Crazy Czech Trip Day 3 22-5-2009 (Kbely Part)

[Arjan]

Hi all,

I went on a small trip to the Caslav open day together with Polleke. Offcourse we tried to cover as much as possible between The Netherlands and Caslav. We will publish this in a log but as you might notice, not really in order.

For now! On day three, 22nd of may we arrived in the Czech Republic after a very long haul through Germany at about 01:00. Wanting to cover as much as possible of local wrecks and relics and to see the Heli Meet at Letnany the alarmbells rang again at 07:00.

The Meet at Letnany showed no helo's, only some civil junk which we do not note. However, there was a club showing their immaculate Let 29 and Mig 21F-13. These are beautiful preserved aircraft!!! Also some Let hulks lingered around:

The log of Letnany (a stone throw away across the street from Kbely), the operational aircraft at Kbely and the museum with some remarks are below!:

22-05-2009 Praag – Letnany / Aeroclub side
L-159 Unfinished hulk
L-39C 0115, 0441 Forward Fuselage
L-39C 0448 In hangar, forward fuselage
L-29RS 2808 Preserved in hangar
Mig 21F-13 0304 Preserved in hangar

Praag – Kbely
A-319-115X 2801, 3085 241. Dl
An-26 2507 242. Dl (special tail)
An-26 3209 242. Dl
An-26B-100 4201 242. Tsl
An-30 1107 Stored?
Let 410UVP-T 1132, 1134 242. Tsl
Let 410UVP-E 2312, 2602 242. Tsl
Sokol W-3A 0712, 0714, 0716, 0717 243. Vrl
Mi-17 0834 243. Vrl (flying, not stored)
Mi-8PS-11 0834, 0835, 0836 243. Vrl
Yak 40 0260, 1257 241. Dl


Praag – Kbely Air Museum
Mig 21F-13 0212 Gate, in grey c/s

Inner courtyard
(row in front of hall C)
Mi-1M 4003 Preserved
Mi-2 3302 Preserved
Mi-4 0538 Preserved
Mi-8T 0313 Preserved
Mi-24D 0220 Preserved
Su-25K 9098 Preserved
J-35F Draken 35518/11 Ex Flot 10, Preserved
AJSF-37 Viggen 37957/56 Ex Flot 21, Preserved
Mi-1 1005 Stored just behind row
Mi-8PS 0830 Preserved
Soko 522 23500/123 Preserved, ex Yugoslav, folded wings
Il-28 0501/GD10 Preserved
Tu-104 OK-LDA Preserved
Sabre Mk-31 A94-923 (composite with A94-954) Preserved in 3 Sqn colours
F-5E 00878 Preserved, ex Vietnam

(centre row)
IL-28RTR 6926 Preserved
Avia 14T 3108 Preserved
An-24V 7109 Preserved
L-410UVP 1504 Preserved

(left row from entering, under shed against wall)
Mig-17F 0872 Preserved
Mig-15UTI-P 2626 Preserved
Mig 15bisSB 3255 Preserved

(hall between centre row and street, early jet aviation??)
Avia S-92 V-34 Preserved
Vampire FB-6 J-1161 Preserved, ex Swiss AF
Yak-17 30 Preserved
T-33 35211 Preserved, ex France

(next to Hall 1925 – 1938)
Phantom FGR-2 XT899/K Preserved, Blue C/S

(single shed next to Phantom)
Let-29(XL-29) OK-70 Preserved


North East Courtyard
Su-7BKL 6513 Preserved
Su-22M-4 4006/31/NA-2C Preserved
Mig 23MF 3646 Preserved
Mig 23BN 9825 Preserved
Mig 23UB 7905 Preserved
Mig 15Bis Preserved
Mig 21UM 3166 Preserved
Mig 21PF 0308 Preserved
Mig 21PFM 4411 Preserved
Mig 21MF 7705 Preserved
Mig 19S 0414 Preserved
Mig 19P 0813 Preserved

Shed between Inner courtyard and north east courtyard
AN-2 2 hulks, wings next to the shed
Mi-1 6014 Stored
Mi-2 B-2047 Ex Police, Stored

Hall C
Let 39 3905 Preserved
L-4J 44-80110 Preserved, as SP-AHB
Let 29 0010 Preserved
Su-7BM 5616 Preserved
Mig 21F-13 0613 Preserved
Mig 17PF 1015 Preserved
Mig 21R 1501 Preserved
Mig 21F-13 0306 Preserved, cockpit only
Let 39 “79” Preserved, mock up
Mig 23BN 9863 Preserved, cockpit only
Mig 15SB 1720 Preserved
Mig 23MF 3922 Preserved
Let C-11 1727 Preserved
Mi-2 B-2530 Ex Police, Preserved
Yak-23 HX-51 Preserved
Mig 19PM 1043 Preserved
L-200 1125 Preserved
Avia B-33 (IL-10) 5502 Preserved
Avia CS-199 UC-26 Preserved, BF-109G-12
Avia S-199 UF-25 Preserved, BF-109K

