2012 10 06 Open day Graf Ignatievo

On October 6 2012 I went to Graf Ignatievo Air Base (LBPG) for the celebration of 100 years since first combat flight of the Bulgarian Air Force. Graf Igantievo Air Base is located in the village of Graf Ignatievo, about 10km north of the Bulgaria's 2nd largest city of Plovdiv. It is the sole remaining fighter base of the country and has 2 squadrons of jet aircrafts.
At the moment, Graf Ignatievo is the only fighter base of the Bulgarian Air Force and one of five remaining air bases in the country. Since the Second World War, it has been the home to the HQ and 1st and 2nd Squadron of the 19th FAR, 10th Composite Air Corps, flying with types like the MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19 and MiG-21. In 1994 it became the 3rd Fighter Air Base (3.IAB) of the Tactical Air Corps, with the MiG-21Bis. Finally 'Graf' was transferred to the Air Defence Corps, which was created in 1996, and after the closure of Ravnetz Air Base in 2000 all MiG-29s were also transferred to the base. There are two squadrons flying at Graf Ignatievo; 1/3 Iztrebitelna Avio Eskadrila, flying the Mig-21Bis and -UM, and 2/3 Iztrebitelna Avio Eskadrila, flying the MiG-29A and -UB. 
The Open Day was an ideal opportunity to see the Bulgarian Air Force in action. In the static was each type represented. The flying programme was wel organised. First up was a pair of Fishbeds and Fulcrums. The Fishbeds were scrambled to intercept an unidentified aircraft. In this case a C-27J. Once this one was guided to land, the Fishbeds and Fulcrums started to do a dogfight. After their performance they came back, taxied in front of the crowd and parked it on the parallel runway. Next up was the PC-9M followed by some heli action in the form of a Cougar and a Hip. Each showcasing their mission capabilities. The Fulcrum display was next on the programme which gave a good but distant display. Final act came in the form of an An-2 performing a low fly pass while dropping some papers above the crowd. This marked the end of the programme and of the day.
So I decided to go to the end of the runway to see some departures. And I wasn't the only one. Together with some Bulgarian spotters we saw some of the visitors heading back to their base. Highlight was of course the Frogfoot.


An-30  Bulgarian Air Force  055
C-27J  Bulgarian Air Force  072
PC-9M  Bulgarian Air Force  666
AS532AL  Bulgarian Air Force  704
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  294
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  243
Su-25UBK  Bulgarian Air Force  002
PC-9M  Bulgarian Air Force  664
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  17, 24, 26, 37, 39
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  15
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  37
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  419
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  419
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  358
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  39
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
C-27J  Bulgarian Air Force  073
C-27J  Bulgarian Air Force  073
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  358
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  358, 392
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  358
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
MiG-21bis  Bulgarian Air Force  392
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  37, 39
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  39
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  37, 39
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  39
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  37
MiG-29A  Bulgarian Air Force  37
PC-9M  Bulgarian Air Force  664
PC-9M  Bulgarian Air Force  664
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  418
AS532AL  Bulgarian Air Force  702
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  418
AS532AL  Bulgarian Air Force  702
AS532AL  Bulgarian Air Force  702
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  418
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
MiG-29UB  Bulgarian Air Force  14
An-2  Bulgarian Air Force  027
An-2  Bulgarian Air Force  027
Mi-17  Bulgarian Air Force  418
MiG-21UM  Bulgarian Air Force  28
MiG-21UM  Bulgarian Air Force  28
AS565MB  Bulgarian Navy  903
Su-25UBK  Bulgarian Air Force  002
Su-25UBK  Bulgarian Air Force  002