^ to^ thank^ the^ Command^ of^ the^ Ukranian
AF,^ Col^ Kravchenko Volodymyr,^ Col^ Oleksan‐
YevhenVereschak,^ Col^ B.^ der^ and^ Maj^ Alexandr^ Poriadko
.^ Su‐24M top left and right middle^ and^ a^ L‐^39 right^ bottom.^