Stored on airfield
(row behind hall 1939 – 1945) (across taxiway) from left to right
Mig 21 (two seater) Stored, tail backing museum
Mig 21F-13 1013 Stored, facing museum
Mig 21 Stored, tail backing museum
Mig 21PFM 4609 Stored, facing museum
Mig 21PF 0302 Stored, tail backing museum
Mig 21 Stored, facing museum
Let 39 Stored, facing museum
Mig 23ML 2406 Stored, facing museum

Stored on airfield, visible from inner courtyard, right of Mig line
Mig 15UTI 2611 Stored, behind Tu-104
Mig 15UTI OK-10 / 2744 Stored
An-24V 2904 Stored
Il-14FG 0603 Stored
Avia 14FG 6102 Stored
Also 2 x IL-28, 1 x Mi-8 (0819??), 1 x Yak 40 (serial with OK but is this the 0723?), 2 x Li-2 (2710, 3002??)

Storage compound south west of Hall C
Mig 21UM 3181 Stored
L-39C 330207 / 33 White Stored, ex Russian AF
Also 2 x Su-7, 3 x Mig 15, 1 x Mig 17, 1 x Mi-4, 1 x Mi-8, 1 x Su-22, 1 x L-39 (white), 1 x Let 29, 1 x Let 39, 1 x Mig 21 (brown camo)

This storage compound is on your right on entry. Next to this is a fence to the airfield. On the left of this fence there is also a shed containing some Migs

Stored on airfield north east ramp near runway end
Tu-154 2 x no markings

Stored next to Tu-154’s,or are these operational?
Mi-9 0001 Stored?
Mi-17 0803, 0833 Stored?
Mi-8PPA 7523 Stored

Somehow we managed to miss the 1940-45 hall. I am not even sure what hall it is. But I believe that it is the one near the Vietnamese F-5. Some confirmation would be wonderfull. If so, it was closed. According to a friendly English man we met at the Caslav openday, they also missed this hall. Or is this now the hall with the Me-262, T-33 and Vampire?
A lot of aircraft shifted since the report in the EMOOS and I can't be sure about anything anymore. The Mig line seems new. The line in the EMOOS with aircraft backing in to the wall of Hanger C have disappeared (just like the Meteor). If anyone can fill in the gaps, please do so!

Full log of day 3 will follow (just as the other days!!)

Best regards,

Arjan and Polleke

[wamovements]

I can confirm your Yakl40 as 0723, weather fading away it's serial and showing it's former civil registration.

A shame to see the MI-9 close to the Tu154's as this is indeed the storage area.

[Polleke_NL]

The L-159 hulk at Letnany did not have any serial, buno, or whatsoever in it as we could clearly look into each compartment since she wasn't covered in any way, nor where the removeable panels attached.
Both fuselage and tail were covered with cloth flaps, perhaps this hulk has been used for stress tests or something like that ?
Does anyone have a clue which one this was? (or if she ever did receive a buno or serial?)

[Vulture One]

Hi Arjan and Polleke,

Just a few fillers for you.

The L-4J in Hall C is SP-AHB but is marked 10 black with 12234 on fin.

On the 22nd we managed to combine our records with what we saw when we went to the Museum on 24th and the Migs on the taxiway were logged as;
Mig-21US 0948, facing a/fd
Mig-21F-13 camo 1013 facing museum
Mig-21PF with cover on nose facing a/fd but should be 0313 - only one not read off
Mig-21PFM 4609 facing museum
Mig-21PF 0302 facing airfield
Mig-21U-600 4916 facing museum
The Mig-23 was facing the airfield and to west the L-39 carried faded markings but was OK-182 from those markings.

We only noted one Li-2, the rudderless one which is 3002

The Su-22 in the storage compound is a Su-7UM 1017.

The only aircraft we are having some difficulty with is the Mig-21 in the storage compound facing west, only the fin showing. It was a PFM/R/MF or even a U-600 tail which by process of elimination I believe it to have been 2820. The only one we did not log was 2410 a PFM but this one has white markings on fin and the number 9. Do you have any photographs which could help?

I think the 1940-45 Hall is the one with the S-92, T-33, Venom and Yak-17 in it as last September it held the Il-2, Spitfire, Harvard etc.

At Letnany, the L-59 in red primer is the development aircraft X-02 apparently with serial 3902.

Hope this helps and would be grateful for any confirmation of that last Mig in the compund and also the Mig-21PF which I think was 0313 in the taxiway.

