Military Jets Photography: 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.