Zagreb 25./26.09.

[Mr AMARC]

Hi all,

After arrival at Zagreb Pleso on 25.09. I noted the following:
An.32B 707 (stored)
An.32B 727 (stored)
MiG.21bisD 110 (stored, next to An.32s)
MiG.21bisD 122 (stored, next to An.32s)
MiG.21bis 116 towed
MiG.21bis 133 hangared
MiG.21UM 164 flightline / flew
MiG.21UM 165 (noted in hangar based on red/white c/s, serial not read)
One of the Croatian AF Air Tractors was noted after 10:00 a.m., but had sneaked out in an unobserved moment short time after ... bad luck!

At the nearby facilities at Velika Gorica I noted
Mi.8T 274
Mi.171Sh 229 (KFOR titles, no rotor)

plus several stored aircraft incl. UTVA.75s 002, 003, 004, 010, 011 + 2 with their serials painted over, Do.28 9A-ISC. I did not pay attention to the dump with obviously the same stuff like for years.

At Zagreb Lucko I noted:
Mi.8MTV-1 211
Mi.8MTV-1 254
Mi-8MTV-1VA 215

On 26.09. passing the Zagreb Pleso cargo terminal as a co-driver, I noted a C-17A from 437 AW, serial likely to be 10-0214, a 90% read-off with eyeballs only ....

Regards
Martin

[patrick dirksen]

Thanks for the log!
What are the conditions at Pleso for photography? Still need to go and get me a Croation MiG-21 while they are still there....

[michel N]

If they fly, photography is possible. Just keep low profile.

[Mr AMARC]

Had no chance trying the approach, but as long as nobody is disturbing you it must be good. On airliners.net the results also look promising.
One good thing now is that you have a fair chance to see and read them at least.

Regards
Martin

[Mr AMARC]

As I had more waiting time than expected before my return flight on 27.09. I can add something to my log for 25./26., with the following notes for 27.09. :

The C-17A not 100% read on 26.09. was correct, 10-0214 from 437 AW (which I just noted leaving Zagreb as RCH212 on ADSB).
Mi8MTV-1 212 was towed out of the big hangar, obviously being moved to Velika Gorica, as it disappeared in the trees in that direction.
MiG.21bis 117 and
MiG.21UM 164 flew,
straight out of their 'garages' towards the runway, not from the flightline in front of the big hangar like 164 did 2 days earlier; both returned after an approx. 45 min mission (which is longer than the Raptor's did in Spang if I am not mistaken, as long as they had no tanker to suck fuel ;o)

MiG.21UM 166 was also towed out of the big hangar just when I started heading for my departure gate.

Nice little log for the waiting time caused by Eurowings ;o)

By the way, anything known for the current status of the claimed (former Bulgarian AF and officially scrapped a decade ago) MiG.21bis? Are they critical but still flying, or did the story result in an immediate wfu status, i.e. dead metal waiting for scrapping?

And also by the way, anything known whether there will be the sometimes happening open day at Pleso on or around 12. December this year?

Regards
Martin

[Fishbed_9307]

As I had more waiting time than expected before my return flight on 27.09. I can add something to my log for 25./26., with the following notes for 27.09. :

The C-17A not 100% read on 26.09. was correct, 10-0214 from 437 AW (which I just noted leaving Zagreb as RCH212 on ADSB).
Mi8MTV-1 212 was towed out of the big hangar, obviously being moved to Velika Gorica, as it disappeared in the trees in that direction.
MiG.21bis 117 and
MiG.21UM 164 flew,
straight out of their 'garages' towards the runway, not from the flightline in front of the big hangar like 164 did 2 days earlier; both returned after an approx. 45 min mission (which is longer than the Raptor's did in Spang if I am not mistaken, as long as they had no tanker to suck fuel ;o)

MiG.21UM 166 was also towed out of the big hangar just when I started heading for my departure gate.

Nice little log for the waiting time caused by Eurowings ;o)

By the way, anything known for the current status of the claimed (former Bulgarian AF and officially scrapped a decade ago) MiG.21bis? Are they critical but still flying, or did the story result in an immediate wfu status, i.e. dead metal waiting for scrapping?

And also by the way, anything known whether there will be the sometimes happening open day at Pleso on or around 12. December this year?

Regards
Martin

Hi Martin,

Of the "new" aircraft (131-135) only 133 is still active. The rest is grounded.

Regards, Paul

[Verheijen]

Hi Paul and Martin,

It seems that the 131 and the 135 are still active, but they are only occassionally being used. Last May we saw the 135 in operational state in the hangar. The 134 was standing next to it, in WFU state.

Greetz Leon

[Fishbed_9307]

Hi Paul and Martin,

It seems that the 131 and the 135 are still active, but they are only occassionally being used. Last May we saw the 135 in operational state in the hangar. The 134 was standing next to it, in WFU state.

Greetz Leon

I am closely monitoring their movements and I did not see any evidence that they were active in 2017/2018. But I challenge you to prove that I am wrong!

Regards, Paul

[Mr AMARC]

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback. It seems that indeed 133, the only 'new' one not said to be former Bulgarian AF, could be the only one still flying. Any confirmation that this statement of mine is wrong is more than welcome ;o)

After Patcik's excellent report some weeks ago, incl. the Operation Oluja flypast, it is on my list for next year. Last time with MiGs, that seems to be sure.

Regards
Martin

[AndyMarden]

I'm pretty sure that Paul is correct about 133 being the only one in use. It is the only one which has the correct identity, i.e the Croatians actually received the aircraft they thought they were buying.
The other four were sold as being c/n "xxxxxx" but were actually much older aircraft...