No doubt one of the highlights of the European airshow season was Airpower at Austria's fighter base Zeltweg. Over 9 hours of flying displays on both days made this a must-visit event!
The first take-offs occurred just after 8:30, the items that were to form the show opening and the flying display, which could really boast to be non-stop, lasted until after 18:00.
The early start didn't mean the early displays suffered from a lack of attention, as the airfield opened 2 hours before the display got underway so the audience still had plenty of time to look at the static items. Hightlights in the static park were a Serbian Super Galeb and An-26, a pair of Saudi Typhoons and a Polish Mig-29. There was also an exhibition in the museum adjacent to the base about the history of the Austrian air force.
The flying display was very well thought-out and had so much variation the audience had no trouble keeping their gaze skyward throughout the day. Warbirds, vintage jets, modern fighters, demonstration teams, aerobatics, gliders, helicopters and skydivers, Zeltweg had it all. One of the countless highlights was the European debut of the Saudi demonstration team Saudi Hawks, but for many the host airforce's unique demonstrations with ad hoc display teams really made Zeltweg stand out. Obviously, main sponsor Red Bull also got into the game with countless displays by their own fleet.
The programme was also exceptionally high-paced, leaving the crowd with no time to breathe between acts. Display aircraft also taxied by after their performance and pilots clearly enjoyed the audience's enthusiastic waves.
The first take-offs occurred just after 8:30, the items that were to form the show opening and the flying display, which could really boast to be non-stop, lasted until after 18:00.
The early start didn't mean the early displays suffered from a lack of attention, as the airfield opened 2 hours before the display got underway so the audience still had plenty of time to look at the static items. Hightlights in the static park were a Serbian Super Galeb and An-26, a pair of Saudi Typhoons and a Polish Mig-29. There was also an exhibition in the museum adjacent to the base about the history of the Austrian air force.
The flying display was very well thought-out and had so much variation the audience had no trouble keeping their gaze skyward throughout the day. Warbirds, vintage jets, modern fighters, demonstration teams, aerobatics, gliders, helicopters and skydivers, Zeltweg had it all. One of the countless highlights was the European debut of the Saudi demonstration team Saudi Hawks, but for many the host airforce's unique demonstrations with ad hoc display teams really made Zeltweg stand out. Obviously, main sponsor Red Bull also got into the game with countless displays by their own fleet.
The programme was also exceptionally high-paced, leaving the crowd with no time to breathe between acts. Display aircraft also taxied by after their performance and pilots clearly enjoyed the audience's enthusiastic waves.
F-4F German Air Force 37+01 |
Saab 105Ö Austrian Air Force GF-16 |
AB212 Austrian Air Force 5D-HZ |
UH-1D German Air Force 72+33 |
EF2000 Saudi Air Force 314 |
Mirage 2000-5F French Air Force 102-EP/47 |
MiG-29A Polish Air Force 38 |
PC-6 Austrian Air Force 3G-EL |
DC-6B The Flying Bulls N996DM |
C-130K Austrian Air Force 8T-CA |
PC-7 Austrian Air Force 3H-FN |
PC-9M Croation Air Force 063 |
SE3160 Austrian Air Force 3E-KG, 3E-KE, 3E-KC |
Hunter T.68 Hunterverein HB-RVV |
Bf-109G-4 Messerschmitt Stiftung D-FWME |
Me-262A-1c Messerschmitt Stiftung D-IMTT |
Me-262A-1c Messerschmitt Stiftung D-IMTT |
N-2501F-3 Association le Noratlas de Provence F-AZVM |
MiG-15UTI Privatly owned SP-YNZ |
NF-5A-2000 Turkish Air Force Turkish Stars |
Edge 540 Hannes Arch N541HA |
Jas-39C Czech Air Force 9235 |
F4U-4 The Flying Bulls OE-EAS |
P-38L The Flying Bulls N25Y |
PC-9M Croation Air Force Wings of Storm |
PC-9M Croation Air Force Wings of Storm |
C-130K Austrian Air Force 8T-CC |
OH-58D Austrian Air Force 3C-OA |
AB212 Austrian Air Force 5D-HV, 5D-HX |
AB212 Austrian Air Force 5D-HV |
UH-1D German Air Force 73+63 |
EF2000 Austrian Air Force 7L-WG |
Alpha Jet E French AIr Force F-TUED/E107 |
C337D The Flying Bulls N991DM |
PC-6 Austrian Air Force 3G-EH |
SE3160 Austrian Air Force 3E-KH, 3E-KI |
F-16AM Belgian Air Force FA-110 |
EF2000 Austrian Air Force ZL-WL |
Hawk Mk65 Saudi Air Force Saudi Hawks |
Fokker DR-1 Mikael Carlson Flying Machines SE-XXZ |
F-16AM Netherlands Air Force J-015 |
Bo105CB-4 The Flying Bulls D-HTDM |
MiG-29AS Sloavakian Air Force 3911 |
MB.339PAN Italian Air Force Frecce Tricolori |
S-70A Austrian Air Force 6M-BI |
PC-6 Austrian Air Force 3G-EF |
Mi-17 Sloavakian Air Force 0820 |
Static overview |