Zeltweg (2019)

Zeltweg 2019

A group of aviation enthousiasts joined the 4Aviation tour to Airpower 2019 at Zeltweg. The 2019 event was a difficult one in terms of weather, but the group still managed to have a good time!

Additional photos; Jaap van den Berg

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5 September 2019

On the morning of Thursday 5 September 22 travellers met at Schiphol for a mid-day departure to Graz, Austria for a visit for the Airpower 2019 show held at Zeltweg. After arrival at Graz with a small delay, a 23th traveller flying in from Frankfurt joined us and after picking up our three vans, we were soon on the road for the first destination of this trip, being the Österreichisches Luftfahrt-Museum at Graz airport. This small museum has a rather nice collection of aircraft including a Swedish Air Force JA37 Viggen, a Swiss AF Mirage 3, two J-35 Drakens, a C-160D Transall and former Eastern Europe aircraft like two MiG-21s, a TS-11 and Lim-2. All were photographed in beautiful circumstances, as it was 25° Celsius this day with no clouds to be seen.

After this good start of this trip it was time for a short stop at a petrol station for some food and beverage before we continued to some more preserved aircraft, including a Czech Air Force MiG-23 and two more J-35 drakens. Around 6 o’clock we arrived at our nice hotel in Graz. After a fresh up those interested gathered for a nice dinner at an Italian restaurant around the corner of the hotel.

6 September 2019

On Friday 6 September we woke up early for a 5.30 am departure to the Zeltweg airshow. As breakfast wasn’t open yet, the hotel prepared, as agreed in advance, nice lunch packages for everyone. Due to a small traffic jam near the Zeltweg exit we arrived around 7 o’clock at the gate where we could immediately enter the show-ground. As always at Zeltweg, static photography was almost impossible with almost no space between aircraft and the fences around them. For those having a spotterspackage there were no less than 18 designated spotter areas to view the airshow from.

The weather on this day was completely different to the day before. Today it was only 14° Celsius with clouds and rain from time to time. Nevertheless, there were almost no cancellations in the flying display (only the Belgian A.109 cancelled due to technical issues) and all of us enjoyed the day from various spots. Some even positioned thereself at the north side of the runway, in the middle of the display area. Highlights on this day for many was the intercept of a Da.900 by two Austrian Air Force Typhoons, the J-35 Draken from the Swedish Air Force Historic flight and the Polish Air Force Su-22, of which many wonder if it already stopped firing flares by the time you read this report. Making its debut in the airshow were the in 2018 acquired Da.40 Twin stars from the Austrian Air Force, of which three flew a formation with four PC-7s, the 4th Da.40 acquired was in the static display. Also nice was the (International) helicopter display with participation from Slovak, Germany and Austrian Air Force in combination with many helicopters owned by the famous Red Bull “Flying Bulls”.

At 1900 we travelled back to our hotel where some went to a restaurant, where others already had dinner at the Airpower showground. This evening the 24th traveller was met.

7/8 September 2019

After yesterdays experience with a small traffic jam near Zeltweg air base, we left 15 minutes earlier resulting in a 6.30 am arrival at the parking place at Zeltweg Air Base. Weather forecast was looking worse for today resulting in the cancelation of the first 90 minutes of the airshow, including the famous wake-up call by two EF.2000s. At 10 o’clock the flying display finally started with the Hellenic Air Force F-16 display, the helicopter display, to be followed by the Da.40s and PC-7s. After this display the first of many rainshowers started resulting in Team Breitlings display cancellation shortly after take-off. For 8 people travelling with us, the many cancellations in combination with the expected rainshowers in the afternoon, it was time to return to Graz at 1230. The ones that stayed indeed suffered many rainshowers but also experienced some sun. Most displayteams however (Frecce Tricolore and Patrulla Aquilla) cancelled, as did the Polish Su-22 (after being rescheduled two times). During the rainshowers many visited the nice museum at Zeltweg, that has a large collection of aircraft operated by the Austrian Air Force in the past.

In the evening most of us went to the Italian restaurant again after which this trip came to an end. The next morning we left around 0830 for Graz airport, resulting in a return to Schiphol early afternoon.

Zeltweg 2019

Zeltweg 2019

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Zeltweg (2019)

Zeltweg 2019

Zeltweg 2019

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