Čazma gets impressive open-air museum
A treat for military exhibit lovers at the airport in Grabovnica
Among the various sights and special features it has, the city of Čazma is one of the few cities of its size in Croatia that has a functional asphalt runway, or airport, located in the Grabovnica settlement. The airport was built in 1986 as an airfield for agricultural aircraft, and already during World War II, damaged Allied bombers landed there. The airport has previously exhibited a military aircraft, which has since been restored - a Lockheed T-33, and now there is also a MiG 21 BIS, which participated in actions during the Homeland War, which further enriches the unique collection of historical artifacts in the open air.
Thanks to the joint initiative of the City of Čazma and the Center for Culture, the City Museum of Čazma, the airport in Grabovnica is becoming a new destination for military exhibit lovers.
– The final renovation of the area along the runway in Grabovnica is underway. Two aircraft were installed, which we are extremely proud of, considering that the process was extremely long and demanding, emphasized Maja Cepetić Rogić, director of the Čazma Cultural Center, adding that the aircraft that was previously on the site was restored and reinstalled, while the MiG 21 BIS, a donation from the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Croatia, arrived in the spring of last year.
The process of obtaining and installing the new exhibit lasted more than five years.
– This timeframe best shows how demanding the entire process was — it is not easy to deliver and exhibit such a valuable exhibit, emphasized Cepetić Rogić.
The aircraft is formally owned by the Čazma City Museum, as part of the historical collection, but it was ceded to the City of Čazma and exhibited next to the runway in Grabovnica, where it completes the space together with the existing Lockheed T-33.
– The whole procedure is not at all simple. MiG 21 BIS number 106 was delivered in June, after being disassembled and prepared for transport over several weeks, in coordination with the Croatian Air Force. The special cargo weighing about five tons was transported to the Čazmatrans paint shop, which ensured the appropriate conditions for preparing the aircraft before its final placement on the runway, explained Cepetić Rogić.
The MiG represents a visually impressive sight for all visitors traveling in the direction of Bojana.
– Two aircraft placed high will attract attention and be a real attraction for all passers-by, emphasized Cepetić Rogić.
Regarding plans for future acquisitions, Cepetić Rogić confirmed that there is a desire to further acquire exhibits, but emphasized that such processes are long-term and demanding.
– The procedure is extensive and depends on the decisions of the Ministry of Defense, but in any case we continue to work on it. Although everything is going slower than we would like, we are trying to enrich the collection with new valuable exhibits that will contribute to the attractiveness of this site, concluded Cepetić Rogić.
Photo: CZK Čazma and Davor Kirin
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