The Aviation Magazine — November-December 2017

Show Air (^) International^2017 Radomby István Kelecsényi and theArticleEditor^ AirshowHeld biannually, the Radom reputation^ has^ built^ up^ a^
inone^ recent^ years^ as^ of^ Europe’s^ largest^ avia‐
itsevents ‐ with^ tion^ geographical^ location^ attracting
a^ diverse^ array^ of^ aircraft from^ both^ East^ and^ West.
ShowRadom^ International^ Air^ The^2017 was^ held^ in
memoryAnniversary^ of^ the^ 85th^ of^ Chal^ lenge^ 1932.
"Challenge^ 1932",^ was^ anTheevent^ in^ which^ the^ Polish
pilotwon^ Franciszek Żwirko^ the^ International^ Tourist^
Aircraft^ Competition. The^ public^ was^ able^ to^ admire^ the^ aircraft^ not^ only^ during
their^ air^ display^ but^ also closely^ at^ the^ static^ dis‐
which^ provided^ a^ greatplay,variety^ of^ civil^ and^ historic
aircraft^ :^ RWD^ 5R^ Polish Touring^ and^ Sports^ Plane,^
LightLet‐Mont^ Tulak^ The^ Aircraft,^ Yak‐18Trainer^ Aircraft,
Antonov^ ‐^2 Biplane,^ DH82A Tiger^ Moth^ Trainer^ Bi‐
Chipmunkand^ DHC‐^1 plane^ trainer^ aircraft^ among^ them.
Asthe^ would^ be^ expected,^ Polish^ Air^ Force^ was^
en^ masse^ at^ thedemonstratedshow,^ with^ fam^ iliar^ favourites
such^ as^ the^ MiG‐^29 Fulcrum^ solo^ and^ Su‐^22
Fitter^ Team^ display.^ Tactical Each^ day^ the^ host^ nation^ opened^ the^ afternoon^ flying^
flypastwith^ a^ mass^ display^ featuring^ nearly^ every^ type
inventory.the^ Polish^ Air^ Force^ in^ Formations^ of^ Mi‐^2 Hoplites,
Mi8/17‐^24 Hinds^ &^ Mi‐ Hips,^ W‐^3 Sokol,^ MiG‐
‐Fulcrums,^ Su‐^22 Fitters,^ M 2928  Bryzas,^ C‐235,^ and^ C‐
toHercules^ were^ a^ sight^130 behold^ for^ visiting^ enthu‐
aircraftand^ in^ all^64 siasts,^ took^ part^ in^ the^ impressive
spectacle.^ The^ workhorse^ of the^ Polish^ military,^ the^
‐a^3 Sokoł,^ featu^ red^ in^ W^ solo^ &^ three‐ship^ (TS‐^11 Iskra,
MiG^ ‐^29 and^ F‐16C Falcon^ "Jastreb"^ in^ Polish)^ display^
flyingrounded^ off^ the^ which^ display^ on^ both^ Saturday
anda^ Sunday.^ The^ Sokoł is^ real^ success^ story^ for^ the
aviation^ industry,^ however^ itPolishis^ rarely^ seen^ on^ display
outsidemaking^ its^ home^ nation ‐^ it^ a^ real^ treat^
asee^ the^ helicopters^ (in^ to^ variety^ of^ tpyes^ and^ names)
performing.^ Another^ impressive display^ not^ seen^
of^ Poland^ is^ a^ routineoutsideof^ two^ Mi‐^24 Hinds^ performing
together.^ An^ interesting combination^ of^ tacti‐
manoeuvring^ and^ photogeniccalpivots,^ the^ display^ was
a^ great^ chance^ to^ view the^ rarely^ seen^ drab^ green^
attentionThe^ most^ helicopters.^ grabbing^ display^ from
thewas^ home^ team^ at^ Radom^ a^ short^ close^ air^ sup‐
demonstration:^ lastingportapproximately^120 seconds!
The^ display^ comprised^ a^ pair of^ Su‐22s^ completing^ a^
accompaniedspeed^ bombing^ run,^ high^ by^ plenty^ of^ grou
pairbased^ pyrotechnics^ with^ a^ nd^ of^ F‐16Cs^ per‐
a^ max‐rate^ turnformingover^ the^ airfield^ while^ deploying
flares.^
of^ the^ mostOneanticipated^ flying^ display^ participants
was^ the^ MiG‐^21 LanceR, of^ which^ two^ Romanian^ Air^
attendance.examples^ were^ in^ Force^ While^ the^ classic^
60'sjet^ fighter^ from^ the^ Soviet^ has^ the^ turning^ circle^ of
oil^ tanker,^ it^ still^ managedanto^ put^ on^ an^ attractive^
eshowing^ all^ angles^ of^ thdisplay^ aircraft ‐ as^ well^ as^ a
of^ chances^ to^ hearnumberthe^ characteristic^ 'pop'^ as^ the
afterburner^ was^ engaged.^
the^ enormous^ size^ of27PMthe^ Uk^ rainian^ Su‐Despite
1 was^ fighter,^ the^ displayed^ ‐^ spectacular^ as^ it^ showed
manoeuvres^ that^ smalleroffand^ nimbler^ fighters^ would
berumble^ the^ envy^ off.^ The^ of^ the^ two^ Ljulka^ AL‐
engines^ shook^ the^ eardrums.31FIn^ addition^ to^ the^
trainingJ‐105OE^ SAAB^ aircraft,^ Austrian^ participation
Red (^) collection of thea Bull^ aircraft.^ included the demonstration teamsFromwe^ saw^ the^ demonstration
by^ the^ Latvia^ Baltic^ Bees (L‐39)^ and^ the^ Polish^
(^) Orlik(TS‐11) and (^) Iskry Team^ (PLZ‐130).^ Team diverse,static display was (^) The^ with^ examples^ of^ nearly
every^ type^ of^ aircraft^ in the^ Polish^ inventory.^ The^ for‐
aircraft^ at^ the^ staticeigndisplay^ consisted^ of^ an^ impressive
arrayhardware^ of^ European^ including^ the^ Italian^
EGerman^ EF‐^2000 andurofighters,^ Romanian^ MiG‐21,
AustrianItalian^ J‐105OE,^ M347^ Master,^ Netherlands
‐^ 16MLU^ and,^ Romanian^ andFLithuanian^ C‐^27 to^ complete
the^ static^ line.^
all^ our^ team^ enjoyed^ themselves^ and^ it^ was^ wellOver
worth^ visit.^ the^6 MiG‐29s flyby of theAF, (^) shipleft top – image^ by^ Wolfganag^ Jarisch^ Polish 4  ship formation of the Mi‐ 24  Hinds attack helicopter,^ right^ midle^ –^ image^ by^ Wolfganag^ Jarisch^ Closeright up of the Mi‐ 24  Hinds, (^)  bottom – image by^ Wolfganag^ Jarisch^