Romania (2017)

Romania 2017

Bucharest International Air Show

Romania 2017

In July 2017 we visited the Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS) for the first time. It proved to be a very nice event with features that other air shows do not offer very often; an after dark element in the display routine.

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20 July 2017

Eight of the 12 participants for our first visit to the Bucharest International Air Show (BIAS) gathered at Schiphol on Thursday 20 July for their departure to Bucharest. The KLM flight to the Romanian capital was smooth and we arrived in the best possible weather conditions. At the airport, Bucharest-Otopeni, we saw that some USAF C-130s and USAr UH-60s were present for the exercise Saber Guardian 17. After the final two participants had arrived from Austria we boarded our taxi to the hotel.

Our hotel for the stay in Romania was located very close to Baneasa airport, where BIAS was to take place. Very convenient, since this meant that we could walk to the airport and back. Near the hotel we found our ‘essentials’, a convenience store and a good restaurant, and the evening ended with a nice meal and a cool drink.

21 July 2017

For Friday (21 July) the plan was to visit the event for arrivals and rehearsals. To be able to do this we had registered for media-access, but the event appeared to be open more or less anyway. Weather was brilliant, but it was very very hot. On arrival we saw that some static participants had already arrived (USAF F-15s, Romanian MiG-21 and IAR-99) and the most of those that would display were also there already (Solo Türk, Polish MiG-29 and F-16, Hungarian Gripen, etc.).

Today we got what we were hoping for; arrivals and rehearsals. We were happy to see the Hellenic Air Force Mirage 2000 arrive, as well as a USAF Reserve C-130 from Maxwell AFB. It wasn’t a huge static display, but we didn’t go to Romania for the foreign participants. We wanted to see and capture Romanian aircraft. And we certainly managed to do that. BIAS delivered a lot of Romanian Air Force aircraft in the air. Most noteworthy was a formation of six MiG-21 LanceRs. Obviously their new F-16s were displayed, as well as almost all other types the RoAF operates. All in all a very good day. The only down side was that, since this wasn’t a public day, there was no food stalls that were selling yet. Desperately in need of water (temperatures rose to over 35°C) we had to improvise.

22 July 2017

Saturday 22 July was the actual day of the event. We made sure to be there early, before the masses would arrive. The Bucharest airport authorities had arranged an area especially for photographers and this meant a more relaxed environment to ‘hang around’. The actual air show proved to be very worthwhile. The air show lasted from early in the morning until after 21.30 in the evening. The RoAF made sure that they showed the visitors all they wanted to see. Formations of MiG-21s, a good number of helicopters, a formation of a TAROM Boeing 737 with F-16s, a tactical demo, etc., etc. Some participants flew twice during the day. The final part of the show, during twilight after dusk, proved to be quite an experience. A MiG-21 flew almost its entire demo with the afterburner lit and formation of civil aircraft flew demos that where supported by enormous walls of fire on the ground. The display ended with a C-27 Spartan popping flares. Happy with how things went most ended up in our favourite restaurant again late in the evening.

23 July 2017

Sunday (23 July) was the final day of the tour and dedicated to museums, wrecks & relics and tourism. The taxi arrived in time and we visited a couple of wrecks & relics in an around Bucharest before heading to the Muzeul Naţional al Aviaţiei and the National Military museum. After that the taxi driver took us to the Palace of the Parliament (a reminder of the Ceausescu-era and one of the largest buildings in the world) and revolution square. After that we headed for the airport for our return flight to Amsterdam early in the evening. This was the end of a short but very rewarding tour!

Romania 2017

Romania 2017

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Romania (2017)

Romania 2017

Romania 2017

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