Military Jets Photography: 2012 09 21 NATO days Ostrava

What a show! MiG-29 Dogfight, Mirage 2000 Ramex Delta, two Su-22 Fitter in formation flight, Eurofighter displays, the Red Arrows... Twelve years after its first edition the NATO Days at Ostrava were a stunning event.
Not only focused around aircraft the event itself did also present ground demonstrations of security and armed forces, tank driving and so on. With this vast amount of attractions it attracted 210.000 visitors during the week-end, making it the second largest public event in the Czech Republic.
On Saturday morning the official opening of the NATO days was held, meaning the fly-in of a Mi-8 VIP transport helicopter, presence of the Czech AF A319 and a helicopter formation followed by a C296 with two L-159 along its wings. Unfortunately Gripens were missing, but one arrived shortly afterwards with the French C-135FR tanker aircraft and showed a demonstrated air-air refuelling.
Apart from that the program in the morning was dominated by the solo demonstrations of the Slovak MiG-29 solo display and the Italian C-27J Spartan impressed once more by its display including several rolls.
The PC-9M from Slovenia and the Austrian S-70 and Swiss Super Puma helicopters did present first after lunch and opened the amazing flying display in the afternoon of the NATO Days 2012.
Within one hour there was the Italian Typhoon, F-16 Solo Turk, Slovak MiG-29 dogfight and tactical demonstration of 2 Polish Su-22 Fitters and the Ramex Delta from France on two Mirage Mirages 2000. This was followed by a take-off and fly-by of the mighty B-52 Stratofortress and the Red Arrows.
The "Flying Bulls" B-25 was the only civil act and followed shortly afterwards just before the demonstration of an assault with hostage taking with heliborne drop off including Mi-171 and assault of Mi-24. Something to please the friends of helicopters with once again some great flying action. Three more jets were next with the orange or Dutch F-16, the British Hawk solo display and the Czech L-159 to close the day.
To summarise I was really overwhelmed by this event with many great flying presentations, focused only around military aircraft without all the 'gap fillers' you get to see at other events. Outstanding was the fact that many of the aircraft did not perform their usual solo display, but real role demos, especially the helicopters that interacted closely with the troops on the ground, making the flying a lot more realistic.