Kind regards
Rick Ware
Scotland

[Arjan]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your follow up. It's a great help!

Indeed, the Flogger faced the airfield. Unfortunetaly I can't help you on the 0313. I can see it on a picture but it is covered to much. You are probably correct on the Li-2. I have in mind that I also saw a white example, but can't find it at my pictures.

I was not able to take photo's of the storage yard. When I approached that fence with my camera the museum people went absolutely ballistic. Even looking with my monoculair an hour later made them protest. So sorry, I only have on picture taken by walking by the fence. Only that Mig and Let are visible. Would love to see your log on it as I do not dare to assume the inmates.

Many thanks and warm regards,

Arjan

[Polleke_NL]

I will look at my pics later on, I made quite a few but simply don't have the time to go through all of them just now...
Will keep you posted as soon as I've gone through all of them..

[Vulture One]

Hi Arjan,

My error with the Mig-21 I think is 0313 - it is not a PF but a a F-13 model. When we arrived Hall A with the four biplanes in it was closed so the old woman who sits outside and shouts at people taking photos was not able to. I had the wrong lense on but have asked a friend if he took any - I shall post a complete log and make comparisons with last year's comfirmed record as soon as I get a little clearer on these two Migs from available photos.

The serial on the fin of the Li-2 matches 3002 as we took shots under the Tu-104 to confirm stuff.

Did you go round the LOM-Prahy side of Letnany near the golfing range to see the Mig-21 marked 8519? This one used to be at the bus-stop at the main gate.

We also went into the Aer-expo on Letnany, some of us took civvies but at least I managed to get a good look at the ex-Libyan one on a pole in the factory. No serial but another one not seen often.

Shall post what additionl log we have when I have more photo evidence. Cheers.

Regards
Rick W

[Arjan]

Hi Rick,

Well you used the wonderfull same construction as I did, shooting under the belly of a Tu-104. I am quite sure that there a lot of spotters at Schiphol and Heathrow who can remember doing that "live" once........a long time ago!

Nope, we completely forgot to check the Mig at the LOM side of Letnany. I actually only discovered it on Google Earth today
We managed to see the Let 39 though, but indeed. Not a sign of a serial.

Looking forward to your log!

Cheers,

Arjan

[boonens]

A very small contribution from my side: a French CM170 (nr.38?) could be seen threw the window of the (very dirty) men's toilet, stored without it's wings.

[Vulture One]

Hi,

As I am still awaiting images from our Group to ident the Mig in the storage area (not 3181) though I would remark on the Magister. We all managed to get a good look out and we also all took photos out the window (carefully as we did not want to be all carrying camers in to the toliets!). To the left (south) of the Magister we clearly saw two Delfins and also confirmed them from the photos. One was under a canvas cover facing away and one looked dismantled but clearly Czech AF.

Could anyone help with these two although I am informed there are three stored near the Magister, please?

Regards
Rick W

[Arjan]

A very small contribution from my side: a French CM170 (nr.38?) could be seen threw the window of the (very dirty) men's toilet, stored without it's wings.

About the toilets.....I am afraid that it is even quite understated........what a filthy, disgusting place.

[Vulture One]

Hi Arjan,

After a fair but of research, I believe I have identified all of Kbely as seen except for the two L-29 Delfins beside the Magister. I have little to add to your log and my notes to you but am happy to send the log as an Excel if you wish a PM.

Regards
Rick W
Scotland

[David Moore]

Are you sure that the one Li-2 visible on the airfield was 3002? The one I saw 20.05.09 had brown upper fuselage, natural metal lower fuselage & a faded blue cheat line & what looked like a serial ending 09 on the fin. 2710 was once painted into a civil scheme as "OK-WDI/09" for a film, see http://www.planes.cz/lite/fli2.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; & other results from a google search.

Rick W I would be very pleased to see a copy of your log if I may.

Thanks,

David

[Vulture One]

Hi David,

Thanks for pointing out my error. I have checked my log and it is indeed 2710 and not 3002. My confusion caused by having shots of 3002 without a rudder in 06. The information regarding the Li-2 is incorrect in the above mail as was working from an obviously failing memory. 2710 it is as per my log with description as you say and it is indeed 09 small on fin.

Am sending the log on to another interested party later, may I suggest a PM with e-m add? I find I have to rework the spreadsheet considerably to get onto the Messageboard without an attachment.

Did you manage to ident the Delfins under the shelter beside the Magister?

Regards
Rick

[David Moore]

Can't help with the L-29's, sorry. If you find out the id's can you claim the one covered in a bag? One of those philosophical spotting problems to wrestle with

There was at least one early model MiG-21 in that area also, natural metal/no spine, which could be seen nose on through a crack in the fence by the SAM systems.